Rosa was one of 12 Reading, Pa.-area business leaders competing for the opportunity to kiss a pig, a reward that goes to the top three fundraisers. The goal for candidates is to generate enough funds to receive the honor of laying a smooch on potbellied pig Maycie May at the Boys & Girls Club Steak and Burger Dinner.

“A deep heartfelt thank you goes to everyone who has supported our efforts,” Rosa said. “When you understand the good work that the Boys & Girls Club does, it’s easy to understand why everyone came together to rally for this worthy cause.”

Rosa became 100 percent committed to join this year’s fundraiser after he met a young Boys & Girls Club participant at the orientation meeting. She drew several pictures depicting how important the club is to her. Rosa still has those pictures on his desk.

“Those drawings motivated me every day during the campaign,” Rosa said. “They helped me understand what we’re able to accomplish for these children,” Rosa said.

The day after being named champion, Rosa received a special email from a fellow Penske associate confirming the Boys & Girls Club’s community impact. Penske’s insurance analyst Daniel Rutkowski – who was a member of the club in the ’60s – thanked Rosa for his successful efforts.

“As a fourth and fifth grader in Reading very many years ago, I was a member of the Olivet Boys Club on Mulberry Street. It was, to say the least, one of the best, most memorable experiences during that formative time,” Rutkowski wrote. “I am deeply moved remembering the generosity from that oasis in my life; now it remains very dear to my heart.”

As a 12-year coach of youth sports, Rosa used his connections with individuals and youth organizations to reach his record-breaking total, as well as hosted a variety of innovative fundraisers.  “I was amazed how everyone supported this cause,” he said. “It’s a true testament to the Penske name and what Olivet stands for.”

The previous single candidate record of nearly $89,000 was set in 2005. The 12 candidates raised a combined record $290,166, beating last year’s previous record by $41,423.

The Olivet Boys & Girls Club is a chartered member of the Boys & Girls Club of America.

By Kandace Wertz

Among the supply chain industry’s most influential narratives, it will once again be authored by transportation analyst Rosalyn Wilson.

“As we emerge from the recessionary period, supply chain management professionals remain at the forefront of the recovery,” said Rick Blasgen, CSCMP president and chief executive officer.

“This report not only identifies costs, but important trends that we are driving into the U.S. logistics system,” he continued. “Our panel of experts at the report’s unveiling in June will also provide a wealth of exclusive insights.”

The panelists for this year’s event, to be moderated by Kevin Smith of Sustainable Supply Chain Consulting, include several new names:

• Marc Althen, president, Penske Logistics
• Stevan B. Bobb, group vice president, coal, BNSF
• Beth E. Ford, executive vice president, chief supply chain and operations officer, Land O’Lakes
• Brent Beabout, senior vice president supply chain, Office Depot

The State of Logistics Report® has tracked and measured all costs associated with moving goods through the U.S. supply chain dating back to 1988.

By Alen Beljin

The virtual fair is open to active duty, veterans, guard/reservists and military spouses. Register today. Need assistance visiting the virtual fair? Watch the job seeker tutorial.

Penske’s human resources staff will host real-time chats with prospective associates, seeking to hire for U.S. jobs such as technicians/mechanics, vehicle maintenance supervisors/managers, drivers, sales and customer service.

Penske recently teamed up with Veteran Recruiting Services and other leading employers to support the White House Joining Forces Initiative to hire at least 50,000 veterans and military spouses by 2018.

For more information about Penske’s open positions for veterans, visit Penske’s post-military careers page.  Penske offers competitive wages and a wide range of benefits. Penske is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

By Kandace Wertz

“We moved to this new location because we needed the space due to our growth,” said Rick Pytlik, Penske senior vice president for the western region. “We’ve doubled the size of our building space and increased our acreage fivefold. We’re also now well positioned to accommodate future expansion of our operations.”

The Central Phoenix location provides full-service truck leasing, consumer and commercial truck rental and contract truck fleet maintenance services.

Some details about the building:

• Price tag was $6 million
• The 24,000 square-foot structure is housed on 10 acres
• Has five truck service bays and an automated wash bay
• Features a three-lane commercial truck fuel island with bulk diesel exhaust fluid (DEF)
• Built to service trucks with engines that run on compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied natural gas (LNG)
  

“Our customers are why we get up and work hard every day,” said John Marvin, the district manager.

To view the complete news release, click here.

By Alen Beljin

Photo caption: A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to commemorate the company’s newest facility in Phoenix. Appearing in the photo from left are Penske executives: John Marvin, district manager; Rick Pytlik, senior vice president for the western region and area vice president Joe Hill.

Dr. Steven Rumley and his wife, Diane, founded Support Military Spouses in Apex, N.C., back in 2009 to recognize and applaud the courage of military spouses as they balance the responsibility of family life, care for wounded loved ones, and honor the memory of fallen heroes. Penske Truck Rental was the first business to support the Shoeboxes for Military Spouses program when it began in 2010.

At the May 9 event, Dr. Rumley thanked all the sponsors for helping support their cause.

“We’re all here for one reason – to honor military spouses. You are all special,” he said. “We couldn’t do what we’re doing without the help of many, many people across the state and our great nation. We have the support of many businesses. The first people to be called upon was Penske. They’ve been with us from the very first day and have been with us ever since. We appreciate their support.”

Mike Parker, Penske’s district manager, shared with attendees the reasons Penske values veterans and military spouses both in and out of the workplace.

“Military personnel and their spouses have tirelessly made commitments to our country, and Penske is proud to join forces with other companies to make a commitment to you in return,” Parker said. “Roger Penske has always created winning teams – from the racetrack to the business world – and he has achieved that success by surrounding himself with the right people with the right attitudes. Penske identifies these winning traits in our veterans. They understand everyone’s success is important to a team’s success.”

Penske supports veterans and the military in a variety of ways including: nationwide recruitment and hiring events, partnering with organizations that help veterans, offering discounted truck rentals to veterans and military families, and many others. In 2012, almost 19 percent of Penske’s new-hires were veterans. Penske has also joined other leading employers in the 50,000 Jobs Challenge, a veterans and military spouses hiring campaign organized by Veteran Recruiting Services.

By Kandace Wertz

Penske’s recruiting team will be available to meet with prospective associates for various positions, including technicians/mechanics, vehicle maintenance supervisors/managers, drivers, sales and customer service. Click here to register.

Penske is on the current G.I. Jobs magazine Top 100 Military-Friendly Employers® list.

For more information about Penske’s open positions for veterans, visit Penske’s post-military careers page.  Penske offers competitive wages and a wide range of benefits. Penske is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

By Kandace Wertz

Billed as North America’s largest alternative fuel and clean vehicle technology show, the expo features sessions on truck fleet technology innovations within the industry, updates on fueling infrastructure and new product offerings.

“We have been servicing alternative fuel fleets and advising customers about alternative fuel choices within their fleets such as natural gas and others for well over a decade,” said Drew Cullen, Penske Truck Leasing vice president of fuels and telecommunications.

Penske currently serves a number of companies with fleets utilizing light-duty, medium-duty and heavy-duty vehicles with alternative fuels that include natural gas, electric, propane, and diesel-electric hybrids.

Penske Truck Leasing’s experts in fuels of all types, full-service leasing and fleet management will be available for consultation in booth 643.

“This event provides great information about where the industry is going with regard to alternative fuels and fuel strategies for fleets,” added Cullen. “Maximizing fuel economy, reducing costs, emissions, and helping our customers incorporate sustainable practices within their truck fleets as well as evaluating emerging alternative fuel technologies like natural gas is what we do every day. So, it’s important for us to be here.”

Penske was recently recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay Transport Partnership program with its Affiliate Challenge Award.

By “Move Ahead” Staff

Penske’s maintenance and human resources teams will be available to speak to students and alumni at the following tech schools to fill diesel technician, fueler/washer/vehicle detailer and fleet maintenance leadership positions.

• May 15: Spring Penske Day at UTI – Sacramento, Sacramento, Calif.
• May 15: Lincoln Technical Institute, South Plainfield, N.J.
• May 15-16: University of Northwestern Ohio, Lima, Ohio
• May 22-23: WyoTech, Blairsville, Pa.
• May 23: WyoTech, Sacramento, Calif.

Please check with your school’s Career Center for exact times and locations.

For more information about Penske’s open positions, visit the Penske careers page.  Penske offers competitive wages and a wide range of benefits. Penske is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

.@gopenskecareers filling truck maintenance jobs this month at @utitweet, @wyotech, @lincolntech ow.ly/kYbbK

— Go Penske Careers (@GoPenskeCareers) May 13, 2013

By Kandace Wertz

Penske Truck Rental will invite its consumer rental customers to donate $1 to support Mission: ABLE when they rent a one-way truck between Memorial Day 2013 and Memorial Day 2014.

To multiply the impact of its customers’ contributions to helping our veterans, Penske Truck Rental will also match each $1 donation its customers make during the duration of the campaign. Penske Truck Rental is a business unit of Penske Truck Leasing.

“We’re pleased to be working with the Paralyzed Veterans of America and supporting the admirable work they do to help our veterans,” said Brian Hard, president and CEO of Penske Truck Leasing. “We want to show our sincere appreciation to these outstanding men and women for all they have done and the incredible sacrifices they have made serving our country.”

Joey Logano, driver of the No. 22 Penske Truck Rental Ford Mustang, helped announce the giving effort via Twitter at the NASCAR Nationwide Series VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200 at the Darlington, S.C., Raceway.

“This is a really cool program between Penske Truck Rental and the Paralyzed Veterans and I’m excited to just be a little part of it,” said Logano.

“Paralyzed Veterans of America is a great organization that does a lot to help a bunch of people, who don’t really get the credit they deserve,” he continued. “And for Penske Truck Rental to step up and institute a program that could end up donating a lot of money is a pretty cool deal. I’m excited to help spread the word and to be a part of an organization that will help support this cause. Hopefully, we can win with the Penske Truck Rental Ford Mustang this weekend at Darlington and really help spread the word.”

The Mission: ABLE campaign was designed to enlist Americans – citizens, communities and corporations – to help ensure our paralyzed heroes are provided the physical care needed to live a healthy life; receive the benefits they’ve earned through military service; and obtain job training and opportunities for new and fulfilling careers.

“Through our Mission: ABLE campaign, Paralyzed Veterans of America fights to ensure that seriously injured veterans get the care, benefits and job opportunities that they’ve earned and deserve,” said U.S. Army veteran Bill Lawson, National President of Paralyzed Veterans. “Through this Mission: ABLE partnership with Penske Truck Rental, we’ll be able to strengthen this important work and help more veterans live full, independent and productive lives.”

Proud to start #OneWay4PVA drive to benefit #veterans @pva1946 @missionable with @penskeracing & @joeylogano ow.ly/kTRoX

— Penske Truck Rental (@PenskeMoving) May 10, 2013

By “Move Ahead” Staff

It will be televised live from Darlington Raceway on ESPN2 starting at 7:30 p.m. ET. The radio broadcast can be heard on MRN and Sirius XM.

For more information please click here.

By Alen Beljin