ADMINISTRATION
Marvin Shefsky – CEO, RAMP Media Group
email: marvin@rampmediagroup.com
phone: 800-878-0311 x2101
In 1970, Marvin Shefsky launched his remarkable career by working as one of the nation’s first student driver recruiters. Eight years later, Shefsky became the country’s first independent recruiter for owner-operators. In the process, he blazed new trails by developing the seminar approach to recruit drivers and owner-operators.
Shefsky revolutionized the industry in 1980 by developing Over the Road, the original driver recruiting magazine. For the past 32 years, Over the Road has remained one of the top communication links between motor carriers and the company drivers and owner-operators who hire on with them. “That’s what Over the Road does,” says Shefsky. “It delivers your message to 75,000 drivers each month.” Today, Over the Road is distributed in more than 1,200 truck stops and travel centers from coast-to-coast, giving Shefsky and his publishing team unmatched insights into the concerns of drivers, motor carriers and travel centers.
In 1992, Shefsky got the industry buzzing again when he introduced the Recruitment Center to the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, KY. This event has grown steadily in popularity over the years, and it is currently America’s top venue for cost-effective, face-to-face driver recruiting efforts.
Years ago, Shefsky played an important role in getting the Truckload Carrier Association’s Driver of the Year Contest off to a strong start. He has since been appointed to the TCA’s Board of Directors and now proudly serves on their Panel for Recruiting and Retention. In this key position, he helps develop new markets from which carriers can recruit drivers and implement innovative programs to retain them.
“I love working in this industry,” says Shefsky. “It is challenging for me to seek out new ways for our industry to communicate and work with drivers. There are always more efficient ways of getting the job done, and I’m on the lookout for them. Our industry is in a constant state of change, and keeping up to speed with them is imperative for good communication – that’s our business.
“For years we’ve been concerned about the health and wellness issues facing drivers, continues Shefsky. “With the average age of the professional driver now over 50 and the average age of death less than 61, it was obvious that someone had to step up and do something – and we did. At the 2005 Mid-America Trucking Show, we included four blood pressure machines in our exhibit to see if drivers were concerned enough about their health to check their numbers. During three days, more than 2,000 drivers checked their blood pressure. Twenty of them were sent straight to the emergency room, and one had a heart attack on the way. Our question was answered – drivers will check their blood pressure if given the opportunity. They are concerned about their general health and wellness.”
This insight led to the formation of the Healthy Trucking Association of America and Driver HEALTH magazine, the only publication dedicated to the improved health and wellness of professional drivers and owner-operators.
Clearly, Shefsky has a passion for the trucking industry. In fact, his enthusiasm has drawn several family members to join him at RAMP Media Group. His son, Andy, serves as publisher, and his wife, Penny, and daughter, Jenny, are associate publishers.
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Penny Shefsky - Associate Publisher
email: pshefsky@otrprotrucker.com
phone: (800) 878-0311 x2105
Every company has a CEO, a president or a person with a boss-sounding title, but everyone knows that the "real" boss is the person who runs the office and signs the checks. At Ramp Publishing, the "real" boss is Associate Publisher Penny Shefsky, the wife of Publisher Marvin and mother of Associate Publisher Andy and supersalesperson Jenny.
With her natural mothering instincts, Penny takes good care of the company's people and the pennies, or, as she likes to say, "I am the 'P' in Ramp!" No one will argue with that.
Born in Fort Wayne , IN , Penny attended Miami University in Oxford , OH before earning her degree in French from Indiana University (Go Hoosiers!). Both of Penny's children followed in her footsteps at IU.
Penny met Marvin through a blind date while living in Florida . The couple married, moved to Atlanta in 1978 and started raising a family and building a business together.
Family always comes first with Penny, which works out great because Penny is surrounded by family at Ramp. Along with Marvin, Andy and Jenny, Penny's sister, Cheryl Samet, is also employed by the company. In fact, given the close working relationships of all the folks at Ramp, you could say the company is like one big family mothered by the "real" boss, Penny.
When she's not busy looking out for the extended Ramp family, Penny enjoys reading, working the N.Y. Times Sunday Crossword, hanging out at Lake Lanier, and, of course, spending quality time with her "real" family, including new grandson, A.J. |
Andy Shefsky - Publisher
email: ashefsky@otrprotrucker.com
phone: (800) 878-0311 x2108
-Video Signatures-
Every winning team needs a utility player who can do a lot of different things often behind the scenes -- to help the team succeed. In the case of Ramp Publishing, publishers of Over the Road and Pro Trucker magazines, that valuable role is capably filled by Associate Publisher Andy Shefsky.
The son of co-owners Marvin and Penny Shefsky, Andy began learning the family business as a kid when he did an assortment of chores around the office. Later, during summer breaks from high school and college, Andy took on greater responsibilities while working in virtually every department at Ramp, including circulation, production, sales and marketing.
"I’m a jack-of-all-trades," Andy says. "I really enjoy the diversity of the job. One minute I might be talking to one of our readers, a truck driver, and the next minute I might be on the phone with [NASCAR driver) Ken Schrader or one of our advertising clients. Every day presents a different challenge, and that makes it fun. I consider myself a people person. As it turns out, everything I do on the job involves people."
Andy has focused his considerable energy on sales and marketing. For example, Andy heads Ramp’s extensive marketing efforts with NASCAR and Ken Schrader Racing. Along with putting proposals together, Andy travels to racing shops and races to oversee Ramp’s ongoing "In the Pits" contest promotions.
When he’s not at the office, calling on customers or attending truck shows and car races on behalf of Ramp, Andy volunteers his time to coach youth sports.
A 1998 graduate of Indiana University where he was a double major in psychology and criminal justice, Andy joined the family business on a full-time basis that summer, but not before contemplating attending law school with a long-term goal of entering politics. Andy hasn’t ruled out a run for office somewhere down the line. In the meantime, he's earning votes throughout the trucking industry for his work as a "favorite son" candidate from Ramp. |
Jenny Shefsky-Browne - Associate Publisher
email: Jenny@RampMediaGroup.com
phone: (800) 878-0311 x2111
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Jenny has been with Ramp Publishing since she was old enough to stuff envelopes with the magazines at home on the kitchen table. While in school she worked at Ramp over the summers from front desk responsibilities to circulation. She did take advantage of a few summers away from home to experience New York and Los Angeles. In New York she lived at NYU and was an intern at a popular radio station working with their promotions team. In L.A. she was a camp counselor for high school kids taking college classes at UCLA. One semester in college she attended Semester at Sea, a journey that lasted 100 days and went around the world.
After graduating Indiana University in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a Business minor, she decided to join the Ramp team full time. She really enjoys being able to work alongside her family while helping her clients achieve their driver recruitment and marketing goals through advertising campaigns in OTR and Driver HEALTH Magazine. Jenny has played an integral role in the development of the Healthy Trucking Association and it’s official publication, Driver HEALTH. Jenny is the VP of Fleet and Association Relations and works closely with providing trucking fleet memberships and Allied Membership for products and services. She also publishes the monthly HTAA e- newsletter.
In her free time she enjoys spending time with her husband, cooking, going to the gym, traveling, volunteering, and bothering their dog Sadie and cat Rocky. |
ADVERTISING SALES
 Mike Zezza - Publishers Representative
email: mzezza@otrprotrucker.com
Mike joined the Ramp Publishing Group in 2005, bringing with him more than 30 years experience in the trucking industry. A lifelong resident of Minnesota, Mike’s career in trucking includes three years of over-the-road driving, two years as a safety supervisor, 10 years of recruiting management, as well as operations and transportation sales management.
Mike’s experience and knowledge of the trucking industry and his positive attitude translate well with his customers. He is always willing to offer suggestions and ideas for successful recruiting and hiring practices.
In his pursuit of health and wellness, Mike has completed a number of marathons and more than 50 triathlons. He certainly understands the importance of the Healthy Trucking initiative and the issues faced by the trucking industry as it relates to recruiting and retention. |
Brett Blowers - Marketing and Sales
email: brettb@otrprotrucker.com
phone: (800) 878-0311 x2106
Brett Blowers began working with Ramp Media as an Independent Marketing Consultant. Originally contracted to handle the marketing and promotion for our new Healthy Trucking Initiative, Brett quickly recognized the urgent need for this important program and became a full-time member of our group.
With over 25 years experience in marketing and advertising, Brett’s duties include national marketing and concept development for the Healthy Trucking Initiative. He has brought his considerable talents to bear on helping Ramp spearhead the BIGGEST PROMOTION IN THE TRUCKING INDUSTRY, and his insight and experience have been integral to the huge success of this nationwide awareness campaign.
Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Brett is an Auburn University graduate, with three sons. Brett can be immediately recognized by his unmistakable Alabama accent; although he makes the claim that he doesn’t have an accent---according to Brett, it’s everyone else who has an accent. |
STAFF
Merck Smith - General Manager/COO
email: msmith@otrprotrucker.com
phone: (800) 878-0311 x2102
Merck Smith has the longest job title at Ramp Publishing: COO/Corporate Counsel/General Manager. What does that mean? It means he's responsible for making sure things run smoothly from an operations standpoint and that no one gets in too much trouble or makes any really, really bad mistakes.
What does he like the best about his job? Those rare moments of peace and quiet when everything's right with the world. That, and taking care of his huge tropical fish tank.
Born in Atlanta , Merck graduated Emory University with a degree in Mathematics in 1982. He went on to earn his law degree from the Georgia State University College of Law in 1985.
Merck practiced law from 1985-1996, at which time he took a full-time position with Ramp Publishing. Married with one son and three step-children, Merck, a former high school soccer standpoint, continues to play soccer on a local adult team. He also holds a National Coaching License and is active on the Atlanta youth soccer scene.
Besides soccer and tropical fish, Merck enjoys woodworking. |
 Bret Kempler - Director of Information Systems
email: Bret@otrprotrucker.com
phone: (800) 878-0311 x2104
Bret obtained his undergrad from Emory in Psychology. From there, he went on to Mercer to get an MBA with an emphasis in IT and organizational behavior. Bret brings experiences from both the Corporate and Small Business world. |
Cheryl Samet - Special Events Manager/Sales Support
email: csamet@otrprotrucker.com
phone: (800) 878-0311 x2103
You might say that traffic manager Cheryl Samet, who serves as the link among the salespeople, graphic artists and production department, is the glue that helps keep the Ramp family together.
During her 17 years with the company, Cheryl has held a variety of support and managerial positions, many of them associated with special events such as truck shows. Many clients, for example, know Cheryl through her work as coordinator and liaison of the Mid-America Trucking Show Recruitment Center, which Over the Road and Pro Trucker have sponsored for several years.
Most of Cheryl's time, however, is devoted to working with the production department, a task she finds very rewarding. "Integrity is of the utmost importance whether it's producing artwork or creating editorial spots," she says. "When you consider the years of knowledge, creativity, skill and wisdom that we have in our production department, it's about the best you can get in this industry."
The opportunity to work with a variety of different people -- clients, staff members and contractors -- on an every-day basis combined with the relaxed, family atmosphere at Ramp only adds to her job enjoyment. Cheryl also gladly serves as the company dog walker, which gives her the opportunity to take breaks with "Sunny" and "Samantha." Cheryl's other "outside" interests include traveling, movies and various creative projects.
Born and raised in Indiana, Cheryl moved with her family to Hollywood, FL where she attended high school. She moved to Atlanta in 1975 to attend Oglethorpe University, earned her degree in 1979 and has remained in the Atlanta area ever since. "I love it here," she says. "I couldn't imagine living anywhere else." |
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