Leadership
Jim Thomson, CEO and President
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Eccentric. Creative. Passionate. But most of all, an insatiably hard worker.
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Those are just a few of the many words that friends, industry colleagues and family effortlessly offer up to describe Jim Thomson, co-founder and CEO of trucking and warehousing powerhouse Thomson Terminals and the esteemed winner of the Omnitracs-OTA Service to Industry Award. The prestigious award, which represents the highest honour that can be bestowed on a member of the trucking industry, was presented to Jim and his wife Sally last night at the Ontario Trucking Association’s 93rd annual executive conference in Toronto.
“He ticks a lot of the boxes of the type of carrier that you want participating in your industry,” says Scott Smith, president of JD Smith & Son and chairman of the Canadian Trucking Alliance. “I met Jim very early in my start (in the industry), and I learned quite quickly that Jim is very focused on business values and helping others.” Jim met his wife Sally in 1962 in grade 9 science class. He went to work for her family delivery service business as a mechanics apprentice at 15 years old. In 1985, he and Sally ventured independently with a single truck and started Thomson Terminals. Today, it is a leader in freight transportation, full-service logistics and warehousing services, with over 150 trucks in Etobicoke, Ont. “The relationship they have is a fantastic one. It’s tough for a husband and wife to work together as closely as they do,” says long-time friend and partner on many charitable causes Eric Conroy. “They work so well together and know each other so well that they can finish each other’s sentences.”
A proud Ontario Trucking Association board of directors member for many years, Jim has been passionate and vocal about many industry causes. Still, highway safety and technology have been of particular interest. Jim champions on-road safety for all vehicles and is a key driver of the Traffic Injury Research Foundation, whose mission is to stamp out transportation-related injuries such as those due to lack of training and distracted driving. Jim is renowned in the trucking industry for his strong work ethic and charitable goodwill. “He never stops working; he’s a machine. It’s in his DNA to never stop,” says his daughter Samantha Thomson, director of Thomson Terminals. “He loves trucking; he is definitely a trucker through and through. He started as a driver, so he loves to be with them. It’s like family for him.”
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Speaking on behalf of the membership of the OTA, President Stephen Laskowski expressed how proud he was to present Jim with the honour. “Jim is truly one of the good guys in our industry. “Always innovative and thinking outside the box, Jim has been a thoughtful and influential advocate of many of the association’s and industry’s causes.”
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LEADERSHIP TEAM
Jim Thomson
CEO and President
Jim Thomson is the founder and co-owner of The Thomson Group of Companies. Jim is a graduate of the University of Toronto. Thomson Terminals is one of the first firms in Canada to establish a full-service 3PL provider, offering warehouse, consulting, transportation, and design-build.
Jeff Wilder
Vice President Sales and Marketing
Thomson Terminals is proud to announce the appointment of Jeff Wilder as the new Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Jeff has been with the company for 28 years and has worked his way up through various roles, starting from a critical position in operations. With extensive experience in transportation and warehousing operations, Jeff's expert management of day-to-day operations has played a pivotal role in maintaining and expanding the Thomson Group's transportation and warehousing division. He is a University of Western Ontario graduate and has received executive training from the Schulich School of Business at York University and Queen's School of Business.
Stacey John Jenkins
Director of Sales and Marketing
1995 marked the beginning of Stacey Jenkins' journey with Thomson Terminals Limited, where he started as our Highway Dispatch Executive. His dedication and hard work led him to the position of Traffic Manager in 2015. Today, we are thrilled to announce Stacey as the new Director of Sales and Marketing. With a remarkable 35 years of experience in transportation and operations, Stacey continues to leave an indelible mark on the industry. He has served as the President of the Toronto Trucking Association, is a current Board member of the Ontario Trucking Association, and contributes as a committee member of the Montreal Traffic Club. He was an active volunteer with CITT as well. A graduate of Laurentian University, Stacey is bilingual and enjoys recreational golfing. He also supports arts, culture, and humanitarian relief initiatives.
Sally Thomson
Co Founder
Sally brings over 35 years of experience in her position as owner and co-founder of the Thomson Group of companies. She has gained a reputation for being one of the first women to be involved with the North American logistics industry and is responsible for overseeing finances, policy and corporate strategy.
Moona Bedi
Controller
In June 1994, we welcomed Moona Bedi, CGA, as our Corporate Controller. Moona Bedi holds an Honours degree from the University of Toronto and brings with her a wealth of experience in financial management and accounting.
Arthur Fogas
Traffic Manager
Arthur Fojas, a testament to dedication and perseverance, began his career at Thomson Terminals in 2000, working in Distribution Operations with the Kimberly-Clark account. In 2004, he transitioned to Distribution Operations Analyst for the Thomson Group. Today, we proudly announce Arthur's promotion to Traffic Manager for Thomson Terminals Limited. A graduate of the DeVry Institute of Technology in Information Technology, Arthur is a professional and a proud, dedicated father of four. He excels in his professional life and as an assistant coach to his older son’s basketball Rep team, a gaming competition for his younger son, and cheerleader for his 2 daughters’ various sports, demonstrating his commitment and balance in life.
Samantha Thomson
Director
Sam started her career in the industry as a warehouse manager and has since progressed to her current leadership position. Today, she is responsible for supervising the daily operations and driving logistics excellence for the Thomson Group. Collaborating closely with Jim and Sally, Sam has played a pivotal role in advancing Thomson's logistics and quality control efforts.
Garry Wilkes
Director of IT
With over 35 years of experience in computer networking, infrastructure building, administration, and software development within the logistics industry, Garry is responsible for designing, developing, and implementing numerous transportation and warehousing-focused software and hardware solutions.