Jim Collins was just 18-years-old when he first worked for Cincinnati-based Ace Doran Hauling & Rigging in central dispatch. But after seven years with Ace Doran, Collins decided it was time to move on and he left the transportation company for another open deck carrier. Some 27 years later, Collins decided it was time to come back to the place where he started his career.
That was about two years ago when he took the position of Director of Business Development at Ace. Then in September 2015, after the departure of Ace Doran President Dan Doran, Collins was asked to step in as interim president. In January 2016, Collins was named president of Ace Doran.
“I’m very happy to be here,” Collins said. “It’s great to have my second tour at Ace and to be part of the Bennett family.”
Since becoming president, Collins said he really wants Ace Doran to be a place where employees are fully engaged and they feel like they’re part of a team. Collins implemented teambuilding activities such as “Spirit Fridays,” when they hold random drawings and giveaways that include Ace Doran spirit wear. So far, he said he thinks they have been successful in promoting togetherness and establishing a team approach.
In the short term, Collins said they have been very busy making changes to their processes. From billing to driver pay, employees have been changing those processes and becoming ingrained in the Bennett way of doing business. He also said they are adding some new people, both in revenue producing positions and in support roles.
“We’ve got some pretty talented people coming onboard, who I think are going to do some really good things for us,” Collins said.
And he added that the overall plan is to continue to grow the business.
Collins emphasized that he is just thrilled to be a part of the Bennett family.
“I can honestly say that the Bennett family, from Mrs. Taylor all the way throughout the organization, has been so, so supportive of me, not only personally through this transition time and through my first six weeks as the president of Ace Doran, but also of the entire organization and in helping us to grow,” he said. “I’m just proud and pleased to be here.”
Bennett Motor Express, LLC completed the asset purchase of Ace Doran Hauling & Rigging Co., a more than 100-year-old transportation company based in Cincinnati, Ohio in September 2013.
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