TRANSPORTATION.

DREW WILKERSON

CEO | RXO

Charlotte

One of North Carolina's newest public companies is led by the public relations graduate of the University of South Carolina, who joined RXO's predecessor, XPO, in 2012. He became CEO when the business was spun off as an independent company last year.

RXO calls itself an "asset light" provider, meaning it arranges shipping for more than 100,000 carriers rather than owning its own fleet of trucks. It has an app that has been downloaded more than 1 million times.

Wilkerson oversees 700 employees at its main office in Charlotte's Ballantyne area with clients including more than half of Fortune Magazine's largest 100 companies such as Costco, Ford,, CM and Lowe's. He worked for logistics provider C.H. Robinson Worldwide in Columbia, South Carolina, before joining Greenwich, Connecticut-based XPO.

After opening at $22 in October, RXO shares have traded between about $15 and $25. It had a market cap of $2.2 billion in mid-April and reported revenue of $4.8 billion in 2022.

Favorite family tradition: The day after Thanksgiving, I spend time on the coast with family riding four-wheelers.

Favorite N.C. place to visit: Home. I travel so much I take advantage of time with my wife and kids.

What do you listen to on commute: People often send me podcasts on business or leadership. If not podcasts, music on the Pandora app.

Major inspiration: My parents instilled a strong work ethic in me. I watched how they treated people.

Career highlight: Last November, RXO's leadership team went to the New York Stock Exchange to ring the bell. My top highlight was the next day. When I walked into work in Charlotte, employees were still taking pictures with the new RXO signage and talking about how exciting our launch was.

Favorite hobby after work: Time with my kids and wife is the best way to decompress.

Best advice for industry newcomer: Listen more than you talk, work hard and build relationships. Spend time in the field.

KEVIN BAKER

executive director | Piedmont Triad Airport Authority

Greensboro

The Lehigh University engineering graduate has led the Piedmont Triad Airport Authority since 2009. Employment at the airport has expanded to more than 9,000 in his tenure, many working on building and maintaining aircraft. Denver-based Boom Supersonic plans a $500 million assembly plant at the site.

Favorite family tradition: Thanksgiving at Hilton Head

Favorite N.C. place to visit: Bald Head Island

Major inspiration: My wife. She doesn't know a stranger, and to be her friend, her only prerequisite is that you are a nice person. We should all be like her.

Career highlight: My kids!

Favorite hobby after work: Fine wines, billiards, friends and family, and there is always a home renovation project going on in our house.

Best advice to industry newcomer: Adversity builds character. Embrace it. And perseverance wins.

Key industry change in next five years: We will have another couple of hundred acres ready for the next aerospace company to call home!

BRIAN CLARK

executive director | North Carolina Ports Authority

Wilmington

The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy graduate succeeded Paul Cozza in January 2021. Last year, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg appointed Clark to the Maritime Transportation System National Advisory Committee. He previously was a senior manager at ports in Port Elizabeth, New Jersey, and Mobile, Alabama.

BILL COLLINS

president | HAECO Americas

Greensboro

The former executive at American Airlines and GE Aviation joined the Hong Kong-based aircraft maintenance company in 2018. HAECO Group consists of...