The Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute has presented ATA Chairman Charles “Shorty” Whittington with its first-ever Agricultural Transportation Leadership Award to recognize Whittington’s 30 years of commitment to the agricultural and trucking industries. The Agricultural Transportation Leadership Award was designed to honor an industry official who demonstrates exemplary leadership in the commercial agricultural transportation sector.
“I am pleased that Shorty was chosen as the first recipient of this distinguished award,” says Bill Graves, ATA president and chief executive officer. “Shorty has dedicated his life to tackling the tough issues faced by the agricultural and transportation industries. He is a true leader who exemplifies what can be achieved through commitment and service.”
As president and CEO of Grammer Industries Inc., Whittington is a leader in the agriculture, commercial trucking transportation and biodiesel renewable fuels industry. He is a founding member of ATA’s Agricultural and Food Transporters Conference and has served as chairman of the AFTC board of directors for more than five years.
Whittington founded Integrity BioFuels, one of Indiana’s first soy-biofuels plants, which is considered a model plant and has been visited by biofuels leaders from across the country. He began his career operating a grain elevator and has built a series of successful agribusinesses benefitting Indiana’s economy, gaining the state substantial recognition and proving that determination, foresight and leadership are qualities that make Indiana an economic power.
Whittington is active in many civic, service and trade organizations, including the Indiana Feed, Grain and Plant Food Association; the Kentucky, Illinois and Ohio Fertilizer Associations; and several state LP Gas Associations. Whittington is past chairman of the Indiana Motor Truck Association. He is a director and board member of the Midwest Agriculture Farmers Cooperative and a transportation consultant to the Fertilizer Institute and Agricultural Retailers Associations.
