If you've attended a logistics and transportation event in the past 20 years, the chances are good that you've met Mike Regan—or have at least heard his confident voice booming from the back of a crowded conference room.

He's the guy who likes to stir the pot; as an advocate for shippers, he's known for putting government officials on the spot and making carrier executives squirm in their leather chairs. As a public speaker and educator, Regan's no-nonsense style challenges shippers to reinvent themselves and become more engaged in public-policy debates. And as CEO of TranzAct Technologies, he's devoted to helping shippers use technology and common sense to reduce their freight costs.

His straightforward questions, insatiable appetite for information, and unwavering commitment to shippers' education are slowly but surely earning him "industry legend" status.

For his steadfast passion for the logistics and transportation industry, the National Industrial Transportation League (NITL) and Logistics Management (LM) have chosen to present Mike Regan with the 2005 McCullough Award. This honor, which recognizes an individual for achievement and leadership in the transportation industry, is co-sponsored by NITL and LM. The award is named after John T. McCullough, a former chief editor of Distribution magazine, a predecessor of this publication. The award will be presented on November 14 at NITL's Annual Meeting in Anaheim, Calif.

"Mike Regan is one of the strongest voices for the logistics and transportation industry," says NITL President John Ficker. "He is a strong supporter of NITL and also functions as the chairman of the American Society of Transportation and Logistics (AST&L), where he consistently stresses the importance of being active in transportation and logistics associations to further professional development."

I recently spent time with Regan to learn more about the origins of his voracious hunger for knowledge and to see if I could learn the secret of what drives this tireless engine of advocacy.

LOGISTICS MANAGEMENT: When did you first step into the transportation and logistics game?

MICHAEL REGAN: When I graduated from the University of Illinois in 1976 I went to work for the Union Pacific Corp. I was an internal auditor where I basically walked around and stabbed the wounded after the war. I passed my CPA exam the same year. I lasted there for a year and then went to work for Price Waterhouse where I was involved in the audit of transportation companies.

What pushed you into the entrepreneurial role?

After my time at Price Waterhouse I went to work at Bank of America on their fright payment system. In 1983 I was offered a chance to go to work for Irving Trust, a bank that that actually no longer exits. Irving was going to double my salary, pay me a bonus of 25 percent of my salary if I hit numbers I knew I could hit in my sleep, and they were going to give me a company car and a parking spot downtown Chicago.

I was all set to take the job, and I had talked to everyone about it except for my Dad, who was something of entrepreneur extraordinaire. So, I called Dad the morning I was on my way to accept the job. He said, ‘Look, if you want to take that job I’ll be happy for you, but would you like to know what I’m thinking? If you take that job,’ he said, ‘you’ll be out on the street in three to five years looking for another job. You will not be happy until you start and run something. I know you, you’re my son, and it’s in your genes.’ Continued...

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