Jade Fickert has been a pioneer in bringing AI technology into the towing industry, leading the way in developing practical tools tailored specifically to the challenges tow companies face. With over a decade of firsthand experience in the towing and recovery business, she saw early on how overloaded office staff and operational inefficiencies were holding companies back. She has taught companies nationwide best practices in billing and operations, working with hundreds of owners and managers to identify inefficiencies and improve processes. She is the founder of Towboss, a company dedicated to bringing solutions to the towing industry to cut overhead, streamline office tasks, and improve both employee and customer experiences. Jade has been published or featured in Tow Times and other industry publications and has spoken at Tow Shows across the country. With her unique combination of deep operational knowledge and AI, she is uniquely positioned to guide towers on how to adopt these tools safely, effectively, and profitably.

Bill Giorgis, a second-generation owner of Mike’s Wrecker Service in Saginaw, Michigan, stands out as a prominent advocate in the towing and recovery industry. His influence spans from local initiatives to national leadership roles, reflecting his deep commitment to advancing industry standards and safety.

As former president of the Michigan Towing Association, Bill forged robust connections in Lansing, advocating before legislators and negotiating with lobbyists on crucial issues. His impact extended nationally during his tenure as president of TRAA, whne he bolstered the organization’s credibility within the Washington, D.C. community.

Notably, Bill conceived and spearheaded the “Law Enforcement Vehicle Identification Guide,” a pivotal resource still utilized today. His dedication to industry safety has garnered numerous speaking engagements, both within and beyond towing circles.

Beyond his professional achievements, Bill is a certified rescue diver, lending his expertise to local emergency operations in Saginaw’s waterways. His civic contributions are equally impressive, earning recognition from the Saginaw County prosecutors’ office for his support of crime victims and extensive community service efforts.

In 2002, Bill Giorgis achieved another milestone as the youngest member ever inducted into the International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame, a testament to his lasting impact and leadership in the field.

Dr. Melanie Sue Hicks is a workforce and nonprofit expert, author, TEDx speaker, and corporate trainer. In addition to her full-time role as Vice President of Programs for the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation, she leads a workplace think tank InPursuit Research Institute focused on workplace culture, burnout and multigenerational communication and collaboration.

She is also the founder of a nonprofit independent publishing imprint, Inked Elephant Publishing House, focused on social impact nonfiction and poetry from first time and emerging authors.

Beyond her professional work, Dr. Hicks is a global philanthropist traveling more than 120,000 miles, to more than 47 countries to lead or participate in 2,500+ hours of community-based work. These experiences have deeply shaped her perspective on resilience, adaptability, and human connection. She is the author of Incongruent: Travel, Trauma, Transformation, a travel memoir about rebuilding after life wreckage and curator of Shaking Off the Ashes, a resilience focused poetry collection.  

Dr. Hicks holds a Doctorate from the Askew School of Public Administration and Policy at Florida State University, a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Miami, and a Bachelor’s in Organizational Communication from the University of Central Florida.

In addition to her academic credentials, she holds a Business Analytics certificate from Harvard Business School and is a Senior Certified Professional with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM-SCP) and a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) with CFRE International.

She also holds multiple professional certifications, including Inclusive and Ethical Leadership, and Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt from the University of South Florida.

Aubert “Bert” King is a founder, operator, and industry advisor who has emerged as a leading voice in the modernization of the towing and recovery sector. With more than three decades of experience spanning banking, entrepreneurship, and consulting, he has built a career at the intersection of financial discipline, operational execution, and strategic growth—bringing institutional-level thinking to industries that have historically operated without it.

Bert began his career as the youngest Vice President in the history of First National in Lafayette, Louisiana, where he developed a foundation in corporate lending, financial structuring, and business analysis. That early exposure to a wide range of companies shaped a core belief that continues to define his work: most businesses do not fail from lack of effort or demand, but from a lack of financial clarity, operational structure, and disciplined decision-making.

Building on this foundation, Bert partnered his decade-old King Consulting platform with Tow America to form King America Performance Solutions (KAPS), a platform designed to fundamentally change how towing companies are managed. Recognizing that the industry remains highly fragmented and underserved from a financial and operational standpoint, KAPSwas built to introduce structured financial intelligence, performance measurement, and scalable operating frameworks typically found only in institutionally managed businesses.

As a long-time trusted advisor, Bert is helping to lead the development of KAPS as a national performance platform, working with operators, industry groups, and strategic partners to elevate how companies are run, measured, and scaled. His focus extends beyond individual business improvement to advancing the broader industry through education, standardization, and the adoption of data-driven decision-making. 

At the core of Bert’s work is a clear thesis: the future of the towing and recovery industry will be defined by operators who embrace financial mastery, operational discipline, and scalable systems. Through KAPS, he is helping to build the framework to support that transition and positioning the platform as a central force in the next phase of industry evolution.

Bert holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Mississippi and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Marketing from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. His career reflects a rare combination of institutional financial training and hands-on operating experience, enabling him to translate complex financial concepts into practical, actionable strategies for towing business owners.

Dr. Alex Leslie is a Senior Research Associate with the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI). His research combines a variety of qualitative and data science techniques to analyze industry economics, performance measurement, and labor issues.

Alex serves as the primary author of ATRI’s annual Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking, and he has led recent reports including Issues and Opportunities with Driver-Facing Cameras and Causes and Countermeasures of Predatory Towing.  He is currently engaged in ATRI research on the costs of detention to the American supply chain.  He also contributes to general data collection, programming, and editing across ATRI projects in addition to collaborating with government and industry task forces.

Alex holds a B.A. degree from the University of Notre Dame and a Ph.D. from Rutgers University, where he previously worked as an instructor of english and data science.

Peter Lukevich has nearly 40 years of experience as an attorney representing clients on a variety of legal matters in state and federal courts. Peter has served as the Association Director of the Towing and Recovery Association of Washington (TRAW) and has a strong familiarity with issues and regulations facing the towing industry. He is currently a lobbyist for the TRAW where he works on a variety of statutory and administrative law matters.

Besides the general business and regulatory issues that face towers each day, Peter has developed a cost effective and efficient method to accurately determine the military status of a registered owner (RO) prior to the auction/lien sale of a vehicle to comply with the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). His company, Service Member Data LLC (SMD), now operating in its 7th year, has completed nearly 100,000 searches of RO’s to date that provide the tow operator across the US with information about the current military status of the RO. Additionally, SMD has contacts active-duty members in the military if necessaryand obtains signed SCRA waivers permitting a tower to sell the vehicle at auctionwithout a court order.

In his spare time Peter has coached high school football, speech, and debate. He is also an adjunct professor at North Seattle College where he teaches business law, law and society, residential real estate, and residential and commercial property management.

Peter lives in northeast Seattle with his wife and enjoys spending time with his three beautiful grandchildren.

Michael McGovern’s career is deeply rooted in towing, beginning with his nights, weekends, and summers spent driving a tow truck for his family’s business while pursuing degrees at the University of Tennessee College of Business and later the UT College of Law, where he graduated with honors.

Over the span of 30 years, Michael has become a formidable figure in the legal landscape of the towing industry. He has represented numerous towing companies across the United States, handling high-profile cases from coast to coast. His litigation experience encompasses a wide array of issues including government regulations, discrimination in law enforcement towing, roadside injuries to tow truck operators, police towing contracts, storage lien disputes, rate regulations, and other critical matters affecting the towing profession.

Michael’s legal prowess extends to national prominence as a member of the bar in eight of the 12 federal circuit courts of appeal. His exceptional career includes two appearances before the United States Supreme Court on towing-related cases, where he achieved landmark victories such as shielding rotation towing companies from political reprisals in the O’Hare Truck Service case. Serving as general counsel of the national towing association for 12 years, he has been a pivotal voice in shaping industry policy and advocacy.

A distinguished author and columnist, Michael has contributed his insights to the “Legaleze” column in Tow Times magazine for over two decades. His authoritative 2011 book, “Towing and the Law” (available at www.towtimes.com), remains a definitive reference on legal issues within the towing industry. His contributions have been recognized with induction into the International Towing Hall of Fame, a testament to his unparalleled impact as the only attorney to receive this honor.

Beyond his towing industry achievements, Michael excels as a trial attorney handling criminal defense, civil litigation, business disputes, and personal injury cases through his firm, the McGovern Law Firm, based in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Throughout his illustrious career, Michael McGovern has steadfastly advocated for the legal rights and professional integrity of towing companies, cementing his legacy as a leading authority and defender within the industry.

Mike Porter is the owner of TDR Way and Newhouse Towing, and a facilitator of Profitowable Tow Groups, where towing company owners build stronger operations through accountability, collaboration, and measurable execution. With deep, real-world experience in the towing industry, Mike is known for helping leaders turn daily chaos into consistent performance by focusing on practical systems, clear standards, and the habits that drive results.

Through TDR Way, Mike trains and coaches teams to improve communication, customer experience, and leadership effectiveness ­ especially in the high-pressure moments that define a towing company­’s reputation. He brings an owner­s perspective to every room: what works on paper matters far less than what gets implemented on a busy Monday.

Mike is also the published author of Open the Door to the Truth, and he speaks with a grounded, encouraging style that helps owners simplify priorities, build momentum, and lead with confidence.

Brian, the esteemed founder and president of Fleet Compliance Solutions LLC, has extensive knowledge rooted in over 30 years of hands-on experience “In the Ditch.” With a robust background that spans ownership of multiple towing and auto transport companies, Brian offers invaluable guidance and wisdom drawn directly from his deep industry expertise — ensuring he grasps your needs firsthand.

In addition to his pivotal role at FCS, Brian is a multifaceted industry leader. He hosts the highly acclaimed podcast, On The Road with Your D.O.T. Guy, recognized as a premier source of trucking insights. Moreover, Brian is a prolific writer and sought-after lecturer for towing industry publications, specializing in compliance issues.

Despite his packed schedule, Brian maintains a direct connection to the field with a valid Class A CDL. He eagerly seizes opportunities to operate tow trucks, car carriers, and other impressive rigs at trade shows and for clients whenever possible. His unwavering dedication and ongoing involvement underscore his commitment to delivering unmatched expertise and service across all facets of the towing and transportation industries.

Throughout his career, Brian has logged over 2 million miles in various commercial motor vehicles, encompassing light-duty and CDL-required auto transport equipment, tow trucks, school and coach buses, as well as traditional tractor-trailers with dry van, refrigerated, lowboy/flatbed, and tanker-trailers. He has also leveraged his expertise as an expert witness, focusing on standards of care and customer education requirements in small fleet operations across specialized markets. Brian’s areas of proficiency extend to hours of service (HOS) compliance, driver training, pre-hire qualifications, vehicle maintenance, and inspections for both traditional fleets and non-traditional operations like those of plumbers, electricians, construction companies, and mobile service providers.

Brian’s comprehensive industry experience and unwavering commitment to excellence make him an indispensable resource for navigating the complexities of towing and transportation regulations with confidence and success.