A chat with the Young Leader Chair

mikecolwell

Michael (Mike) Colwell is Transportation Supervisor with Praxair Canada Inc. He is also Chair of PMTC’s Young Leaders Group. PMC Magazine sat down with Mike shortly after the recent PMTC Conference to find out more about him and the Young Leaders Group.

What are the requirements for being in the Young Leader Group? What is your role with the Young Leaders Group?

The requirements for a candidate’s entry into YLG are as follows:

• Between the ages of 25 and 45

• New to the industry

• Currently in a leadership role

• Striving towards a leadership role

• Looking to expand your network

• Looking to increase business opportunities

• Looking for development opportunities

I work with a core team of YLG members as we organize and run YLG events. I also work directly with the board to provide updates to the PMTC.

You are Transportation Supervisor (Central Region) at Praxair. What are your job duties?

I’m responsible for the day-to-day operations of the central region fleet. I am accountable for safety, productivity and the facilities.

What is your background in the private trucking industry?

The only history I have in trucking is with Praxair. I started in logistics.

You mentioned the primary objective of the Young Leaders Group was to promote growth. Is that individual/personal growth, company growth, Young Leaders Group growth, PMTC growth, industry growth or all of the above?

When you start with the individual’s development, it leads to the rest. We create opportunities for young people for development and growth. That, in turn, helps them and the companies they work for. It also helps to boost young leaders, the PMTC and hopefully in the future, the industry as a whole.

Where would you like to see the Young Leaders Group moving in the future?

My goal for the group is continuous growth. The larger we grow, especially early on, the better the content will be for those involved. The better the content, the more we will attract youth and the more we will grow.

What type of commitment is involved with joining the Young Leaders Group (financial, time, etc.)?

The commitment is minimal. People can give as much time as they would like. Over the next year, we will be hosting and sponsoring multiple events. We are targeting an event/meeting once a quarter with other sponsored events that suit the needs of young leaders in our industry.