Service is a way to show gratitude for their good fortunes
By Jeff Kurowski | On Mission
GREEN BAY — A Premier Logistics truck was stranded in Little Canada, Minn., on Christmas Eve. A hotel room was available for the driver, but for Bill Hawley, owner and president of the trucking company, and his wife, Jenny, vice president, that was not the answer. Instead, they made the trip to bring the employee home to be with his family for the holiday.
Another example of the care the Hawleys, members of Resurrection Parish in Allouez, show for their employees is the weekly team meeting.
“We talk about what’s going on in their lives,” said Bill. “I love it. We ask things like, ‘What are you doing this weekend?’ The team meeting should be 20 minutes, but it’s an hour and a half. It’s a way to catch up. There are a couple questions I always ask — ‘What’s your stress level?’ and ‘What’s your workload?’— to see how they’re doing.”
Bill and Jenny are Moline, Ill., natives. They founded Premier Logistics LLC in September of 2012 following a journey that included a move from their hometown to Sheboygan before eventually settling in Green Bay.
Bill began his career in the transport industry as a third-generation employee at Roadway Express. Jenny’s background includes working with children and adults with special needs.
Bill was transferred to Sheboygan for a sales position. The move to Green Bay was for a position as a service center manager.
“I loved the work, but it was long hours,” he said. “So, we started our own company.”
Premier Logistics started with one truck. Jenny handled billing out of their home.
“I was never in a truck,” said Bill. “I was on the management side of things. I spent all summer writing a business proposal, and then I realized someone has to drive the truck, and that’s me.”
They now have 25 employees and a fleet that includes 26-foot straight trucks, vans and semis. The company’s name, Premier Logistics, is in reference to what they strive for in customer service, he said.
“We have three different service offerings,” said Bill. “Whether it’s the premium or the cost-effective one, we let them know when their shipment is picked up and when it’s delivered via email. No tracking. It’s a lot of hands-on communication.”
Communication with customers is also in the form of a weekly “blast email.” When the Hawleys first included photos of their dogs — Daisy Mae and Sadie Lou, both English Cream Golden Retrievers — customers asked for more.
The dogs go to the office each day and also join Jenny in community outreach: she takes the pair of certified therapy canines to Unity Hospice in De Pere.
“I visit once a week for a lady who’s in Unity,” said Jenny. “She loves petting the dog for an hour.”
Service is not only a way to live out their faith, but also a means to show gratitude, said Bill.
“I just feel like we owe it for our good fortunes,” he said. “There were a lot of years of struggling to get through with the business. We reinvested everything and the church was always there.”
Bill and Jenny are active at Resurrection Parish as fish fry and hospitality dinner volunteers, small group participants, golf outing supporters and Resurrection Walk to Mary Team members.
“The last few years, we’ve printed out little papers with our emblem on it that we hand out to our workers to come to the fish fry, or to customers,” said Jenny. “I pay one bill at the end of the night.”
The Hawleys said they support Premier Logistics employees as they explore community outreach efforts as well.
“One of our drivers contacted us to see about being in the Polka Days Parade (in Pulaski),” said Jenny. “He did the leg work.”
On July 22, Premier Logistics trucks were part of the parade, with employees passing out candy on foot.
Catholic education is also important to Bill and Jenny, who have four grown children — Kayla, 23; Emily, 21; Conner, 20; and Bryce, 18.
“There were some challenges with tuition, but we were able to continue Catholic education for our kids, from Resurrection (now Father Allouez Catholic School) to Notre Dame (Academy in Green Bay),” said Jenny.
They continue to give their time to Notre Dame Academy, including as mission trip volunteers in Canton, Miss. Bill also serves as a cross country coach for the Tritons and Jenny does Adoration in the school chapel on Mondays.
They also added a Notre Dame Academy student to their family this past school year. The Hawleys hosted Hannah, a Global Outreach Catholic Exchange student from Hungary.
“That was a sad day when she left,” said Bill.
Bill and Jenny also volunteer at Whatsoever You Do, Inc., block parties and help serve meals at homeless shelters in Green Bay.
As they continue to grow Premier Logistics, Bill said they plan to continue to give back.
“One of the things we always talk about is giving more to the church,” he said.
“(Bill and Jenny) are a couple and individuals that you can always count on,” wrote Deacon Kevin DeCleene of Resurrection Parish in nominating the couple for the Faith That Works Award. “They are both deeply loyal people. They are loyal in their faith, to their family and to their friends and co-workers.”