Jon Michelon has spent the last 25 years in the transportation industry as an investor, partner, and co-founder, starting, growing, and scaling three separate companies, all with successful exits. Jon’s latest venture, Load Delivered Logistics, which he co-founded with former partner Robert Nathan in 2008, was sold to Jordan Group/Capstone Logistics in 2018.

The key to the success of these ventures has been Jon’s ability to build a culture centered around putting coworkers first in every decision. By empowering the team to truly enjoy a life-work balance, not the reverse, Cooler has created a culture rooted in trust, transparency, truthfulness, and empathy. This approach allows the team to stay focused on one shared goal: making Cooler Logistics a leader in the specialized logistics space.

Jon lives outside Chicago with his wife of nearly 30 years and their five children. He enjoys spending time with his family, fishing, and cheering on the Chicago Bulls.

Michael Cherney remains a proven leader in the logistics industry with more than 14 years of experience. He holds a Master’s degree in Global Supply Chain Management and a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification. Known for his exceptional leadership, Michael specializes in optimizing supply chain operations, consistently enhancing efficiency and reducing costs through a commitment to continuous improvement.

Michael is a die-hard Chicago sports fan and avid golfer. When he’s not working, golfing, or watching his Chicago teams, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Lauren, and their dog, Lola.

Leigh Barnard entered the logistics industry in 2012 as the first female floor employee at Load Delivered Logistics. After more than a decade in the industry, what once began as a career path has become a true calling. Leigh has worn many hats over the years, excelling in operations, account management, and people management. She has witnessed the industry’s evolution, adapted to its ever-changing demands, and is excited to join Cooler Logistics as COO.

Leigh has a wonderful husband, John, who has always supported her career aspirations. In 2021, they welcomed a baby boy into the family and, unsurprisingly, he immediately gravitated toward toy trucks. Leigh and her family love living in Chicago and taking advantage of the city’s lakefront and museums. Outside of family activities, Leigh can usually be found curled up with a good book. In 2023, she earned her master’s degree in library and data science.

Prior to joining the Cooler Logistics team, Domenic (Dom) spent seven years in Mergers & Acquisitions at Walgreens as a Retail Pharmacy Acquisitions Manager, followed by six years as a Portfolio Manager at Wells Fargo Private Bank, working with high-net-worth clients. Dom graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in Sports Management and later earned a Master’s degree in Finance from DePaul University.

He lives in Highland Park, Illinois, with his wife, Becca, and their three children: Cooper (8), Dylann (6), and Carson (3). Dom loves all things sports-related, especially when it involves coaching or watching one of his kids or cheering on the Fighting Illini. He is excited to learn more about the logistics industry and join such a dynamic group of leaders at Cooler Logistics.

Ross Miller began his career in 2012 at Load Delivered Logistics and spent more than a decade in carrier sales leadership roles. His journey eventually led him to become a sales leader within the company, where he helped build company culture and played an active role during the Capstone acquisition. Ross also served on the advisory board for CarrierSource.io, a platform dedicated to aggregating carrier reviews and creating a marketplace where brokers and shippers can prospect and share experiences.

In 2020, Ross joined Flock Freight, where he excelled as a top carrier sales representative and contributed to the company’s rapid growth. Following his time at Flock, Ross joined Cooler, where he now leads the Carrier Procurement Department.

Outside of work, Ross enjoys spending time with family and friends, which he considers one of life’s greatest joys. There’s nothing quite like a home-cooked smoked BBQ gathering at the Miller household. Beyond family and friends, Ross is passionate about philanthropy and intramural sports, with giving back and staying active both playing a big role in his life.

Blake Dermer brings 15 years of experience in the logistics industry to Cooler Logistics. This marks the second time Blake has worked alongside Jon Michelon, having previously held roles in operations, carrier procurement, and customer sales throughout his career.

Outside of work, Blake enjoys spending time with his wife and two children, a daughter and son. The Dermer family loves doing everything together, including visiting parks, roller skating, going to movies and festivals, taking walks, doodling, cooking, and jamming out to music. Blake also enjoys playing basketball, attending concerts with his wife and friends, drawing, playing guitar, and cooking.

Marta joins the Cooler Logistics team as Senior Executive VP of Operations. Her mission is to spread joy and positivity wherever she goes. Whether organizing, implementing, or improving day-to-day logistics operations, Marta is dedicated to creating a vibrant and uplifting work environment.

When she’s not spreading smiles, Marta enjoys spending time with her fiancé, family, friends, and her two favorite French bulldogs.

Dan Travers was born and raised on Chicago’s Northwest Side and attended the University of Iowa, where he graduated with a B.S. in Marketing and a Certificate in Entrepreneurial Management. He began his logistics career at Load Delivered Logistics and remained with the company through its acquisition by Capstone Logistics. Dan later managed the sales department at Surge Transportation before joining Cooler Logistics.

When Dan is not moving freight, he enjoys golfing, attending concerts with friends, and exploring Chicago’s food and entertainment scene with his wife, Kristie. Giving back is especially important to Dan, and he has been actively involved with The Jeffrey Pride Foundation, an organization dedicated to funding groundbreaking pediatric cancer research in hopes of one day eliminating childhood cancer.

Ray Yu was born and raised in Livonia, Michigan, and is a proud graduate of Michigan State University. In 2014, he moved to Chicago, Illinois, to begin his career in logistics. Over the past 11 years, Ray has built a strong foundation in client-side operations across three logistics companies. He began as an operations representative, worked his way up to team lead, and later served as an operations manager for five years before joining Cooler Logistics as Senior Executive VP of Client Success.

Ray has always thrived in customer-facing roles, building relationships, earning trust, and consistently delivering value. He is passionate about helping Cooler grow by strengthening partnerships and elevating the client experience. Outside of work, Ray enjoys traveling, meeting new people, exploring different cuisines (especially Korean BBQ), attending concerts with friends, and spending quality time with his family.