Our Team

Jon Michelon

Jon Michelon, has spent the last 25 years in the transportation space, 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 his former partner Robert Nathan in 2008 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 based on putting the needs of the co-workers first in every decision. Empowering the team to truly enjoy a Life-Work balance, not the reverse. A culture, based on trust first and foremost, transparency, truthfulness and empathy empowers the team to focus on one single goal, making Cooler Logistics a leader in the specialized logistics space.

Jon lives outside chicago, with his wife of almost 30 years and their 5 children. Jon enjoys spending time with his family, fishing, and the Chicago Bulls.

Michael Cherney

Michael Cherney, remains a proven leader in the logistics industry with 14+ years of experience. He holds a Master’s in Global Supply Chain Management and a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification. Known for their exceptional leadership, Michael specializes in optimizing supply chain operations, consistently demonstrating their ability to enhance efficiency and reduce costs through a commitment to continuous improvement. Michael is a die-hard Chicago sports fan and avid golfer. When he is not working, golfing, or watching his Chicago teams, he spends his time with his beautiful wife, Lauren, and their dog, Lola.

Leigh Barnard

Leigh Barnard joined the logistics industry in 2012 as the first female floor employee at Load Delivered Logistics. After more then a decade in the industry, what was once a career path has since become a true calling. Leigh has worn multiple hats throughout the years excelling in operations, account management and people management. She has had the pleasure of witnessing the industries evolution and adapting 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, not surprising anyone he immediately gravitated towards toy trucks. Leigh and her family love living in Chicago and taking advantage of the amazing lake front and museums. Outside of family activities Leigh can usually be found curled up with a good book and in 2023 graduated with her master’s degree in library and data science.

Alex Hoopingarner

Alex Hoopingarner is an accomplished professional with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Toledo and a distinguished career in the field of technology and cybersecurity. With a solid foundation in education and a wealth of experience, he brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table.

Alex’s career trajectory has seen him excel in diverse roles, with his most recent position being in the realm of cybersecurity consulting for large Fortune 500 clients. His dedication and commitment to ensuring the security and integrity of vital systems have earned him a sterling reputation in the industry.

Alex is thrilled to embark on a new professional journey in the vibrant world of logistics. He recognizes the immense potential for technological advancement in this field and is eager to spearhead innovative solutions that will shape the future of logistics.

Outside of his professional endeavors, Alex has a passion for sports and has recently embraced the sport of paddle. He has achieved the distinction of being a certified paddle coach, showcasing his dedication to personal growth and skill development beyond the workplace.

Alex’s formal approach to his work, combined with his enthusiasm for technology and his commitment to excellence, make him a valuable asset in any endeavor he undertakes. With his move to Miami, he looks forward to contributing to the local community and forging new connections in the ever-evolving world of logistics.

Domenic Poeta

Prior to joining the Cooler Logistics team, Domenic (Dom) spent seven years in Mergers & Acquisitions with Walgreens as a Retail Pharmacy Acquisitions Manager, and six years as a Portfolio Manager for Wells Fargo Private Bank working with high net worth clients. Dom graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in Sports Management, and earned a Master’s Degree in Finance from DePaul University. He lives in Highland Park, IL with his wife Becca and their three kids – Cooper (8), Dylann (6) and Carson (3). Dom loves all things sports, especially when it involves watching/coaching one of his kids or the Fighting Illini! Dom is very excited to learn all about the logistics business and to be joining such a dynamic group of leaders in this industry.

Ross Miller

Ross Miller began his career in 2012 at Load Delivered Logistics and has had a very fulfilling decade in Carrier Sales Leadership roles, . His journey led him to become a sales leader at the company. Ross helped build company culture and was a present member of the team during the Capstone acquisition. He also had the privilege of serving on the advisory board of CarrierSource.io, A platform dedicated to aggregating carrier reviews and creating a marketplace for brokers and shippers to prospect and share their experience. In 2020, Ross joined Flock Freight, where he excelled as a top carrier sales representative and helped with their rapid growth. After Flock, Ross’s journey led him to Cooler logistics where he will be leading the Carrier Procurement Department. Outside of work, Ross enjoys spending time with his family, spending quality time with them and close friends is Ross’s greatest joy in life. There is nothing quite like the warmth of a home cooked, smoked BBQ gathering at the Millers’ household! Beyond family and friends, Ross is an enthusiastic participant in philanthropy and intramural sports. Giving back is a big part of who he is and staying active is what Ross is all about.

Sean Prendergast

Sean Prendergast has been in the logistics industry for over 13 years, starting his career back in 2010 at Load Delivered. Sean started off as a carrier rep but with his dedication and attention to detail, switched roles and took over the Claims and Compliance departments. Sean grew his role as a manager, being responsible for the risk management and safety of the company. Sean left Load Delivered/Capstone back in 2021, where he took the role of VP of Carrier Sales at Best Dedicated Solutions. Over that next year, his true passion came back around and he took over as the Head of Claims and Compliance. Sean ran those two departments until August of 2023, when this new adventure came to fruition. Sean joined forces again with Jon and couldn’t be more excited for Cooler Logistics. Outside of work, Sean has been happily married to his beautiful wife Chase for 12 years. They have 2 wonderful and energetic boys together. Sean loves watching and coaching his boys’ sports team, watching sporting events on TV, and hitting the golf links.

Jay Mueller

Jay Mueller, a seasoned professional in the logistics industry, embarked on his career in 1991 after graduating from the University of Wisconsin. As the 30th employee at American Backhaulers, he developed a passion for the faced paced transportation sector. Jay served as a sales leader at ABH for 9 years, playing a pivotal role in expanding the business to over 500 employees and achieving sales exceeding $300 million. Subsequently, with the acquisition by CH Robinson in 2000, Jay continued his journey as a key member of the newly formed Chicago Central leadership team.

For the next 23 years, Jay demonstrated consistent excellence by effectively managing one of the largest commercial P&Ls within the CH Robinson Network. His leadership extended to overseeing teams engaged in sales, account management, and operations, contributing significantly to the company’s success.

Beyond his professional achievements, Jay is an avid athlete, having participated in numerous triathlons and marathons, including the Madison Ironman. In his leisure time, he enjoys traveling with his wife, golf during the summer and paddle tennis in the winter.

Residing in Northbrook, Illinois, Jay shares his home with his wife, two dogs, and is proud to be the father of five grown children.

Blake Dermer

Blake Dermer comes to Cooler Logistics with 15 years of experience in the Logistics industry. This is the second time Blake has worked with Jon Michelon and has held positions in Operations, Carrier Procurement and Customer Sales. Blake spends time with his wonderful wife and two kiddos (one daughter and one son). The Dermers love to do everything as a family; parks, roller skating, movies, festivals, walks, doodling, cooking, jammin’ out to tunes and much more! Blake loves to play basketball, go to concerts with his wife and friends, draw, go to the movies, play guitar and cook!

Marta Kuzebski

Marta joins the Cooler Logistics team as Senior Executive of Operations. Marta’s mission is to spread joy and positivity wherever she goes. Whether it’s organizing, implementing and improving the day-to-day logistics operations; Marta is dedicated to creating a vibrant and uplifting work environment. When she is not spreading smiles, you can catch Marta spending time with her fiancé, family, friends and her two favorite French bulldogs.

Dan Travers

Dan Travers was born and raised on Chicago’s Northwest side and attended the University of Iowa, graduating with a B.S. in Marketing and a Certificate in Entrepreneurial Management. He started his career in logistics with Load Delivered Logistics, staying on when they were bought by Capstone Logistics. He later managed the sales department at Surge Transportation before coming to Cooler Logistics. When Dan is not moving freight, he enjoys golfing, going to concerts with friends, and enjoying all the great food and entertainment Chicago has to offer with his wife Kristie. Giving back is extremely important to Dan and he has been involved with The Jeffrey Pride Foundation, who have worked for years helping fund groundbreaking research into pediatric cancer, in the hopes of one day eliminating childhood cancer.