Finding a Way

Growing up, Bryan Oden dreamed of following in his parents’ footsteps by joining the military and seeing the world. But after completing basic training, he realized what he wanted to see most was a change in his hometown. From serving his country to serving his community, Bryan has learned how true it is that one person can make a difference. It’s a lesson he’s hoping to pass on not only to his son, but to anyone else looking to help the place they call home. Subscribe to get the latest episodes of Finding a Way and meet more of the amazing people that make ArcBest an awesome place to work.

Meet Chris Wear, a senior operator in production control at ArcBest Technologies. When he’s not working, you’ll usually find him in his running shoes, but that wasn’t always the case. At a time when his health and wellbeing weren’t where they should be, two of Chris’s friends motivated him to sign up for his first 5K. It awakened his competitive spirit and started an emotional journey that would lead him to complete more than 30 marathons (and still counting). In this episode of Finding a Way, Chris shares how overcoming those distances has also helped him overcome other challenges in life — and why he plans on never looking back. Subscribe to learn more about the amazing people that make ArcBest an awesome place to work, or to find out more about ArcBest, visit arcb.com.

Meet Lyska Dilworth, a project management engineer at ArcBest Technologies. Growing up in a small Arkansas town, Lyska set her sights on becoming a computer engineer at a young age. But during her freshman year of college, Lyska’s life took a turn — and it wasn’t until many years later that she was able to get back on the path she felt called to follow. Subscribe to get the latest episodes of Finding a Way, part of the #OurPeopleArcBest series, and be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram to meet more of the amazing people that make ArcBest an awesome place to work. To learn more about ArcBest, visit arcb.com.

What started as an internship led Kendra Schultz to find the calling she didn’t know she was searching for. After what was supposed to be a short trip to Haiti, Kendra was asked to take on the role of director at a children’s home there — and at just 22 years old, she became fully responsible for the physical and emotional health of 12 little ones. “I didn't have any desire to live in another country…but seeing those kids and being able to spend time with them for 10 days just drastically changed my heart.” Hear more of her inspiring story in this episode of Finding a Way. Subscribe to get the latest episodes and be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram to meet more of the amazing people that make ArcBest an awesome place to work. To find out more about ArcBest, visit arcb.com.

Ralph Garcia and Nate McCarty, road drivers for ABF Freight, recently completed a nine-day journey to deliver a truckload of wreaths — a load they refer to as “sacred cargo” — that were placed on the graves of veterans laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery. As part of the Wreaths Across America convoy, they were two of hundreds of volunteer truck drivers who used donated equipment and fuel to deliver nearly 600 truckloads of wreaths to veteran cemeteries in all 50 states. In this episode of Finding a Way, we talk to them about what it means to fulfill Wreaths Across America’s mission to “Remember, Honor, and Teach” and about the amazing people, families and experiences they encountered along the way. Click ‘subscribe’ to get the latest episodes of Finding a Way, and be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more stories of incredible people who make ArcBest an amazing place to work.

Carrie Owenby is a Senior Financial Analyst at ArcBest by day, and a dance instructor at night. She teaches a one hour tap dance class to adults — most of whom are women in their 50s and 60s — and hip hop to a room full of teenagers. “I love all aspects of dance but I think my favorite is hip hop. I love it because it’s so much fun and makes me feel the most free. The music is upbeat and so happy. You throw the moves and it’s not about control. The bigger you make ‘em, the better they are.” When asked if her kids think it’s cool that she knows how to hip hop dance, the mother of three teenage sons said, “They don’t think anything I do is cool right now.” Visit the ArcBest Facebook page to learn more about Carrie’s passion for teaching dance and see her in action! Then subscribe to get the latest episodes of Our People ArcBest and meet more of the amazing people that make ArcBest an exciting place to work. #OurPeopleArcBest

Gary Don Curry faced a lot of obstacles growing up, but he’s never been one to complain. An atypical childhood, moving homes more than 40 times and plenty of opportunities to just give up haven’t stopped him from keeping a positive attitude. With a strong commitment to his family, faith and community, Gary Don knows that extending forgiveness and compassion to others is the best way to live life— something he considers a wonderful gift.