━ The People Behind the Platform

Leadership &

Advisory

Board

The Blue Collar Expo is built and guided by operators, industry veterans, and workforce development leaders who have spent their careers in the trades, in government, and in the rooms where workforce decisions get made.

━ Program Leadership

The Team

Behind It.

The leadership team is responsible for the full design, production, strategy, and execution of the Blue Collar Expo — from the inaugural Atlanta launch through national expansion.

Program Leadership

Kevin Reid

Senior Advisor

• The Reid Group

Kevin Reid is the Senior Consultant at The Reid Group, where he spearheads strategic development for clients across leadership, business growth, and workforce initiatives. In his advisory capacity, he works closely with North American Fleet Services (NAFS), the host of the Blue Collar Expo, shaping their strategic direction and supporting their academy development. As the chief architect of the Expo, Kevin leads the event’s design, partnerships, and workforce integration—ensuring it serves as a national platform for trades and industry.

Kevin’s expertise is grounded in a long career in transportation. Previously, he founded and led the National Minority Trucking Association (NMTA), where he was instrumental in advocating for minority professionals in trucking and logistics. Beyond advocacy, Kevin’s earlier leadership included scaling courier and intermodal firms, developing training programs, and creating talent pipelines.

At The Reid Group and through the Expo, Kevin’s mission is clear: to shape opportunities, bridge industry needs, and ensure that workforce development is at the forefront of every project.

Program Leadership

Ruslan Krasnyanskiy

Founder and CEO

• North American Fleet Services

Ruslan Krasnyanskiy is the Founder and CEO of North American Fleet Services, a fleet, diesel, and automotive repair company built around expert diagnostics, preventive maintenance, honest communication, and customer-first service. With a background in mechanical repair, aircraft mechanics training, technical field work, diesel diagnostics, and fleet maintenance, Ruslan brings a hands-on, problem-solving approach to every part of the business.

As host of the Blue-Collar Expo, Ruslan is helping lead a regional workforce movement focused on skilled trades, technician training, career pathways, and industry collaboration. His vision for NAFS extends beyond repairing vehicles. Through North American Fleet Services, the Women’s Car Care Club, the Blue-Collar Expo, and the upcoming NAFS Academy launching in Fall 2026, he is helping build a pipeline of opportunity for the automotive, diesel, and skilled trades industries.

The Academy is being developed to provide future technicians with hands-on training, real-world shop exposure, mentorship, and clearer pathways into meaningful careers. Ruslan’s mission is to keep vehicles moving today while helping train, inspire, and connect the workforce that will keep the industry moving tomorrow.

Guided by the belief that great service starts with trust, Ruslan is committed to doing the work right, treating people right, and creating opportunities for students, veterans, career changers, women, and underserved communities to see a future in the skilled trades.

Program Leadership

Daphne Reid Herrin

Director of Operations & Sponsor Relations

• Blue Collar Expo

Daphne Reid Herrin, CMP, brings over 30 years of leadership in the hospitality industry, with deep expertise in strategic planning and meeting management. A Certified Meeting Professional for over 25 years, she began her career in broadcasting before becoming a senior leader in convention services and catering at Gaylord Resorts, including training roles for new resort openings. She has led major event initiatives for brands such as Servpro, Home Depot, and Yum Brands.

In 2014, Daphne founded Herrin Hospitality, where she consults on elevating meeting portfolios and operational effectiveness. Now, as Director of Operations for the Blue-Collar Expo, she orchestrates seamless event execution, aligning logistics with the Expo’s strategic goals, delivering a high-impact experience that connects workforce development with industry outcomes.

Program Leadership

Abby Freeman

Founder and Principal Planner

• Mitchell Meetings

Abby Freeman is a seasoned meeting, conference, and trade show professional with more than 20 years of experience in the Atlanta events industry. As Founder and Principal Planner of Mitchell Meetings, she has led corporate, association, nonprofit, healthcare, convention, and exhibition programs, specializing in strategic planning, exhibitor and sponsor management, stakeholder coordination, registration operations, and seamless event execution.

As the Blue Collar Expo’s Trade Show & Event Strategy Advisor, Abby brings extensive expertise in expo logistics, convention center coordination, production planning, and exhibitor experience. A Past President of Meeting Professionals International Georgia Chapter and recipient of its 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award, she helps ensure the Expo delivers a professional, well-executed, and impactful experience for employers, exhibitors, workforce partners, students, veterans, and skilled trades professionals.

─ Advisory Board

The Blue Collar Expo Advisory Board brings together recognized leaders from industry, technical education, government, and workforce development. Their experience guides the program's direction and accelerates the mission at every level

Advisory Board Chairman

Charles F. Sills

President

•American Defense Alliance

Charles Sills is a renowned expert in U.S. government contracting and defense industry development. As President of the American Defense Alliance, he brings together Pentagon officials, military leaders, and contractors to address national security priorities. He’s moderated high-profile summits across Army, Navy, Air Force, and Space Force contracting areas, from shipbuilding and additive manufacturing to advanced technologies. Previously, as a Naval Intelligence Officer in the Pentagon and later at Lockheed Martin, he managed defense technology initiatives across the Middle East and spearheaded the world’s largest solar energy project of its time. He’s also played key roles in global initiatives, from environmental accords like the Montreal Protocol to post-Soviet industrial conversion efforts.

Charles also serves as President of FED/Contracting LLC, guiding small businesses in securing federal contracts and fostering mentor-protégé partnerships. He led award-winning initiatives under the Department of Defense’s programs, including welding- and manufacturing-related sectors vital to the defense industrial base. For the Blue-Collar Expo, he’ll focus on aligning the Expo’s workforce programming—such as welding, shipbuilding, and skilled trades—with the evolving needs of the defense industry. Additionally, he’ll leverage his national and international experience to help guide the Expo’s expansion across key U.S. regions.

Advisory Board Member

Mike Maizis

Vice President

• Mechanics Hub Inc.

Mike Maizis serves as Vice President of Mechanics Hub Inc., a leading recruitment firm dedicated to the diesel and heavy equipment sector. With a background spanning business development, recruitment strategy, and workforce planning, Mike plays a key role in expanding employer partnerships and strengthening hiring outcomes across North America.

Mike has partnered with heavy equipment dealerships, trucking fleets, and repair operations to solve persistent talent shortages and improve service team stability—supporting placements from frontline technicians to leadership roles such as Shop Foremen and Service Managers. His expertise sits at the intersection of technical workforce realities and business performance, enabling employers to align hiring strategy with uptime, productivity, and long-term retention.

On the Blue-Collar Expo Advisory Board, Mike provides strategic guidance on building a scalable diesel and heavy equipment workforce pipeline—supporting employer engagement, career pathway messaging, and recruiting systems that move candidates from interest to training to employment.