Brad Bentley is a 1988 graduate of the University of Alabama, having earned a BA in broadcast journalism. Since that time, his accomplished career has led him from various leadership positions in media companies to most recently serving as President of the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA). Today, Bentley is President of FASTPORT, a technology company that helps transitioning military service members, military spouses and veterans find meaningful civilian employment.  He oversees a variety of key roles at FASTPORT, including sales, operations and forming partnerships to improve military hiring initiatives.

FASTPORT is also the US Department of Labor’s Industry Intermediary for the Transportation and Logistics sector, where Bentley handles outreach for employers who want to create or enhance Registered Apprenticeship programs.

Dave has extensive experience coordinating and advising employers, Industry Associations, and the Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship (DOL- OA) on the most effective implementation models for Registered Apprenticeships, Workforce development and Military hiring programs.

Dave has served as one of twelve DOL-OA designated Industry Subject Matter Experts in Registered Apprenticeship Technical Assistance for the last 6 years. Combined with more than two decades of experience in Recruiting, Employee Training and Development, and Operations in the private sector Dave has directly supported, developed, and implemented apprenticeship related instruction (ARI) and on-the-job (OJT) training outlines for multiple training and development and DOL Apprenticeship programs. Dave has successfully designed and implemented National Standards of Registered Apprenticeships, National Occupational Frameworks and curriculum across a multitude industry sectors. In his capacity as Executive Director he manages eleven National Programs that have accounted for over 15,000 Apprentices.

Dave served multiple combat tours of duty as a U.S Army Infantry leader. He received his BA in History - Secondary Education from Austin Peay State University.  He has been a high school educator, football coach, business owner and in his over 11 years with J.B Hunt transport he is best known for developing and directing the Hunt’s Heroes program with the dedicated mission of hiring 10,000 Veterans. He and his wife, Gena, have five daughters and 7 grandchildren.

Emily Nonko is an award-winning freelance journalist based in Brooklyn, NY, who has written for the Wall Street Journal, the Atlantic, Fast Company and the New York Times. Among the topics she covers are urbanism, social justice, architecture, and real estate.