Goodbye & Hello

In February we will be saying good-bye, good luck and happy retirement to Steve Pohas. Right on his professional heels is Sal Leal, ready to fill the District Manager role. We are so thankful to have had Steve on our team for so many years and now looking forward to seeing a Sal step in and take the District to the next level.

A little bit about Steve:

Steve joined Oak Harbor in 2006 as our Operations Manager in LAX. He was promoted to the Terminal Manager in Fresno then to Terminal Manager in LAX before taking the District Manager role over in 2014. He watched and supported the team as the district grew from two locations to nine. Steve is a straight shooter, telling us what we need to hear and can always be counted on for a good laugh and movie recommendation.

Steve is originally from the East Coast and is so excited to be retiring back there where he found his new home in East Falmouth, MA (Cape Cod). During his retirement years he is planning on working on his new home, gardening, enjoying time with friends and family, attending Boston sports team games (Celtics and Red Sox are his favorites), getting involved in the local town activities, and buying and learning how to navigate a boat. He is also planning on adopting at least one, possibly two dogs.

When asked what he is looking forward to the most in retirement, Steve said “Making my own stress-free schedule. I can plan a busy day or plan to just relax. Putting more emphasis on improving my emotional and physical health”. Having helped the company grow the Southern Cal. District so quickly, it is understandable that a relaxing day is something to look forward to.

Always answer the alarm clock the next morning

One of Steve’s most memorable moments was being part of the leadership that combated four unsuccessful initiatives by the Teamsters to organize the LAX Terminal and then seeing the entire company become union free. As he reflects on his time with Oak Harbor, his favorite part of being on this team is the pleasure he got out of working with so many talented, dedicated and caring coworkers. When asked what advice he has for those still at Oak Harbor, he shared these words of wisdom; “No matter how difficult a period you may be encountering at work, always answer the alarm clock the next morning, show and do your best. You’ll be amazed how quickly (with the help of others) your problems get resolved. Then allow yourself a good laugh after it’s over.”

One last message from Steve: “I wish to express my sincerest gratitude to the Vander Pol family for their patience, support and encouragement. It’s been a fun ride!

The “New Guy” – Sal

Sal has been with Oak Harbor nine years, joining us in August of 2013. He joined us as the Terminal Manager in Fontana and has held that role until this promotion to District Manager. Sal has 34 years of LTL experience, 9 with us and the other 25 with only two other companies. He believes in finding the right spot and sticking around as long as it remains a good fit. Sal is a no-nonsense leader that sets clear expectations and truly cares for the Employees.

A little bit about Sal outside of work. He and his wife Connie enjoy time together in the Southern California sunshine and bike rides on the beach. His favorite sports teams are the Raiders, UCLA, Dodgers and Lakers. Sal and Connie have three grown daughters and one son who currently serves in the US Air Force – he just completed his 6th year. They also have three grandchildren.

Sal’s favorite thing about working at Oak Harbor is the culture. When he compares us to other transportation companies – it is what makes us stand out. Sal has enjoyed his time working with Steve and when we asked him what he enjoyed most about this time he shared this; “I am truly grateful to have worked for Steve during my time at Oak Harbor Freight Lines. I most enjoyed Steve’s work ethic, values, management style and without a doubt – his sense of humor.”

February will bring new challenges and opportunities for Sal as he settles into his new role as District Manager. He’s most looking forward to developing working relationships amongst the district’s terminal personnel in the effort to continue to improve the Oak Harbor service product in our region.

Sal and Steve are both amazing individuals that we have all been blessed to know and work with. While we are sad to see Steve leave us, we are so excited for him to have the opportunity to enjoy the retirement he deserves. We are looking forward to Sal’s leadership in the Southern California District and seeing how far he can take those teams.

Congratulations on your promotion Sal and your retirement Steve!!!