We’re a big dysfunctional family (only we can leave at five o’clock)
Navigating in this industry requires a team that can quickly adapt to our ever-changing industry. It also takes an intuitive understanding of what we do on a daily basis to make things happen. We thrive in a team environment, where we challenge each other to keep pushing forward. We understand egos won’t move the market – our hard work will.
Take a minute to enjoy the people that make up the GIX family. It’s a family composed of preps, hipsters, dweebs, bikers, dog-lovers, parents, athletes, and a lot more. We’ve composed an interesting set of people that keep our work interesting and lives less boring. You could say we’re pretty damn cool.
Operations Team
Operations Specialists
Freight Managers
Afterhours Managers
We Remember
We will always remember, Boone Anderson. An insanely competitive, plain spoken, albeit charismatic Team Lead at GIX. Boone was lost to a tragic accident in late 2021. He'll be remembered as a Leader who's competitiveness and drive came through whether guiding his GIX team to a record week or playing against the homies on the golf course. "Five bucks a guy..." was a common phrase he used to coax those around him into entering a bet...any bet. Golf, bet. Ponies, bet. Racing marbles, bet. His impact on GIX and those on his team will always be remembered and everyone at GIX will do their best to bring the same type of energy, effort, urgency and passion that he brought in the door with him everday. We've included his original bio from our site for you to enjoy reading and as a greater insight into who Boone was and why we love him.
Boone is just a dude who happens to be named after the famous American pioneer, Daniel Boone, and walks around the office calling everyone “cuh”. After his family did some investigation on their family tree, it came about that he was related to the real Daniel Boone. His dad liked the idea, but his mother not so much. After some persistent negotiating, his mom agreed just as long as he went by Boone.
Boone and his younger sister, Rebecca, were born in Las Vegas (pop. 600,000) when their parents decided to make to the move to Milford, NE (pop. 2,100). They were THRILLED to say the least. But they came around and now call Nebraska home. They both try to keep their parents young, but sometimes find the roles reversed with them trying to keep up with their parents. It’s pretty evident his parents aren’t regular parents; they’re the “cool” parents we all wish we had.
We’ve also noticed he seems to be Ms. Congeniality of the office by always getting second place. He got second in our golf tournament, second in our ping pong tournament, and second in everything else. He’s hit so many let points during our ping pong tournament that the point has now been named a “Boone.” He’s a retired Loper football player who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in marketing. He’s also a Boston Red Sox fan who gets really into the Barstool Sports and fantasy leagues. He’s a mix of James Franco in the face with the personality of Tyrese Gibson in Fast and Furious.
Most likely to name his sons David and Crockett. We feel sorry for the second one.
What do you think you’re most known around the office for?
Using the net for points in ping pong.
Favorite Sports Team & Why?
Dallas Cowboys because they're America’s team and everyone hates them. Doesn’t make sense.
What 5 hashtags best describe anything GIX?
#reliable #competitive #underrated #cangetrowdy #GetTheCameraOuttaMyFaceJeffrey
One thing GIX could do to make your day easier?
A cook.
What place do you usually get in the GIX fantasy league?
This is my first season and I’m in dead last right now.
The best part of waking up?
Taking a piss.
Animal you’d ride to and from work every day?
An eagle because it’s so damn American. Also, shout out Milford High School. Go Eags!
How many days do you wear the same pants in a row before it becomes, like, a problem?
Classic question. Jeans can go for at least 4 days maybe 6. Sweats depend on if you sweat or not. Most of it depends on if you see the same people every day.
Have you ever ate/drank something out of the GIX fridge that wasn’t yours? If so, confess now you savage.
Cream cheese, ketchup, and like a drip drop of coffee creamer because we were out of sugar. I’m a firm believer in Karma, so I don’t get too carried away.
Sales Team
Sales Representatives
Customer Relations Team
Operations Support
Customer Relations Specialists
Customer Relations Managers
Support Team
Interns
IT
Uriel first heard about GIX when we visited CCC in Grand Island to share the opportunities available in our ever-growing IT and Automation team. Shortly after hearing us speak, he applied via our website, interviewed, and was offered a Systems Technician position on our team. Since starting, it has become clear to us that he is a terrific addition to the team – always being kind, helpful, and resourceful as IT issues arise. Uriel is keeping busy, as he is working full-time for us and is finishing his degree in Information Technology and Systems from Central Community College in Grand Island. Upon graduation in May of 2023, he will continue to work for us full-time and grow in his technical skills. We are so grateful to have him on our team and look forward to years of working together.
Most Likely to: Become besties with Francois due to their shared love for the Real Madrid Soccer Club.
What is one thing GIX could do to improve your day?
Have a fish tank
Who is your favorite athlete and why?
My favorite athlete is Luka Modric. I really admire him due to how he persevered no matter his situation. He was born into a refugee family plagued by war and even then, went on to play professional soccer for Real Madrid.
What do you bring to the table?
A lot of questions and a desire to learn.
Who was your celebrity crush growing up?
Vanessa Hudgens
Any weird obsession? What are they?
I like to collect Funko Pops! They are miniature bobble head figurines of characters from books, movies, shows, you name it.
You can listen to one band for the rest of your life, who is it?
Coldplay
Pricing & Rating
Recruiting & Training
Meet Jennifer Garner, er… I mean, Kristen Klein, the swiss army knife of GIX. Kristen is a school teacher, turned principal, turned freight manager, turned the perfect combination of both; the teacher of all things 'Freight Manager' at GIX! After finishing both her undergraduate and graduate studies at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, she got hitched to her now hubby, Brett, and moved back to Grand Island to start her career. The Klein’s are proud parents to three kiddos, Dax, Addy, and now baby Jude who are part of the #GIXLittles Crew. Kristen has been known to say that she bleeds Air Force blue, not so much for their athletic teams, but rather because both her brother and sister serve in the U.S. Air Force. If we are talking sports, she is a Husker fan with a splash of Loper pride (her hubs played football at UNK, but she attended UNL). Kristen is a fun-loving, go-getter of a person and has brought some fresh, fun ideas to the office. We also are hoping she will bring the kiddos into visit us soon, we are big on babies and puppies around here.
Most likely to drop some teacher knowledge on you without even meaning to.
Any weird obsessions?
I’ve watched YOU’VE GOT MAIL probably a thousand times (at least!). My dog is named Brinkley. “I WAS ELOQUENT!”
What do you collect? Weird shoe size? Let your demons out…
I collect coasters & Starbucks coffee mugs of places I’ve traveled to.
What is the worst thing you’d do for some free guacamole?
Nothing, my guac is better.
If you were a mixed drink, what would you be?
Fireball & Diet Coke
What do you love about GIX?
The culture and the people.
The best part of waking up?
The brewed coffee in my preset/timer coffee pot
Meet Claire, the website, social media, recruiting, party-planning guru of GIX. She is the recruiting team for our three offices and it's safe to say - she's a busy gal! Claire grew up in Elm Creek, Nebraska and began her college career at Concordia University in Seward, NE where she was a member of the women's basketball team and the track & field team. Her heart pulled her back to Kearney (hey, Nate) and she quickly transitioned into the ultimate Loper fan. Finishing her degree in Marketing at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, Claire graduated in December of 2022. She interned with GIX in the summer of 2022 and was a member of one of our most productive intern groups. She is one of three interns from that group to transition into full-time roles with us. We love those conversion rates ;) When Claire isn't conducting interviews or attending career fairs, you can find her enjoying a cold bevy in the sunshine, listening to Red Dirt country music, or hanging with her favorite niece, Josie. We have no doubt that Claire is just getting started and are excited to see how she continues to grow in her career at GIX Logistics
Most likely to trash talk you in a competition and then lose!
Management
Heavy is the head that wears the crown. There’s a lot of responsibility that comes with that crown too. Jim graduated from Wayne State College with a bachelor’s in business administration. Jim fears no obstacle and has aggressively pushed GIX to grow. He’s developed close relationships with our customers through countless phone calls, numerous meetings, and many rounds of golf. On the side, he works as an active member of Business Improvement District in Grand Island to further the city’s development efforts and make it more appealing for young professionals in the community.
In the office, he’s the nicest, nice guy. You might think he opposes all the recreational activities Mike Young is constantly doing in the office, but we secretly know he enjoys joining in the fun just as much as we do. If you’re ever in conversation with Jim, definitely ask him about his Runza story. We assure you, you won’t be disappointed.
Most likely to win the golf scramble every year.
What’s something interesting about you?
I have two pinky toes on my right foot….just kidding I didn’t know what else to put.
What’s something no one knows about you?
Runza Rex story….ask me and I will share.
List 5 words that describe you?
Selfless, dedicated, attentive, fair, determined
One thing GIX could do to make your day easier?
Monster Energy drink on tap.
Celebrity you get mistaken for?
The gal at Taco Johns here in town always says I look like John Cena.
If Mike Young was the combination of two famous people, which two would he be?
Ebenezer Scrooge (hates Christmas) and Ron White (funny and always has a drink in his hand).
Biggest pet peeve?
Tardiness.
Mike Young is the human version of a mullet. Yes, it’s okay to laugh. We call Mike our “Work Dad” around the office. He cares about you like a dad, but can lay down some serious ground rules to help you to be the best contributing member you can be at GIX. He celebrates the wins with us and walks with us through the failures. At the end of the day, he wants every person here to be successful.
He’s the man who leads strategy for every account, builds real relationships with customers, looks for leveraging opportunities that benefit our clients’ bottom line, and pushes for new business initiatives. Since we’re all die-hard Nebraska fans, it’s only fair to describe him as a Mike Riley and Bo Pelini. He’s got the wisdom and planning of Mike Riley and the guts and spit fire of Bo Pelini.
Mike started with GIX in August of 2008 working as a broker, who viewed the job as an 8-5 gig. Over the next several years, his role transitioned from a job to career that sparked his passion for transportation. He’s helped the company accomplish a lot since 2008, leading us to the top 25% of logistics companies in the United States. Even though he doesn’t own a share or percentage of the company (he’ll tell you it is Jim’s company), it’s his baby. He’s proud of what he’s been able to accomplish at GIX, and still believes there’s more for us to keep pushing towards. GIX’s unique and fun atmosphere can largely be accredited this guy – he’s created a place that’s easy to come to work every day. He even made it an easy place to stay late to ensure the job gets finished. We’ve become a place where everyone focuses on the same goal and works together efficiently and effectively to achieve that goal – make GIX the best logistics company that sticks to their promises and always delivers.
In his free time, this guy enjoys a weekend at the lake four-wheeling and spending time with his real children. He even makes time to swing some golf clubs from time to time, but ends up just getting more frustrated. In the fall, he likes catching a good Husker game with some cold drinks and good food. He admits to getting emotional with every win and loss for the Huskers.
Most likely to be the best boss any of you have ever had. Ever.
What do you think you’re most known around the office for?
I would honestly hate to guess.
What do you love about GIX?
Where we’re going.
What’s something interesting about you?
I used to be fluent in sign language. I can still knock the alphabet out in a matter of seconds.
What 5 hashtags best describe anything GIX?
#growth #schwarzmakesanexcuseeverytimehelosesatsomething #enjoywhatyoudo, #outworkingthecompetition #thisisthegreenergrass
What place do you usually get in the GIX fantasy league?
Absolute last.
Celebrity crush growing up?
I had a thing for Jessicas – Biel, Alba, Simpson
If GIX installed a slide, who do you think would be the first coworker to injure themselves and why?
Chad. What do you mean, why?
If you weren’t at GIX, what do you think you’d be doing right now?
Camping. Toes in the sand and all of that.
The best way we can describe Schwarz is to compare him to Flo with Progressive. He’s always getting our customers better rates. He’s also like the Wizard of Oz, he’s the man behind the curtain who is always answering all the tough questions our brokers ask. We’re pretty certain he’d make a great backseat driver because he’s always coaching everyone and preventing any collisions with our freight.
It should also be mentioned that he’s a workaholic, a summa cum laude graduate, and an ex-bricklayer. He graduated with a bachelor’s in management and marketing from Chadron State College. He’s been known to fabricate stories, even the one he tells about being able to beat Mike Young left-handed in golf. But what he actually lacks in his golf game, he makes up for by always being the one of the last people to leave the office.
Schwarz is so fanatical over Star Wars he’ll take off work and pull his kids out of school and wear a cape to the theatre. He even sent Star Wars themed absence requests to the school that were signed “May the Schwarz be with you.”
Most likely to get caught cheating at Madden and still making excuses for why he lost.
What do you think you’re most known around the office for?
LEGIT GOLF GAME!!! Best in the office.
What do you love about GIX?
Atmosphere. Every other job is basically the same. You come in, you work, you drink the coffee, and you earn money. This job provides those things but we also have Madden, ping pong, darts, a makeshift putting green, treadmills, prize wheels, Tiger Woods Golf, Sports Center, and a golf simulator (well, not yet, but I’m assuming by putting that in this question, Jim will be forced to get us one).
What 5 hashtags best describe anything GIX?
#conferencesshouldalwaysincludeagolftournament #momvoice #sometimesitseasiertosayitinameme #wedontstopuntilthejobisdone #wedowhatwesaywearegoingtodo
What is one thing GIX could do to make your day easier?
Two words. Nap pods.
How passionate are you about chicken nuggets?
I’m a once a week nugget guy.
Who would you let punch you directly in the face in our office & why?
Tyler Fead. I just want to know what a punch feels like from a guy that has Frank Sinatra, Whitney Houston, and Ice Cube on his iPad.
If there was a giant bathtub of macaroni and cheese sitting next to us right now, would you get in…and would you eat it, while in it?
Neither. I love Dickey’s mac and cheese, but it’s not a sick obsession like this.
When we were assigning team leads, Carmen was one of the first to transfer out of a broker role into a team lead position. We compare her transition to that of Steve Kerr, someone who used to be a player and made the seamless transition to a coach. If you were to look up the words “Team Lead” in a dictionary, you’d find a description of Carmen. It might even refer you to look up Carmen for the definition. She’s an exemplary definition of everything a team lead should possess.
Carmen is the general of the office and she’s seen it all. She’s been here for over a decade and has experienced all the growing pains GIX has encountered during that period. Carmen has the ability to make order out of chaos, even if it’s the chaos of her lieutenants. She’s able to handle the third-party logistics world with grace. You might be wondering does she have a weakness? She confessed, she does in fact have one weakness – wine and a fresh piece of sweet corn right out of the field (it’s her inner farm girl).
Most likely to take your job.
What do you think you’re most known around the office for?
For knowing things – in a good way??
What’s something interesting about you?
The vast amount of useless knowledge in my head about this business (miles, carrier codes, phone #‘s).
What’s something no one knows about you?
I can deadlift over 300 pounds.
List 5 words that describe you?
A multitasker, dedicated, honest, stubborn, and crazy.
What 5 hashtags best describe anything GIX?
#fun #crazy #neveradullmoment #upandcoming #greatplacetowork
How do you cope with a crazy driver?
Talk calm and rationally. I’ll then later go out of the room and lose my shit.
Describe Mike Young in one word?
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.
If Mike Young was the combination of two famous people, which two would he be?
Mel Gibson & Adam Sandler.
Kayla is a born and raised Grand Island, Nebraska girl. She has her bachelor’s degree in Professional Accounting with a minor in Economics from Hastings College. With GIX being a Grand Island family owned and operated company, we felt that Kayla was a great fit with her GI roots and accounting background (just to name a few). We also feel like it’s important to note that Kayla was married to her husband on 9/10/11, proving yet again that she is a major numbers nerd! Her house can sometimes get a little rowdy due to her step-son, step-daughter, and two sons running around and enjoying one another’s company. If it’s summer time, you can find the Hasselmann crew at the lake, unplugged and soaking in that summer sun. If they aren’t lounging in the sun, you might find them on their 4-wheelers riding around their cabin area or splashing through the river on them. Kayla is the perfect addition to the GIX family with her fun personality, witty remarks, and numbers driven work ethic!
Most likely to do mental math quicker than a calculator.
List 5 words that describe you…
Motivated, Resilient, Determined, Humble, Rational
What do you love about GIX?
Definitely the culture- it’s a perfect blend of work and play! I enjoy the people that I get to work with, they sure make it easy to come to work every day!
The best part of waking up?
Morning snuggles from my little ones! Scooters blender drinks are a close 2nd!
Celebrity you get mistaken for…
Husker Celebrity- When Jordan Larson played volleyball for the Huskers, I was asked on many occasions if I was her.
If you weren’t at GIX, what do you think you’d be doing right now?
I would be working a job that I wasn’t happy at and wishing I was at GIX!
Nikki grew up in Elba, NE, and graduated high school from St. Paul, NE. Nikki then went to Wayne State College and graduated in four years with a five-year public accounting degree with a minor in management information systems (basically like a basic-IT-skills minor).
Nikki kind of fell into working at GIX. Nikki worked as an intern the summer before her senior year of college and came back the following October after she graduated college May 2012. Nikki started as the accounts receivable and insurance gal. She recently took a small leave of absence over the summer to help her husband cut and bale hay on the farm. They did 16 cuttings and nearly 5,000 bales within four months (which is a lot if you aren’t familiar with farming and haying). So yes, Nikki drove tractors and other large equipment all summer and loved it. But Nikki’s true love is numbers and, luckily for her, she got offered the position of Controller and came back to work at GIX October 2016.
Nikki’s been with GIX for about four years now and in her current position of Controller for only a little over 3 months; but don’t underestimate her knowledge of the industry and our business as she’s covered almost every job in accounting at some point or another. When she’s at the brokerage office, it makes her feel like an old fuddy-duddy. But, she loves the atmosphere at the GIX office and hopes to continue to immerse herself in the culture down there.
You will usually find Nikki at her desk with her heater blasting, some Matchbox 20 or other 90’s grunge band playing on Pandora, and food and papers spread across her desk. She loves her job and the people she works with. Team GIX!!
Most likely to roll her eyes when she reads these questions and not answer because accountants are really not comfortable with these type of questions.
What you think you do at work?
Stare at spreadsheets and move numbers around.
What do you think you’re most known around the office for?
The go-to for oddball accounting/system questions.
Favorite Sports Team & Why?
Husker football and volleyball - because I’m a Nebraskan and it’s our loyal duty.
What’s something interesting about you?
I have a handicapped dog named Glenn; he’s fat, he wears diapers and he doesn’t walk well.
What’s something no one knows about you?
I can drive a pay loader and fork lift.
Animal you’d ride to and from work every day?
Zebra.