Exemplary employees make the difference between a good company and a great one. At RealTruck.com, they make us who we are. They take our company values to heart because company values mirror their personal beliefs. As employees, they illuminate those around them, have an aptitude for leadership, welcome challenges, and enjoy giving back through employee initiatives, community leadership, and enthusiasm for personal and civic development.

RealTruck, Real Leader: Angela Sharr, Logistics Coordinator

RealTruck.com encompasses an exemplary work force. We value company culture because it’s what makes RealTruck more than just a place to work; our values bring us together for common goals. Angela Sharr, our freight Logistics Coordinator based in Ocala, Florida, embodies the RealTruck company culture to a tee. Nominated for her unwavering support of autism awareness, she works to shed light on the developmental disorder by advocating for local autism resources, organizing fundraisers, and teaching others about autism to help remove the stigma. Angela was also nominated for her constant positivity and for the encouragement that she gives to others.

Real Leadership

When I sat down with Angela to prepare for this article, it was evident that she cares very deeply about raising awareness for autism. Her son Mekhi, now 12 years old, was diagnosed with autism when he was just one-and-a-half years old. With very little autism awareness in her community, Angela started her journey by just trying to cope. It wasn’t until she and her family moved to Florida that she discovered the Light It Up Blue initiative, which takes place every April and raises awareness for autism by setting a date on which groups of people dress in blue and go about their daily lives in the community. Light It Up Blue’s objective is to open the conversation with community members about autism awareness. Stemming from that first Light It Up Blue initiative, Angela’s own drive surrounding autism awareness began to take shape. In addition to connecting with family, friends, and sponsors here in Ocala to host additional Light It Up Blue events, she’s also reached out to a local agency, Outreach autism Services Network (OaSN, formerly Ocala Autism Services Network), to organize fundraisers, such as the OaSN autism Super Hero Fun Walk. The annual walk is a great way to get involved, whether you’re curious about resources or you just want to show your support. Angela first joined the walk several years ago with her family and close friends. Since she joined the RealTruck family in early 2016, employees and their own families have joined the walk, which takes place each spring at Sholom Park in southwest Ocala.

This year was RealTruck’s fourth year helping Angela raise funds for autism through the walk and other events, matching donations along the way. The Culture Team has hosted programs such as Cookie Grams, Pancake Breakfast Day, and the Pie a Manager in the Face event, all of which have requested donations to support OaSN. This year, Angela is proud to say that, with the help of RealTruck and all of its employees, she had the great honor of donating $3000 to OaSN and presenting them with a check from RealTruck at this year’s walk.

It was through this discussion that I began to understand Angela’s appreciation and dedication to RealTruck, both as an employer and as a company that works hard to support its local community. She is a vibrant, cheerful person, and working at RealTruck magnifies her positivity in such a way that others take notice. She encourages others to do their best, and because of this she received several additional nominations for this award.

How Can Others Get Involved?

If you would like to get involved in OaSN or learn more about the resources that the organization offers, check in with Angela to get the conversation started. I guarantee she’ll put a smile on your face.