The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) has announced Emily Soloby as its May Member of the Month. Soloby is the co-owner of AAA School of Trucking, based out of Philadelphia, PA, and the Founder and CEO of Juno Jones Shoes, a new company creating stylish steel toe work boots for women. She is also the founder of the group Hazard Girls (Women in Nontraditional Fields), and the host of the new weekly Hazard Girls show on the WAM (Women and Manufacturing) podcast. While majoring in Women’s Studies at the University of Minnesota, she volunteered as a courtroom advocate for abused women. That experience led her to apply to law school, and she later graduated from Temple University School of Law. After earning her law degree, Soloby became a legal aid lawyer, helping women and children in divorce, child custody, and abuse cases. While studying for her master’s degree, Soloby met her future husband. After receiving their degrees, they developed an interest in a family business, AAA School of Trucking, located in Harrisburg, PA. Soloby and her husband both went to work for the business, learning it from the ground up and eventually buying and expanding the business. Together, the couple grew the business through both government and private contracts and have now been successfully operating the school for over a decade. One of things Soloby loves about her work at AAA School of Trucking is the opportunity to help others. With her background assisting disadvantaged families in legal cases, it was a natural fit for her to find a way to help people through the new career opportunities that trucking provides. AAA School of Trucking works closely with a variety of organizations that provide funding for individuals to get new career training and job placement assistance, which AAA has excelled at for over 20 years. Often running from client meetings to busy work sites, Soloby couldn’t find the stylish and functional footwear she needed, so she combined her love of boots and her background in helping women and created Juno Jones. Soloby spent two years heavily researching the market and spoke with hundreds of women in trucking and other fields to learn exactly what was missing for them in safety footwear. She built a team including her husband and business partner, former Cole Haan designer Amanda Butler, and many industry professionals and advisors, and together created their first product – the Meti Boot – a water-resistant ankle boot with a side zipper, steel toe, puncture-resistant midsole, and slip-resistant rubber outsole with a heavy lug tread. The boots, which are not only stylish but also ASTM certified and OSHA compliant, are now available for pre-order on the Juno Jones website (www.junojonesshoes.com). Soloby also founded the Facebook Community “Hazard Girls (Women in Nontraditional Fields)” which is a positive place for women in transportation and other traditionally male-dominated fields to come together for networking, support and friendship. Also, keep an eye out for Soloby at the WIT Accelerate! Conference in September, where she will be available to talk about AAA School of Trucking, Juno Jones Boots and Hazard Girls. Established in 2007, Women In Trucking, Inc. is a nonprofit association established to encourage the employment of women in the trucking industry, promote their accomplishments and minimize obstacles faced by women working in the trucking industry. Membership is not limited to women, as 17% of its members are men who support the mission. Women In Trucking is supported by its thousands of members and the generosity of various business partners. Follow WIT on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. For more information, visit www.womenintrucking.org or call 888-464-9482.
