Leadership Bios

J. Edwin Conaway

Executive Vice President, Sales
Con-way Freight Inc.

J. Edwin Conaway is executive vice president of sales for Con-way Freight Inc. Con-way Freight is the less-than-truckload (LTL) subsidiary of Con-way Inc. (NYSE:CNW), a $4.7 billion freight transportation and logistics services company headquartered in San Mateo, Calif. Named FORTUNE magazine’s “Most Admired Company” in transportation and logistics for 2007, Con-way delivers industry-leading services through its primary operating companies of Con-way Freight, CFI and Con-way Truckload, and Menlo Worldwide Logistics. These operating units provide high-performance, day-definite less-than-truckload (LTL), full truckload and intermodal freight transportation; as well as logistics, warehousing and supply chain management services; and trailer manufacturing. Con-way Inc. and its subsidiaries operate from more than 500 locations across North America and in 17 countries across five continents. 

As executive vice president of sales for Con-way Freight, Mr. Conaway is responsible for the day-to-day management of local and national sales and the strategic planning and direction of the sales organization throughout North America.

Prior to his appointment as vice president of sales in December 2005, Mr. Conaway served as president of Con-way’s non-asset expedite provider, Con-Way NOW. Mr. Conaway was responsible for the overall strategic planning and direction of the company, including day-to-day oversight of the marketing, operations, personnel, information technology, administration, and accounting functions. He held this position from 1997 to 2005. From 1993 to 1997, he served as vice president of operations for Con-Way Southern Express (now known as Con-way Freight) where he had oversight responsibilities for operations, service, quality, production and personnel in six regions and 87 service centers.

An executive with 25 years of experience in the transportation industry, Mr. Conaway started his transportation career with his family’s trucking company, Gordons Transports in Memphis, Tenn. He began his career with CNF as an account manager with Consolidated Freightways in 1983 in Richmond, Calif., and joined Con-way Western Express in 1987 as a service center manager in Sacramento, Calif. He subsequently advanced through several positions of increasing responsibility and was named regional manager in 1989. He was responsible for management of sales, operations, quality and personnel in 15 service centers in the Western region. In 1995, he accepted the position of vice president of operations at Con-way Southwest, which was later merged with Con-way Southern Express.

Mr. Conaway has a bachelor’s degree from Golden Gate University in San Francisco, Calif. He is based at Con-way Freight’s headquarters in Ann Arbor, Mich.