Lynden is recognizing employees who make a difference every day on the job and demonstrate our core values, Lynden's very own everyday heroes! Employees are nominated by managers and supervisors from all roles within the Lynden family of companies.
Introducing Richard Wilkowski, Operations Supervisor at Lynden Transport in Fairbanks, Alaska. 
Name: Richard Wilkowski
Company: Lynden Transport, Fairbanks
Title: Operations Supervisor
On the Job Since: 2019
Superpower: Rapport with internal and external customers
Hometown: Delta Junction, AK
Favorite Movie: Anything Star Wars related
Bucket List Destination: Italy and Ireland
For Fun: Riding motorcycles, road trips, and video games
How and when did you start working for Lynden Transport?
I started working for Lynden Transport in late 2019. I was hired on as a local driver.
What is a typical day like for you?
Typically my days are pretty busy. I manage the freight going to Prudhoe Bay, Canada, and down to Anchorage, Tacoma and Texas. I spend a lot of time on the phone working with shippers, line drivers, and other service centers to help keep the freight’s transit times minimal.
What has been most challenging in your career?
The most challenging thing is coordinating the special projects that we undertake, like the large oversized projects that require specialized equipment, and the large quantity material moves that have short deadlines. But it has always turned out well and left me feeling pretty good at the end of the day.
What are you most proud of in your career?
I am most proud of the speed of my advancement within the company. This is the best company that I have worked for, and I feel that there is plenty of room for advancement ahead of me.
Can you tell us about your family and growing up years?
My growing up years were spent living here in Alaska. Most of it was spent in Delta Junction and the Kenai Peninsula. I have no siblings. Growing up I played hockey and baseball for a few years. I went to school in Delta Junction all the way up through middle school, then I moved to the Kenai Peninsula where I attended high school. I met my wife here in Fairbanks. We have been married for almost three years. We have two kids. Our 11-year-old just joined the wrestling team, and she also plays the violin. Our 8-year-old loves soccer, and he plays that in the summer along with indoor soccer in the winter.
What was your first job?
When I was 17 years old, I worked as a dishwasher and prep cook at Sal’s Diner in Soldotna, AK. From there I have moved on to construction, retail, commercial fishing, line cooking, and then driving trucks for Lynden Transport.
What would surprise people most about you?
I would say that I have caught people by surprise with the level of knowledge that I have about the different positions at Lynden. I have worked my way from local, to line haul, to management. I can answer questions regarding just about anything.
How do you spend your time outside of work?
I spend it with my wife and kids most days. If they are busy, and I’m not working on something around the house, then I ride my motorcycle, or if it’s wintertime, it’s usually video games online with friends.
What do you like best about your job?
I feel that my position is an important one, and I think that I do it well. That's what I like best about my job, the feeling of knowing I am contributing to the success of the whole.
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