Sonja Schwager
Summary
Dynamic logistics and transportation professional with a robust background in start-ups and corporate growth, adept at navigating financial and operational landscapes. Detail-oriented with exceptional communication and project management skills, consistently delivering results in fast-paced environments. Committed to optimizing processes and enhancing team performance to drive organizational success.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Bus. Relations & Bookkeeping
County Transportation
03.2020 - 11.2025
- Customer & business relations- visit both new and current carriers to introduce/ follow up on our services/ expectations- traveled throughout Ontario
- Responsible for working closely with the company lawyers, Accountant, Banks, Contractors and the City in relation to all company dealings, including the new head office construction and building of it
- Conversed and represented the company in various media relations to promote growth in the industry
- General bookkeeping aspects, including payroll,
- Used critical thinking to break down problems, evaluate solutions and make decisions.
- Proved successful working within tight deadlines and a fast-paced environment.
- Demonstrated strong organizational and time management skills while managing multiple projects.
Terminal Manager
County Transportation
03.2020 - 11.2025
- Customer relations with other carriers- ensuring their requests and concerns are being addressed quickly and following the industries guidelines.
- Ensure, meet with the warehouse team to monitor freight levels, damaged claims, over all in/ out flow was on track (FIFO), KPI's, Metrics
- Managed workforce scheduling, optimizing resource allocation to meet service demands.
- Planned freight loads and coordinated with drivers to achieve accurate, timely delivery of products.
- Fielded customer complaints and comments and rectified issues.
- Promoted safety programs throughout terminal by conducting meetings and communicating safety program messages.
- Performed human resource-related tasks by interviewing and hiring employees, performing payroll functions and evaluating drivers.
- Implemented staff training programs to enhance employee skills, productivity, and overall job satisfaction.
- Achieved high customer satisfaction ratings by addressing concerns promptly and providing exceptional service at all times.
- Developed strong relationships with clients, vendors, and other stakeholders for improved communication and collaboration.
- Directed and initiated investigations to resolve shipper or customer complaints.
- Double-checked work orders and deliveries for quality assurance.
- Coordinated driver dispatch to accomplish daily delivery requirements.
- Integrated warehouse operations with existing and new business processes.
- Promoted brand at industry events and through ongoing networking efforts.
Office Manager
County Transportation
08.2019 - 11.2025
- Responsible for daily management of the office, including answering phones, filing, setting up company files
- Company corporate accounts and relations, training manuals, dealing with vendors
- Sales & marketing new clients, arranged business meetings for the owner, organized company functions and community events.
- Continued position throughout the years- I was with the company from day 1, helping build every aspect of it until recently, thus I held many responsibilities over the year then the list below.
- Implemented process improvements to enhance office efficiency and workflow management.
- Managed scheduling and logistics for transportation services, optimizing resource allocation.
- Supervised administrative staff, providing mentorship and performance guidance.
- Handled sensitive information with discretion, maintaining confidentiality of company documents and personnel records.
- Provided exceptional customer service when addressing client inquiries or concerns via phone calls or email correspondence.
- Coordinated office events and meetings, ensuring timely execution and optimal scheduling for all participants.
- Improved team morale and cohesion with regular team-building activities and open communication channels.
- Spearheaded community outreach initiatives, improving company's local reputation and engagement.
- Organized meetings for executives and coordinated availability of conference rooms for participants.
- Interceded between employees during arguments and diffused tense situations.
Dispatch Manager
County Transportation
10.2019 - 03.2020
- Set up original dispatch department
- Set up, designed training manuals for future staff- Geotab, Roserocket
- Trained dispatch staff on pods, pops, BOL’s, metrics
- Responsible for management of drivers on the road, GPS- metrics, routes optimization, Elogs versus manual, freight level management
- Marketed and secured specialized accounts and contact such as McKesson & Amazon DC for across Canada, with a dedicated appointment time
Accounting Analyst
Cardinal Health
01.2017 - 01.2019
- Responsible for daily banking- both Canadian & US- cheque runs, reconcile transactions to GL Accounts
- Payroll processing- process payroll for up to (500 employees) in ADP
- Issue ROE’s
- Set up new employees, plus pension & LTD amounts
- Accounts Payable- manual cheque submission request (WSIB, SunLife, Manulife, RBC)
- Resolving ESM conflicts
Office Mgr/ Accounting
Bullet Trade Services
01.2009 - 06.2017
- Responsible for the management of the front office.
- Payroll for (45-50 employees), ROE’s, T4’s
- All accounting functions- AR, AP, Collection reports, Profit & Loss- both company & customers, Trial Balance, bank & visa reconciliations, Year End reports, Adjusting entries
- Managed Fleet Insurance for our company trucks, office/ business insurance & all Health/ Benefit insurance policies for staff as well
- Work with various programs such as, SyteLine for order tracking
- Organizing Health & safety courses for all employees
- Responsible for WSIB claims- closing them and monitoring employee cases
- Responsible for all Government Audits
- All administration functions, including locking up the company at night.
- Worked on behalf of (3) owners
Education
Accounting
McMaster University
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CPA Student
Pro Advisor Certified
Intuit-QuickBooks
Skills
- QuickBooks- Contractor & Enterprise Edition- Cloud/Desktop
- SAGE 50 Accounting
- ADP Payroll Software
- JD Edwards Enterprise One/ Chase Payment
- Canadian Dollar, USA Dollar, Euros, Egyptian Pounds
- Microsoft Word/ Office/ Access/ Excel
- Proficient in Rose Rocket/Geotab GPS proficiency
- EDI/ ERP- transportation
- Management skills
- Negotiating skills
- Analytical skills
- Business Law Skills
- Critical Thinking
- Employee Mentoring
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Attention to detail
- Flexible and adaptable
- Multitasking Abilities
- Problem resolution
Languages
English
Certification
- Freight Broker Training - December 2025
- Managing Employee Compensation- November 2024
- Managing Employee Performance- November 2024
- Recruiting, Hiring & Onboarding Employees- November 2024
Timeline
Bus. Relations & Bookkeeping
County Transportation
03.2020 - 11.2025
Terminal Manager
County Transportation
03.2020 - 11.2025
Dispatch Manager
County Transportation
10.2019 - 03.2020
Office Manager
County Transportation
08.2019 - 11.2025
Accounting Analyst
Cardinal Health
01.2017 - 01.2019
Office Mgr/ Accounting
Bullet Trade Services
01.2009 - 06.2017
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CPA Student
Accounting
McMaster University
Pro Advisor Certified
Intuit-QuickBooks