Ken Johnson

Executive Chairman, Leonard’s Express

Years in current role: 2 (after 12 years as CEO)

What decision or strategic shift in 2025 had the greatest impact on your business?

Despite a challenging freight market that’s driving many trucking companies into bankruptcy, we continue to make strategic investments in people and technology to position Leonard’s Express for success. Embracing technology enables our people to do more with less. It’s how we deliver freight safely, on time, and maintain the highest levels of service. AI-based platforms such as Optimal Dynamics enable our teams to streamline routine tasks and make quick, confident dispatch decisions. By optimizing planning processes, drivers can cover more miles, make more money and get more home/family time.

What developments in your industry are you watching most closely as you look ahead to the coming year?

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is tightening regulations to ensure that only properly documented foreign workers are licensed to operate commercial trucks. As current non-domiciled CDL holders’ licenses come up for renewal over the next two years, the FMCSA anticipates roughly 190,000 of 200,000 current holders would fail to meet the new eligibility requirements and could be removed from the road. While this would not impact Leonard’s Express directly, this will cause disruption for carriers that have built capacity around non-domiciled drivers.

How do you prioritize long-term innovation while ensuring operational excellence day to day?

It’s a delicate balance. We look at innovation in terms of long-term return on investment rather than innovation just for innovation’s sake. Innovation has to provide value for the company, employees and customers. There are so many exciting products out there, but if it doesn’t bring value to the company, employees or customers, it’s not a good fit for us.

What regional strengths do you believe position Rochester well for future growth?

The quality of people here is phenomenal. This community is filled with loyal, hardworking, well-educated individuals who bring skill and pride to their work. Rochester has deep roots as an innovation hub, particularly in technology and manufacturing. This has created a strong foundation for research, engineering and entrepreneurial energy to thrive. Rochester also offers ease of access to several major U.S. population centers and large Canadian cities, making it a great environment for farming and food processing, which are economic engines and essential to regional/national supply chains.

What’s one interest or activity you hope to make more time for in the coming year?

I enjoy making beer. I’ve been a home brewer for about 12 years and I like the recipe development, creating with my hands, and seeing people enjoy something that I’ve made from scratch. I enjoy it so much, I’m opening a restaurant and brewery in Shortsville called Wheel Works Brewing Company. The building is a restored factory built in the mid-1800s that sold wooden wheels to the Ford Motor Company. It has character and history, so turning it into a place where people gather feels like the perfect way to bring it back to life while doing something I love.

This profile is part of our Power 100 list for 2026. Information used in this profile was sourced from the honoree. View the full list at rbj.net.