Heather Paraino, the Senior Corporate Counsel at UniGroup C.A, has been part of the UniGroup legal team for over twenty years.

Heather has been working in the trucking industry since 1997 when she “jumped at the chance to join the UniGroup team, an iconic St. Louis Company, right out of school.” Heather said, “As a history-buff, it was so interesting to learn about the background and context of our nearly a century-old industry.”

Speaking about her love for the trucking industry, Heather said, “Trucking is one of the rare ‘legacy’ industries that not only remain vital to our national economy, but that continues to innovate…There are few other industries with such a rich history and personal family-owned culture that’s also innovating to remain relevant and vital to the U.S. and even world economies.”

Heather also discussed the amazing people of the industry as one of the reasons she loves trucking. She said, “Maybe it’s because there’s such a strong family – often multi-generational – engagement in much of the moving industry, but I have found there to be a real sense of pride among United’s and Mayflower’s network of movers. As a woman, I have found it to be a welcoming and supporting industry to establish my career.”

When asked what advice she would give to other women interested in joining the industry, Heather encouraged them to join. She said, “The industry is a great place for talented people to establish and grow their careers. There are also plenty of industry veterans who are willing to be mentors/helpful to someone just beginning their careers. You need only ask.”

Heather has held several leadership positions within the transportation industry. She was appointed Chair of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)/Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Household Goods Consumer Protection Working Group and has been invited by the U.S. government to speak at conferences sponsored by the U.S. DOT. In 1997, Heather was named UniGroup’s “Woman of the Year.” Prior to her work at UniGroup, Heather was as a legislative assistant for a Member of the U.S. Congress.