Janina Andresen
Janina Andresen is a seasoned logistics professional with more than 26 years of experience in the transportation and supply chain industry. She currently serves as a Senior Logistics Coordinator with PepsiCo, where she supports the Frito-Lay division at a Michigan site. Known for her exceptional organization and ability to perform under pressure, Janina manages complex, fast-moving operations while maintaining a strong focus on safety, compliance, and service excellence.
Throughout her career, Janina has led and supported a core group of over-the-road drivers, overseeing every aspect of their daily operations. Her responsibilities include DOT compliance, safety leadership, driver scheduling, payroll, fleet coordination, and equipment assignments, as well as serving as a 24/7 point of contact for site operations. She has also played a key role in internal expert groups, helping other locations and new team members align with DOT regulations and internal standards, ensuring compliance from both national and organizational perspectives.
Janina is recognized as a hands-on, tough-but-fair leader who has earned the trust and respect of her drivers through consistency, accountability, and deep operational knowledge. She excels at multitasking, problem-solving, and thinking beyond standard solutions, often drawing on collaboration and experience to drive better outcomes. With a strong foundation in business management from Henry Ford Community College, Janina brings both practical expertise and a people-first mindset to logistics leadership, making her a trusted and influential presence within her organization.
• Certified DOT Safety Compliance
• Henry Ford Community College- Associate's
• Above and Beyond Award Winner
• Circle of Excellence Award Winner
• Christmas family sponsorship program - helps identify families in need from local schools
• Does shopping for sponsored families
• And raises money for the program
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to not trying to make every decision on my own. I use the expertise of others in the field, calling on my top seniority drivers when I need advice or ideas I can't think of myself. I'm very open to asking for help and saying, 'Hey, help me with this, what do you think?' I also have a great support system at home with my husband, who drives a truck as well and understands the trials and tribulations I go through with this job. There are plenty of days when I call him just losing my mind because it's so demanding, but having him understand what I'm going through makes a huge difference. I do really well with multitasking and thinking outside of the box to solve problems. I've also learned to be tough and not take everything to heart, which is essential in this male-dominated field. My mentor Sue Brewster taught me how to get my point across, stay firm and strong in what I believe in, while still being open to learning more. She showed me how to gain the drivers' respect, and I think that's partly why they come to me for so much - because they know I respect them and I know what I'm talking about.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received came from my mentor Sue Brewster when I first started at Frito-Lay. She taught me how to get your point across, stay firm, and stay strong in what you believe in, but also have that side where you are open to learning more. She showed me not to back down, because logistics is a very male-dominated field and you have to be tough to be successful in this role. You can't take everything to heart. She showed me how to gain the drivers' respect by respecting them while also demonstrating that I know what I'm talking about. That advice has been crucial to my success in managing a team of truck drivers who are rough around the edges - you have to hold your own and have confidence in yourself.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Just be strong. Learn the job and learn all aspects of it. Don't just be so focused on 'this is my task, and this is all I have to know.' The more you learn with a role, the better off you'll be. If there are different aspects like the fleet side with tractors and trailers, don't just focus on what your task is - learn what the drivers do. Go on ride-alongs and explore what others are doing so that you understand when they're calling you or talking to you, what they're actually going through. It makes it so much easier to relate and to make them a priority as well. Meet them where they are. And be willing to take responsibility when you're wrong. Don't try to blame it on someone else. I make mistakes, and I'll say 'Yep, I messed up, 100% me, but this is how I'm going to fix it.' That gets more brownie points than anything - just take accountability for it and then tell me how you fixed it.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in logistics today is operating in a male-dominated, high-pressure environment where leaders carry significant responsibility and constant operational demands. At the same time, there’s a strong opportunity to expand impact by moving into fleet-side roles and leveraging deep DOT and safety expertise to support other sites, strengthen compliance, and improve processes across the organization.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty is number one. I tell my drivers all the time, just be honest with me. Don't lie to me or try to make up something, because half the time I'm going to figure it out, and then I'm going to be even more angry because I had to go through all this just to figure it out. I also need to be able to count on people. I really think that people can count on me when they tell me or ask me for my help or to do something. They know it's going to get done, and I like to be able to have the same thought about whomever I'm talking to. If I'm asking you for your help, there's a reason, and I expect you to be able to do it and to follow through for me. Accountability is also huge - being willing to take responsibility if you're wrong. Don't try to blame someone else. I make mistakes, and I'll admit it 100%, but then I tell people this is how I'm going to fix it. That gets more respect than anything - just take accountability for it and then show how you're going to solve it.