Stori Conrad
Stori (Montgomery) Conrad is an accomplished sales and logistics leader serving as Vice President of Sales at National Drayage Services (NDS) in the Greater Houston area. With nearly two decades of experience in the supply chain and transportation industry, she has built her career from the ground up, beginning in data entry in 2007 and advancing through multiple operational and leadership roles. Known for her relationship-driven approach, Stori specializes in connecting clients with reliable, nationwide logistics solutions while fostering long-term partnerships built on trust, consistency, and accountability.
Throughout her career, Stori has become a prominent voice in the maritime and trucking industry, combining operational expertise with strong community leadership. She has served as President of the Transportation Club of Houston and as an Associate Director of the Maritime Workers Emergency Medical Fund, reflecting her deep commitment to both industry advancement and workforce support. Her leadership style emphasizes service, collaboration, and mentorship, and she is widely recognized for her ability to bridge business development with meaningful community engagement.
In addition to her corporate leadership, Stori is deeply passionate about empowering others—particularly women in logistics—and supporting the next generation of industry professionals. As a mother of three, she balances her professional responsibilities with active involvement in industry organizations and ongoing personal growth. Her journey reflects resilience, perseverance, and a strong belief in showing up consistently, building relationships, and creating opportunities through hard work and dedication.
• Angelina Community College
• Transportation Club of Houston
• Maritime Workers Emergency Fund
• Transportation Club of Houston
• MARITIME WORKERS EMERGENCY MEDICAL FUND
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my resilience. I have shown up when it's hard and have carved out my space in a male-dominated field. When I first entered the trucking industry in 2007, it was majority male-dominating, and you didn't see a lot of women in leadership roles. That was very intimidating, and times could be discouraging, but that obstacle was the hardest and the scariest, yet the most fun to overcome. I'm rooted in resilience, for sure.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best piece of advice I've ever received is to be so good they have no choice but to respect you, and so real they never forget you. I've learned that confidence in this industry is not an option, it's definitely your edge. Anybody can move freight, but not everybody can build trust.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Be comfortable being uncomfortable, and don't wait for permission to grow. You will absolutely walk into rooms where you're the only woman, perhaps the youngest, and don't let that deter you. Don't let it shrink you, let it sharpen you. This is such a fast-paced, relationship-driven, and often male-dominating space. You'll be challenged, you may be underestimated, but that doesn't define your ceiling. Show up, be consistent, educate yourself, and be confident. You belong here. There's going to be tough days. You'll have lost business or opportunities, and you'll question yourself and your value, but just keep showing up, because you do belong. There is space for you.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges in my field at the moment are pricing pressure and market volatility. It is such a competitive market. Post-COVID, we just have not caught a break. There was so much freight after COVID that there were truck drivers quitting truck driving and starting up trucking companies, and it hasn't stopped. Rates are constantly being pushed down, all while costs are going up - fuel, equipment, driver wages. The gap makes it difficult to stay competitive without sacrificing service or margins. However, a huge opportunity for companies like mine would be to differentiate through service, reliability, and consistency. A lot of providers can move a container, but not everyone can deliver great customer experience every time. You know, really lock in on those relationships.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity, accountability, resilience, and relationship building are the most important values to me in my work and personal life. I believe in doing what I say and owning the outcomes, regardless of if they're positive or negative. Showing up consistently, both at home and at work, is critical, because at the end of the day, people will forget the details, but they won't forget how you showed up for them. I'm so dedicated to relationship building and staying in touch with people. I don't meet people and make relationships and then walk away from them. Those are really relationships I build for life, whether I'm moving freight with them or not. I stay in touch with people because I do love relationships and find so much value in them. I take pride in everything I've built through hard work. Nothing was handed to me, and that experience has definitely shaped who I am today.