We are excited to welcome Carolyn Hardy, President and CEO of Henderson Transloading Services, for the MidSouth NAMA October meeting. Carolyn will be speaking about her experience and business in transportation segment of agriculture.
Carolyn Hardy is the seventh of sixteen children, positioning her to become an extremely competitive and preserving adult. She is a native Memphian and a graduate of Melrose High School and of the University of Memphis, where she received her BBA and MBA. Additionally, she is a certified public accountant (CPA).
A trailblazer, Carolyn began her career at the J. M. Smucker Company, successfully managing the Finance, Quality, and Human Resources Departments before becoming the first African American female plant manager. After a successful career at Smuckers, she served as vice president of services at Honeywell-POMS Corporation, responsible for domestic and international software implementations. She then joined Coors Brewing Company, becoming the first African American female vice president and general manager of a major brewery serving the southeastern U.S. In 2006, she founded Hardy Bottling, the first African American female-owned major brewery with a 100-million-case annual capacity, which she sold in 2011 to City Brewing. In 2007, Carolyn started her intermodal business with the first terminal in Memphis. In 2012, Carolyn and daughters Jennifer and Whitney, founded Henderson Transloading Services which transload grains and other bulk materials, serving Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi and the boothill of Missouri
She has been recognized by numerous organizations. She received the 2014 Ruby Wharton Award for Business; was a 2013 Legends Award Honoree by the Women's Foundation for a Greater Memphis; received the 2012 Women of Achievement Award for Determination; was honored in 2012 by the University of Memphis Center for Research on Women, African and African American Studies, and the Department of History as one of 100 women who inspired the century; 2012 Super Women in Business Award; 2011 State of Tennessee Women in Economic Development; 2011 University of Memphis Alumnus of the Year, 2010 African Americans Hall of Fame, 2009 Outstanding Woman-Owned Business, 2008 Business of the Year, 2008 Trumpet Awards High Heels in High Places, 2008 Melrose Alumni of the Year, University of Memphis 2007 Entrepreneur of the Year, MED Week 2007 New Business of the Year, 2007 Legend for Economics by 100 Black Women, 2006 Grace Woman of Excellence, 2006 New Business of the Year by Black Business Association and many others.
Carolyn gives back to the community with her memberships in various civic and community organizations. She is Chairperson of Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Memphis branch, Past Chair of Soulsville, University of Memphis Foundation Board of Visitors;, founding member of Philanthropic Black Women of Memphis; U of M Crews Center Advisory Council, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, Chairman's Circle member, Treasurer of Memphis Regional Chamber of Commerce, Treasurer of New Memphis Institute and Vice Chair of People First Board.
In 2011, Carolyn used her training and experience to take a leading role as the founders of Southwest’s “Industrial Readiness Training” program which today has trained thousands of unemployed or underemployed Memphians and has expanded to community colleges across the country.
Carolyn is married to Marino Hardy, and they are the proud parents of three wonderful children, Jennifer, Whitney, and Christopher.
