Washington – Today, Ӱɴý President & CEO Chris Spear announced that Ӱɴý has promoted four staff members to senior positions within the organization’s advocacy arm, effective January 1, 2026.
“From halting California’s mad dash to zero to protecting independent drivers, Ӱɴý has made tremendous progress towards achieving trucking’s priorities, and each of these highly valued Ӱɴý staff members played a pivotal role in enabling us to reach our ambitious goals,” Spear said. “The fact that all four of these promotions were selected internally reflects the immense in-house talent within Ӱɴý. These seasoned leaders are proven winners with a long list of accomplishments under their belts, and they have demonstrated repeatedly that they possess the acumen, grit, and expertise to effectively influence policymakers. I look forward to hitting the ground running with this exceptional team in 2026 as we prepare to embark on another successful year.”
In addition to recognizing these new leaders, Spear expressed appreciation for Ed Gilroy, who in October announced his coming retirement after more than 13 years of exemplary service to Ӱɴý, most recently as the association’s Chief Advocacy & Public Affairs Officer.
“I want to thank Ed for his innumerable and invaluable contributions to Ӱɴý,” Spear said. “I first met Ed at the outset of our careers, and I have always known him to be a highly skilled and effective advocate for the causes that he believes in as well as a true and loyal friend. As the head of our Hill and policy teams, he helped our association reach new heights and achieved victory after victory for our members. I wish him all the best on his well-earned next chapter.”
- Henry Hanscom will succeed Gilroy as Chief Advocacy & Public Affairs Officer, managing Legislative Affairs, Regulatory Policy, and the Office of Public Affairs. Hanscom joined Ӱɴý in 2013 as manager of legislative affairs and has seen his responsibilities steadily grow ever since. In 2024, he assumed the role of Senior Vice President of Legislative Affairs, overseeing Ӱɴý’s Hill Office and a record-setting Call on Washington season that achieved an impressive string of pro-trucking policy triumphs, such as repealing California’s EV truck mandates, securing significant workforce and tax provisions in the Big, Beautiful Bill, and supporting key Executive Branch nominations. Prior to joining Ӱɴý, Hanscom was a professional staffer for U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe (R-Maine).
- Nathan Mehrens has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Workforce Policy, overseeing Ӱɴý’s policy team. Mehrens joined Ӱɴý in 2022, bringing over two decades of regulatory experience to Ӱɴý’s advocacy team. Most recently, he has been instrumental in efforts to roll back disruptive employment regulations, advance workforce development, and protect the independent contractor model. His prior work includes serving in senior roles in the U.S. Department of Labor as the Associate Deputy Secretary and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy.
- Alex Rosen has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Legislative Affairs, overseeing Ӱɴý’s Hill Office. Rosen joined Ӱɴý in 2019 and first worked on the policy team before transitioning to Ӱɴý’s Hill Office, where she has lobbied House and Senate Republicans and serves as a member of Ӱɴý’s Women In Motion Advisory Board. She has advanced numerous legislative priorities on behalf of the trucking industry, including increasing truck parking capacity and standardizing base access protocols. Notably, last Congress, she successfully shepherded the passage of landmark credentialing reform, which will alleviate the longstanding burden of redundant background checks and fees placed on hundreds of thousands of professional truck drivers. Prior to Ӱɴý, Rosen worked for the Committee on Homeland Security in the U.S. House of Representatives.
- Brenna Lyles has been promoted to Vice President of Safety Policy. Lyles joined Ӱɴý in 2023 as Director of Safety Policy and was named Senior Director of Safety Policy in 2025. In her current role, she has spearheaded efforts to encourage policymakers to enhance training, testing, and licensing standards for CDL-holders. Lyles previously served as the assistant director of state legislative affairs at the Texas Department of Transportation and, prior to that, worked for the Center for Transportation Research.
Photographs and biographies of Hanscom, Mehrens, Rosen, and Lyles are available upon request from Ӱɴý’s Office of Public Affairs.