Breakthrough Executives Recognized in 2025 Pros to Know List by Supply & Demand Chain Executive

Breakthrough announces John McCaw, Jared Spude, and Allie Barthen’s recognition as 2025 Pros to Know for their contributions and outstanding leadership in the supply chain.

Green Bay, Wis., March 17, 2025 — Breakthrough, a leading sustainable fuel and freight solutions provider, announced that Supply & Demand Chain Executive has named John McCaw, Jared Spude, and Allie Barthen to its 2025 Pros to Know list. McCaw was recognized in the Top Transportation Innovators, Spude was recognized in the Leaders in Excellence category, and Barthen was recognized in the Rising Stars category.

The supply chain is undergoing another significant shift, with a potential freight market turn on the horizon, changes in government administration, and uncertainty surrounding sustainability goals. Forward-thinking supply chain leaders are preparing for these shifts by implementing strategies that will increase efficiency, reduce costs, and mitigate risk.

Supply & Demand Chain Executive recognized each leader for their commitment and meaningful contributions to improving the supply chain, specifically:

• John McCaw, Vice President of Sustainable Solutions, was recognized as a Top Transportation Innovator for his leadership in embedding sustainability into major global brands’ transportation network decisions. He leads an astute team of individuals that develop tailored and actionable strategies for shippers to reduce scope 1 and 3 transportation emissions while optimizing their supply chain for operational excellence and cost. CleanMile’s results speak for themselves with a 400% growth in clients in 2024 and an average 6% reduction in emissions intensity (kgCO2E/ton-mile) during a shipper’s first year on the program. Through his vision and leadership, John continues to empower his team to exceed expectations and develop solutions that redefine what’s possible.

• Jared Spude, Vice President of Freight Solutions, was recognized in the Leaders in Excellence category for developing innovative freight solutions and working closely with industry-leading shippers to optimize their freight strategies. Jared leads a dynamic team specializing in carrier selection, linehaul rate benchmarking, market intelligence, network optimization, and RFP support. Together, they deliver greater transparency to operational and procurement decisions, empowering shippers with actionable insights. Under Jared’s leadership, the team remains ahead of industry trends, consistently providing value through innovative solutions. His ability to seamlessly combine creativity with a deep understanding of client needs has solidified his reputation as a trusted expert in the transportation industry.

• Allie Barthen, Senior Director of Client Delivery, was recognized in the Rising Stars category for her outstanding leadership at Breakthrough. She leads her team in solving complex challenges for industry-leading shippers, ensuring client expectations are not only met but exceeded. Allie plays a critical role in delivering Breakthrough’s unbiased, trusted industry expertise, guiding her team to provide innovative solutions that align with each client’s goals. By fostering collaboration and cultivating trust, she ensures that her team delivers measurable results and reliable outcomes that drive long-term success. Allie’s dedication to mentoring her team and promoting continuous growth enables Breakthrough to remain a trusted partner for shippers navigating a dynamic and ever-changing industry.

"Many of today's supply chain pros are more than just leaders within their space; they're true pioneers of change. This year’s list of winners really pushed the boundaries in all facets; creating, implementing, transforming, innovating, reinventing, and collaborating. They executed on all fronts, over-delivering and over-performing. They are true professionals to know in the supply chain space," says Marina Mayer, editor-in-chief of Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive and co-founder of the Women in Supply Chain Forum.

View the full list of 2025 Pros to Know winners.

About Supply & Demand Chain Executive

Supply & Demand Chain Executive is the only supply chain publication covering the entire global supply chain, focusing on trucking, warehousing, packaging, procurement, risk management, professional development and more. Supply & Demand Chain Executive and its sister publication, Food Logistics, also operate SCN Summit and the Women in Supply Chain Forum. Go to www.SDCExec.com to learn more.

About Breakthrough

Breakthrough, a U.S. Venture company, is a leading provider of sustainable fuel and freight solutions for shippers that reduce cost, create efficient networks, and decarbonize transportation. Using its robust dataset of over $32 billion in annual freight spend, cutting-edge technology, and market expertise, the company uncovers freight optimizations and creates actionable strategies for the world’s most reputable household brands. Together with its clients, Breakthrough is transforming the transportation industry by building a more effective and sustainable transportation ecosystem. The company was named #6 on the 2024 FreightWaves FreightTech 25 list of the most innovative and disruptive freight technology companies, awarded 2024 Overall Analytics Solution of the Year from SupplyTech Breakthrough, and is a recipient of the Owens Corning Supplier of the Year Award.

Media contact

Kathryn Pritzl

Marketing & PR Manager at Breakthrough

Kathryn.Pritzl@breakthroughfuel.com