Diane Hutsell recognizes when a trucker is unable to work because of illness or injury, they don’t earn money, which can make covering daily life needs next to impossible.
This is where an organization like the St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief Fund can help. Hutsell, who was named the group’s new executive director Aug. 24, understands the hardships drivers face if they cannot get behind the wheel.
“When illness or injury takes a professional driver off the road, the impact on their family can be immediate,” she said in the release.
The organization, named after the patron saint of travelers, had a leadership transition in May 2025. Donna Kennedy stepped down as executive director after nearly 18 years on the job, taking on the role of lead strategic advisor. Courtney Niemann then took on the role, and Hutsell later started on an interim basis in May 2026.
Hutsell, who had been the group’s director of philanthropy since March 2025, will also continue in her previous role while leading the organization.
The organization said in an email to Trucking Dive that Hutsell is the right person to lead it today, not only because of her familiarity with the group, but because of her more than two decades of experience in fundraising, building partnerships and community engagement. The group’s goal is to expand its fundraising footprint, allowing it to scale its health initiatives and drive its next chapter of growth.
Joyce Brenny, the group’s immediate past president and president and CEO of Brenny Transportation in St. Joseph, Minnesota, said Hutsell’s appointment represents the next chapter for the SCF.
“Diane has demonstrated a deep commitment to our mission and a genuine passion for supporting professional truck drivers through the challenges they face,” Brenny said.
The organization has offered assistance to nearly 4,200 drivers and their families since 2008 and has provided more than $5.5 million in direct financial assistance, according to its website. Assistance can cover a range of needs including rent, mortgage payments, utility bills, vehicle payments and insurance costs but does not cover medical expenses or food. Financial assistance doesn’t go directly to a driver, but the organization will cover expenses on a recipient’s behalf.
The organization was started by a trio of individuals in 2007, including Dr. John McElligott; Dave Nemo, former host of the Road Dog Trucking show on SiriusXM and his business partner, Michael Burns. McElligott was operating truck stop clinics and hosting a radio segment where drivers could call in with medical questions, a spokesperson said in an email. Many callers to the show shared financial hardship stories created by short-term health problems, which led to the foundation’s launch to create a safety net for truckers, according to the organization.
Besides providing short-term financial aid, the group aims to improve the health of professional drivers.
The foundation spokesperson said professional truck drivers have disproportionately higher rates of chronic health issues compared with the general public. The group says one in seven drivers have Type 2 diabetes due to a sedentary lifestyle and poor food options, which led to the launch of the organization’s 12-week diabetes prevention course. The group also has launched initiatives to help truckers quit smoking.
The foundation is widely known among the trucking community thanks to its ties to the Road Dog Trucking show and through its corporate relationships with companies including TravelCenters of America. The travel center operator has repeatedly helped raise over $200,000 through annual charity golf events to the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund.
Personal connections can help fuel such philanthropy, and Hutsell checks that box, too. Her father worked for Mack Trucks and through the years, she has interacted with professional drivers and trucking industry leaders. The organization said Hutsell understands the assorted hardships faced by long-haul drivers, who are on the road for weeks at a time, which is why she wants to help improve the health and well-being of professional drivers.
“Every driver we help has a story, and every dollar raised or health resource provided can have a very real impact on someone’s life,” Hutsell said.
