All things nexterus
Our Team
All Things Nexterus
About Us
Leadership
Ryan Polakoff
President & CEO
Ryan Polakoff
President & CEO
Ryan Polakoff is the President, CEO, and 4th generation of ownership at Nexterus, overseeing all day-to-day activity. Starting in 2003, Ryan has worked every desk at the company to truly learn the business from the ground up. As a “what is possible?” leader, Ryan thrives in difficult situations- He enjoys dissecting complex issues, designing solutions, and implementing actionable results. Ryan works closely with the Nexterus Management Team on both vision design/creation, and how to operationalize strategic concepts.
Ryan is a firm believer in challenging the status quo and embraces his role as a coach and always stands by his personal motto “walk your talk.”
Ryan enjoys public speaking, having served as a panel moderator, panelist, guest speaker, and supply chain subject matter expert for many different organizations, including York College of Pennsylvania, Towson University, Baltimore World Trade Center Institute (WTCI), York County Economic Alliance (YCEA), Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP), Pennsylvania Manufacturing Association and others. Ryan’s industry insights & articles have been published with many prominent groups including Supply Chain Brain Magazine, The American Journal of Transportation (AJOT), Forbes, Yahoo Finance, Supply Chain Quarterly, Inbound Logistics Magazine, Food Logistics Magazine, Supply & Demand Chain Executive (SDCE), DC Velocity, and others.
In 2024, Ryan was recognized as a “Supply Chain Pro to Know” by Supply & Demand Chain Executive Magazine (SDCE), in the “Rising Stars” category. Additionally in 2024, Ryan was also recognized as a “Rock Star of the Supply Chain” by Food Logistics Magazine.
Ryan studied at Shippensburg University with a primary concentration in Supply Chain Management and a secondary concentration in Marketing. In his free time, Ryan enjoys attempting to play golf and sing 80’s rock karaoke. A native Marylander, Ryan still resides in Maryland today with his wife, Rischelle and his daughter, Sophia.
Brenan Redman
Chief Financial Officer
Brenan Redman
Chief Financial Officer
Brenan Redman is the Chief Financial Officer for Nexterus and oversees all Accounting, Finance and Human Resource responsibilities.
He has nearly 25 years of experience including roles within Big 4 public accounting, professional services and the software and manufacturing industries.
He specializes in cash flow management, profit optimization, process improvements, supply chain management, corporate relations, strategic collaboration and ultimately driving shareholder value. He has led mid-market technology and service organizations from the C-suite and has notable expertise in creating models, corporate governance and policy, financial analysis and leading strategic projects.
He is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive) in Maryland. He also obtained his Bachelors Degree in Accounting from Shepherd University and his Masters Degree in Public Accountancy from Virginia Tech. Brenan is highly involved in local recreational organizations having served in both coaching and referee roles for club soccer teams and leagues, including President of the North Carroll Travel Soccer Program. He lives in Hampstead, Maryland with his wife, Cheryl and two daughters.
Lisa Flohr
Director of Operations
Lisa Flohr
Director of Operations
Lisa Flohr is the Director of Operations and oversees the domestic and international customer service departments, which includes Less-Than-Truck Load (LTL), Truckload (TL), International and any special service that Nexterus’ clients require. She also oversees the audit and claims department. Lisa is incredibly proud of her teams and their continuous mission to provide an above & beyond customer service experience to all clients. She joined the company in 1999, and uses her experience to grow, teach and motivate other Nexterians.
Lisa is happily married to her husband, Steve. They’ve raised 4 sons together and now are grandparents to 11 grandchildren. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends in Delaware, boating and going to the beach.
Chris Schramm
Director of Solutions
Chris Schramm
Director of Solutions
As Director of Solutions, Chris is tasked with managing our carrier relations, pricing negotiations, systems maintenance, analytics, and optimization functions, along with overseeing our strategic account management department handling client relations and strategic project initiatives. He also oversees our warehousing and transactional transportation units. Chris brings over 20 years of experience in sales and operations through multiple verticals which enhances Nexterus’ ability to be adaptive and innovative in the ever-changing world of supply chain. He encompasses a unique blend of leadership, motivation, customer service, and organization. His drive to develop his teams and grow the organization is second to none.
Chris studied at West Chester University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated cum laude with a B.S. in Business Management. He is happily married to his wife, Stefanie and has 3 boys, CJ, Max, and Luke. In his free time, Chris enjoys playing sports, camping, fishing, shooting, going to the beach, and spending time with family and friends.
John Ciszek
I.T. Manager
John Ciszek
I.T. Manager
John Ciszek is the Senior Systems Administrator and IT Manager for all IT related operations at Nexterus. In addition, he manages the Service Desk providing technical support for both employees and clients. With over 12 years of experience in Systems Administration, John has supported and designed infrastructure solutions for businesses across a wide spectrum of needs. He has a passion for problem-solving and a keen eye for detail and ensures the smooth operation of all IT systems critical to the company’s day-to-day operations.
John enjoys spending his time rock climbing, camping, bike riding, and being outdoors with his dog Bear.
Peggy Stewart
International Operations Officer
Peggy Stewart
International Operations Officer
Peggy Stewart is the International Operations Officer, managing the day-to-day operations of the International Department, including import, export & customs brokerage. Peggy has been in the international arena for 40+ years and obtained her Customs Broker’s License in 1987. She has worked for different forwarders over the years but feels that Nexterus is home & family to her. Peggy joined Nexterus in 2012.
Peggy spends her free-time re-training & showing her retired racehorse, Roan, as well as spending time with her 2 pups.
Ashley Smith
Audit Department Manager
Ashley Smith
Audit Department Manager
Ashley Smith is the Manager of the Nexterus Audit Department where she oversees the day-to-day auditing & processing of freight invoices. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to accuracy, Ashley leads a dedicated team of auditors to ensure that all freight bills are audited accurately and efficiently.
Ashley is also the treasurer for a local non-profit organization and enjoys helping within the community. In her free time, she enjoys camping, beaching, and attending music festivals. Ashley resides with her husband Don, their children, and 3 pups.
Matt Wiggers
Senior Sales Engineer
Matt Wiggers
Senior Sales Engineer
As Senior Sales Engineer, Matt partners with operations and cross-functional teams to deliver impactful demos, lead technical discovery sessions, and support enterprise clients through complex solution design. Known for a consultative approach and deep industry insight, he consistently contributes to revenue growth and long-term client success.
Matt studied at Ashford University, where he graduated with a B.A. in Business Management. In his free time, Matt enjoys playing golf, putting something on the smoker, and spending time with his family and friends.