Our Team
At the heart of APEX’s success is a dedicated team of professionals and industry experts working in harmony with trusted partners.
By combining diverse expertise, innovative thinking, and a shared commitment to excellence, we’ve built a strong foundation that drives efficiency and growth.
Collaboration is our cornerstone, enabling us to navigate challenges, streamline operations, and deliver exceptional service. Together, we move forward, stronger and more resilient, shaping the future of transportation.
Marina Ivanov
While supporting Apex from its outset, Marina formally joined the company a year later and is now the majority owner and Managing Director of Apex Transit Solutions.
Marina’s passion for the industry can be traced back to her being the daughter of a driver. From her father to her husband, truck drivers have played an immensely important role in her life, and it is no coincidence she has a big heart for the drivers of Apex.
Marina is not only an expert in her field, she is an engaged advocate for the trucking industry. From her position as a member of the board of directors of the North Carolina Trucking Association, Marina has been working to get legislation passed at the state level to promote a safe and sustainable trucking industry for all. In collaboration with the American Trucking Associations, Marina and the NCTA Legislative Committee have also taken part in the annual Call on Washington to advocate for truck drivers and the industry nationally. She additionally serves as Chairwoman of the Women in Trucking Council, with the goals of promoting, inspiring, educating, and advocating for women in the industry.
Stan Ivanov
As a Co-Founder of Apex Transit, Stan’s years of experience as a truck driver not only provided him with a firsthand perspective of the challenges faced by drivers and shippers, but also infused him with a vision of how a trucking company could do things differently to better serve the interests of both, including:
- Forging collaborative, consultative relationships with clients to find the specialized transport solutions which work best for them and their freight shipping needs.
Identifying and taking the necessary steps to control for or eliminate the avoidable issues that cause late deliveries, thereby creating a stable, predictable shipment schedule clients can rely on.
Stan’s direct, business-minded approach and Marina’s empathetic, people-driven approach merge to give Apex its unparalleled edge in all aspects of customer service and industry excellence.
Buddy Mayton
With almost 30 years of experience in transportation and logistics, Buddy has an extensive record of building incredible, long lasting business partnerships. Specializing in marketing, logistics, and strategic thinking, he brings a wealth of experience in managing LTL, TL, and 3PL companies. Buddy understands that the key to a successful operational structure lies in bringing in new business while still nurturing existing relationships.
Sig Cruz
Background
-
- Over 35 years of industry experience in domestic and cross border multi-mode transportation, contract logistics, supply chain, and business transformation.
- Served at Milliken, Torrington/Timken Bearings, Consolidated Freightways/Redwood Logistics Management, CFI, CFI Logistica/Con-way Truckload, USA Truck/USAT Logistics and ALS Logistics
- As a bilingual and innovative solutions consultant built and led global logistics teams. Hired, trained, and managed large teams providing expertise in multiple modes of transportation, cross border, supply chain and sustainability business solutions.
- Certified Bronze and practical application of Lean principles.
Areas of Expertise
- Areas of expertise include sales leadership, global logistics management, account management, transportation optimization, cross – border, multi-mode transportation business development in multiple industry sectors in North America achieving efficiency and continuous improvement through insightful client-driven solutions, leading to cost reductions, supply chain transformation and customer satisfaction.
Tasha Keaton
As a seasoned professional with 18 years of experience in transportation, Tasha’s expertise lies in TL, LTL, expedite, and automotive logistics. Committed to streamlining operations and enhancing customer satisfaction, she strives to cultivate strong relationships that form the bedrock of a successful business. Advocating for a fresh perspective in the industry, Tasha believes that thinking outside the box is a valuable quality that positively impacts carriers and customers.
Oleg Banar
With over a decade of experience in the trucking industry, Oleg has built a solid foundation in logistics, starting as a dispatcher and advancing to managing nationwide truck operations. As the Logistics Manager at Apex, Oleg leads a dedicated team of dispatchers, finding creative and effective solutions to meet the needs of their customers.
Beyond his professional achievements, Oleg is a proud father of four daughters and happily married to his college sweetheart. He holds a BA in Graphic Design, showcasing his creative side through painting—a passion that began early, with his first painting sold at the age of 11.
Oleg’s connection to Apex runs deep, having grown up with its owners, Stan and Marina, who are long-time family friends. He chose to join Apex because of their shared vision of making a positive impact in the community. Oleg is inspired by the company’s mission and takes pride in contributing to its growth and legacy, knowing it’s a company his children can admire.
What Oleg loves most about his role is the people he works with and the challenges that keep him striving for personal and professional growth. He values the opportunities to become a better leader, manager, father, and husband, drawing daily inspiration from his team and the dynamic nature of the industry.
During his time at Apex, Oleg has been particularly impressed by the collective commitment to shared goals and the supportive, team-oriented culture. While challenges arise, the unified focus on achieving big-picture objectives continues to drive the company’s success.
Alex Kornivskiy
Alex has over seven years of experience in the transportation industry, specializing in accounting and finance leadership roles. He joined Apex Transit & Logistics because of the company’s impressive growth trajectory and its innovative direction within the industry. What Alex enjoys most about his role is the opportunity to collaborate with various departments and individuals, and the fulfillment that comes from working as a team to set, achieve, and exceed company goals. During his time at Apex, he has been particularly impressed by the unwavering dedication of the company’s owners. Their commitment to every individual within the organization has fostered a strong, positive company culture that Alex deeply values.
Lee Walling
Lee
Driver Recruiter and Retention Manager
With many years of experience in recruiting across various industries, Lee has been in the trucking world for about four years and enjoys it. Each day brings something new when working with truck drivers. Raised as a military child, Lee spent much of their adult life in Savannah, GA, before settling in Winston-Salem, NC. Lee enjoys spending time outdoors and is surrounded by dogs, cats, and horses.
Lee chose Apex after meeting Buddy and immediately feeling his passion for the company. After meeting the Apex team, it was clear that it was the perfect fit. As the Driver Recruiter and Retention Manager, Lee focuses not only on recruiting drivers but also on keeping them happy and engaged.
What stands out the most to Lee at Apex is the tight-knit, family atmosphere and the owners’ willingness to listen to and value the team’s suggestions.
Marcus Burris
Driver Manager & Recruiting Specialist at Apex Transit LLC
Married with six adult children, 11 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild, Marcus has over 15 years of experience in the trucking industry. For the past four years, he has worked in the office as a Driver Manager and Recruiting Specialist, where he brings his wealth of knowledge and passion for helping others.
Marcus was referred to Apex by a family member who worked here at the time, and after receiving Stan’s contact information, he joined the company. Now, he is celebrating his 9th year with Apex.
What Marcus loves most about his job is the people. He enjoys learning new things and being in a position to help others succeed. What has stood out to him during his time at Apex is the family atmosphere. Working alongside smart, enthusiastic people has not only helped him grow professionally but has also made his journey with Apex even more fulfilling.
Ben Ivanov
Ben Ivanov joined Apex Transit in 2016, when the company was just starting out with four trucks. Beginning his journey as a driver, Ben quickly proved his versatility by stepping into various roles to meet the company’s needs. After five years as a dispatcher, he transitioned into his current role as Driver Manager and Safety Manager, where he focuses on supporting drivers and ensuring safety standards are upheld.
Ben chose to join Apex because of the opportunity to work alongside family and his belief in the company’s promising future. Over the years, he has been inspired by the growth and evolution of Apex Transit, playing a key role in its success.
What Ben loves most about his job are the daily challenges and the chance to make a positive impact on people’s lives. His dedication to problem-solving and fostering a supportive environment reflects his commitment to the team’s success.
What stands out most to Ben during his time at Apex is the company’s unwavering dedication to its employees and core values. The emphasis on professional growth and recognition of hard work has created an inspiring and collaborative workplace, making Apex a place where both employees and the company thrive together.
