After an extraordinary career dedicated to leadership, education, and advocacy, Gary Dootson will retire from Suddath following 24 remarkable years of service. His final day with SGS will be November 2.

Gary’s career has been defined not only by what he accomplished, but by what he taught others along the way. With decades of hands-on experience in nearly every facet of the industry, Gary made it a priority to share that knowledge and help others improve.



One example that truly demonstrates Gary’s willingness to lead and educate others was his development of the Home Protection Kit, a practical solution designed to improve service quality and reduce damage claims. But Gary didn’t simply develop the concept and hand it off. He traveled across the country working directly with crews and agents, providing hands-on training and sharing his knowledge of professionalism, efficiency and customer-focused service.

That commitment to education became a hallmark of Gary’s career. Whether he was in the field training crews, working alongside agents or mentoring someone one-on-one, Gary understood the value of passing along lessons learned through decades of experience. His straightforward teaching style and willingness to share what he knew have helped develop people, strengthen operations and raise standards throughout the industry.

Gary’s influence also extended to the standards and practices that shape the industry itself. He helped rewrite key DTR tariff rules for Alaska in collaboration with GSA and has been a strong advocate for ethical business practices, transparency and accountability.

At Suddath, Gary continued that legacy by strengthening the Alaska market, developing SCAC partnerships and driving significant business growth. More recently, he has led the short-fuse program, using his decades of experience and strong relationships with bases and agents to help drive increased shipments.

Gary’s sense of adventure is every bit as memorable as his career. From working with avalanche-control explosives in the mountains, to running a llama ranch, completing long-distance motorcycle journeys and even crewing a 13-day ocean voyage from Hawaii to Seattle, Gary has never been one to shy away from an adventure. Most recently, he spent 12 days riding along with an over-the-road driver on the Alcan Highway, proving that even as retirement approaches, Gary is still finding new ways to experience the industry and the open road.

But perhaps Gary’s greatest legacy is the knowledge he leaves behind. He has mentored countless individuals throughout his career, encouraged others to grow and helped shape the next generation of industry professionals. His experience, candor and commitment to doing the right thing have made a lasting impact on Suddath, our partners and the broader moving and logistics community.

As Gary prepares for his well-earned next chapter, please join us in thanking him for his leadership, service, education and dedication throughout an incredible career. Congratulations, Gary! Thank you for sharing your knowledge so generously, for always pushing our industry to be better and for the lasting impact you have had on so many people throughout your career. We can’t wait to see where your next adventure takes you!