An average of 20+ years logistics experience

With a leadership team that averages 20+ years of supply chain experience, ProServ’s atmosphere promotes autonomous thinking, trust, and appreciation of our trade. We know how to manage an infinite range of services; from a national door-to-door supply chain with a tight landed cost budget, to a startup that wants to get its product to market.

Checkout the latest news about ProServ: ‘Long game’ starting to pay off for logistics startup ProServ

Management Team

Brian Johnson

ProServ’s CEO, Brian founded the Company with David Buhl in 2016. Brian began his career at C. H. Robinson Worldwide in 1989. He has dedicated his professional life to forming the type of relationships that form the strong, centered basis of his personal life. With a passion to support the success of shippers, carriers and the people on his team, Brian, brings an impressive set of skills and abilities to ProServ, including:

  • Creating win/win solutions that are long-term sustainable
  • Driving operational excellence throughout the supply-chain
  • Collaborating with clients to establish competitive advantages in their supply chains
  • Upholding ProServ’s core values of integrity, transparency, and partnership
  • Identifying and investing in technology that brings value to ProServ’s clients

“When it comes to my relationships, I’m ‘all in’,” Johnson explains. “With today’s rapid change, and 24/7, 360-degree transparency, it’s imperative that we invest in each other to mitigate risk.”

Brian spends his “time away” with wife Jenny, their three children (Taylor, 20, Ella, 18, and Jack, 11) and the family pets, Maya (yellow Labrador) and Mimi (Puggle). An avid reader and film-fan, Brian also enjoys hiking, fishing, bird-hunting as well as tennis.

David Buhl

Before co-founding ProServ in 2016, Dave held the role of Vice President at T-Chek/C.H. Robinson Worldwide. Additionally he held roles including President and C-level positions in fields ranging from supply chain and logistics, financial services, manufacturing and distribution. Among the skills he brings to ProServ’s client portfolio are:

  • Strategic planning
  • Information technology and business analytics
  • Executive perspective
  • Sales and Account Management
  • Operational excellence and business development

“To put it plainly, I like to work,” Buhl says. “Creating innovative solutions that benefit all supply chain partners is what drives me. It’s never easy, but by fostering a team environment with clients, we can bring the best ideas forward and find ways to win together.”

An avid student of business and history, Dave finds time to root for both the local Minnesota Twins, as well as the Chicago Cubs. He loves to golf, and almost always gets the “go golf” green light from his wife, who hits the links even more often than he.

Diane Johnson

Diane’s professional experience is deep and extensive; five years of operation, production and distribution in the medical device industry and eight years in air & ocean operations. Her transportation and logistics expertise was honed by 5 years with UPS, 3 years at Circle Air Freight, and 18 years of leadership in C.H. Robinson Worldwide International division.

As a result, Diane has a comprehensive understanding of strategy and management, with the unique ability to “see around the corner”; this helps customers to better plan and avoid those costly unexpected consequences.

On the personal side, Diane is the proud mother of two young adults. She enjoys spending as much of her free time as she can at her cabin in northern Wisconsin. And, when you catch her at a pause in the action, ask her about her extensive educational achievements.

Eric Jex

Eric has built his career in logistics in many a variety of roles and responsibilities. Launching his career at C.H. Robinson Worldwide, he has learned from the ground up, and served in high level roles while building skills and competencies that include:

  • Strategic Partnership Development
  • Operational and Financial P&L Management within multiple organizations
  • Strategic procurement and capacity management
  • Optimization modeling, pricing and execution for both complex shippers and carrier scenarios
  • General management and personnel development across multiple business units

This experience allows a sound understanding and balanced perspective for all parties and supply chain stakeholders. His philosophy of trust, partnership and transparency is clear in the sustainable solutions he develops with his clients,

“I can be intense,” Jex says. “But our relationships and friendships must be performance-based. When someone brings us on the team, we focus on results. We can have fun, but get the job done.”

In his time away from ProServ, Jex spends his time with family and friends, and is an avid outdoorsman. Fishing is his favorite activity, closely followed by hiking and hunting.

Advisors & Partners

Jim Best

  • Insightful, results-driven leader known for developing key programs and emerging leaders while producing excellent financial performance.
  • Previously he led national sales, marketing and strategic account development efforts as Senior Vice President at C.H. Robinson Worldwide.

Mark Walker

  • Proven business and technology leader, an authority on the U.S. Transportation and Logistics market, with 20+ years of senior management experience in the field.
  • Held many senior general management positions in C.H. Robinson Worldwide including company CIO and Sr. V.P. of Transportation; a recognized Supply Chain sector authority.