Dinsmore named president of JA Frate

CRYTAL LAKE – Jill Dinsmore has been named president of JA Frate Inc. in Crystal Lake.

Dinsmore of Crystal Lake will be responsible for all aspects of JA Frate including daily operations along with JA Equipment Leasing.

Joe Alger, former president, has been named chief operations officer for The Frate Group  with direct reporting from JA Logistics  and JA Nationwide.

“We feel both of these changes are positive and set up JA for continued growth and expansion,” Dinsmore said.

A resident of Crystal Lake, Alger served 16 years as president of The Frate Group. He said his new position will allow him to concentrate on sales and marketing.

He sees the company “continuing to move upward.”

JA Frate is the company’s local carrier serving a 150-mile radius. JA Logistics was established in 2001 and includes the company’s warehousing and international freight forwarding components.

JA Nationwide, formed in 2006, offers nationwide service by brokering other carriers.

“Our goal is to be the most dependable transportation company,” Dinsmore said. “We started here in McHenry County and now serve the world.”

Dinsmore is the daughter of JA Frate founder and CEO Doug Jennings. She has been working on and off for the company since high school, and full-time since 1996, primarily in human resource management, and insurance and compliance.

“Will continue to serve McHenry County area and be a good neighbor to the community,” Dinsmore said. “We have always been here and always will be,” Dinsmore said.

Dinsmore noted that JA Frate is very proud to support our military.

Two trailers dedicated to “Our Fallen Heroes” are a famiiar sight on county roads.

One trailer is dedicated to LCPL Jonathan W. Collins. A resident of Crystal Lake, Collins was 19 years old when he was killed by enemy action in Iraq in 2004.

A second trailer has pictures of other McHenry County servicemen who have died in the war on terror.

Dinsmore noted the company also has provided transportation for collection and distribution of items collected for the U.S. Marine Corps’ oys For Tots program, Operation Support Our Troops “Illinois Has Not Forgotten” and a Candy Buy Back program sending Halloween candy to our troops.

Dinsmore added that she has been proud to be part of Leadership Greater McHenry County, a program that has helped prepare me to take this position,”

She will graduate from the nine-moth program on June 7.

Jennings founded the company in 1971 with only one truck out of a need for a dependable local carrier.

Today the company employs 97.

“We see more growth in the future,” Alger said. “We’re always looking for good people.”