By Michelle Sukow
The towing industry is changing. Growth, consolidation, and modernization are reshaping how companies operate, and women are increasingly stepping into leadership roles that influence not just culture, but strategy, systems, and sustainability.
Hannah Roane is one of those leaders.
As Director of Strategic Operations at Valor Fleet Services, Roane oversees Marketing, Sales, and Human Resources across a growing portfolio of towing companies. Her role is deeply rooted in integration, ensuring that growth happens intentionally, with people and processes aligned at every level.
Raised in the Industry
Roane’s connection to towing began early. Her father founded Road Runner Wrecker Service in 1992, and by the time she was 13, she was already helping in the office and yard. “I didn’t want to at first,” she says. “But my dad instilled work ethic and discipline very early on.” What started as answering phones and cleaning the yard became dispatch work during school breaks and a steady immersion into the realities of the business. That early exposure shaped not only her understanding of operations, but her respect for the people who keep towing companies running every day.
After earning a business degree from Virginia Tech, Roane returned to Road Runner full-time, determined to learn the business from the inside out.
Building Knowledge, One Role at a Time
Roane began as an Administrative Coordinator, gaining hands-on experience in billing, back-office operations, and organizational structure. As the company expanded, she identified a growing need for Human Resources support and stepped in to build the department.
For roughly a year, she handled recruiting, onboarding, and employee relations. From there, she moved into Marketing and Sales, working on government contracts, commercial accounts, and long-term client relationships. She later spent time in business analytics, strengthening her ability to support decision-making with data.
Each role added depth to her leadership, reinforcing the idea that no department operates in isolation.
Today, she brings that perspective to a much broader stage.
Growth Through Integration
In 2023, Road Runner partnered with Henry’s Wrecker Service, a milestone that helped shape what would become Valor Fleet Services. Roane played a key role in integrating the companies, from vendor consolidation to dispatch system alignment and leadership collaboration.
“That’s when I realized how much I enjoyed working at a high level and helping companies grow together,” she explains.
Since then, Valor Fleet Services has expanded to include Road Runner Wrecker Service, Henry’s Wrecker Service, Windsor Towing, Al’s Towing & Storage, and Aaron’s Towing. What began with roughly 50 employees has grown into a network of approximately 300 team members.
Much of Roane’s day is spent working with new company owners and leadership teams, streamlining processes, reducing administrative burden, and elevating operations to Valor’s standards while respecting what makes each company unique.
Navigating a Male-Dominated Industry
When asked about challenges as a woman in towing, Roane offers a perspective rooted in realism rather than labels.
“You have to work hard in this industry,” she says. “I don’t let the fact that it’s male-dominated change how I work.”
She believes focusing on differences can sometimes create unnecessary barriers. Instead, she emphasizes professionalism, consistency, and results.
“Most people are good people who want to do a good job,” she adds.
Balance, Grace, and Reality
Roane is candid about the difficulty of balancing leadership with personal life.
“It will never be perfect,” she says. “You stay late and miss time at home. You leave early and miss something at work.”
Her approach is grounded in organization and self-awareness, paired with the willingness to give herself grace. She credits her husband and family as a strong support system and values the pro-family culture fostered across Valor Fleet Services.
Leadership Through Strengths
One of Roane’s defining leadership traits is knowing where she adds the most value and where others are better equipped.
“There are things my team does that I cannot do,” she says. “That’s why I surround myself with the best.”
That philosophy has helped Valor move away from single points of failure and toward stronger redundancies and collaboration, allowing teams to operate with greater confidence and stability.
Looking Forward
Roane sees the towing industry at a critical point of opportunity.
“This is the perfect time to join the industry,” she says. “We’re at an inflection point of growth.”
Having already met many of her personal five-year goals, she is now focused on continued growth, both for herself and for Valor Fleet Services.
Her definition of success remains simple and grounded: enjoying the work and maintaining a happy, healthy family.
And when challenges arise, she lives by two rules that continue to guide her leadership:
Don’t sweat the small stuff.
It’s all small stuff.
For women entering or advancing in the towing industry, Hannah Roane’s journey is a reminder that leadership is not about fitting a mold, but about showing up consistently, building strong teams, and growing with intention.
