Our Team

We're A Bunch of Beasts.

Ship OGRE runs lean. Everyone here either writes code, closes deals, moves freight, or helps lead the brokerage. A few do all four.

ID / WES-QUEEN

Wes Queen

Founder + Chief Executive Officer

Birmingham, AL

Wes is a 6'8", 300-pound (hence the company name) pastor's kid that got shipped off to military boarding school at 16. These experiences allowed him to be uniquely proficient in theology as well as cursing. While maximizing fun and minimizing studying at Wofford College, he graduated at the bottom of his class with a 2.27 GPA. After 3+ years with UPS and 7 weeks working for his father's company, he founded Ship OGRE. With no cash or savings, he funded the company with credit card debt and by selling anything he had of value on Craigslist. He is completely and utterly obsessed with optimization, on and off the field. He resides in Birmingham, AL with his best friend/wife (also tall) and they have three sons that are equal parts wild and huge.

ID / PHILIP-RATLIFF

Philip Ratliff

Chief Development Officer

Birmingham, AL

Philip is probably the smartest, but more importantly boasts the best jawline and physique at Ship OGRE. He went 2 for 2 on fun and studying at the University of Alabama, graduating with honors from both undergrad and the Manderson Graduate School of Business. After taking a gap year in Jackson Hole to be a white-water rafting guide (he really just drove the bus) and a ski instructor (never made it past the ski rental shop), he returned to Alabama to embark on his 15+ year investment banking career. He's built the M&A sector of the company from the ground up since 2022. He resides in Birmingham, AL with his wife, and they have two children.

ID / MAQBOOL-PATEL

Maqbool Patel

Chief Technology Officer

Birmingham, AL

The "Doc". Dr. Maqbool Patel is arguably the best CTO east of the Mississippi, as is affirmed by the job offers he turns down regularly from top-tier tech companies in Silicon Valley, New York City, and Austin. He double majored in Physics and Electrical Engineering, went on to get a Master's in Electrical Engineering, and then decided to completely overachieve by obtaining a PhD in Computer Engineering. He produced 13 patents, received the Genius of Invention award, and is listed on the Wall of Fame at General Electric. He has a passion for teaching and has been an Adjunct Professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham since 2017. He resides in Birmingham, AL with his wife, a local serial entrepreneur, two children, and multiple grandchildren.

ID / DAVID-DZINA

David Dzina

Chief Revenue Officer

Dallas, TX

David, a proud Baylor University grad, has had an exemplary career spanning over 3 decades and it's no surprise once you meet him. His wisdom, grace, and overall demeanor are nothing short of special! He's the father-in-law you wish you had! With multiple successful exits of companies he's owned and operated, he brings all those attributes and experience to the team. He's passionate about his faith and service to his church in Dallas. He out-kicked his coverage when he married his wife, and they reside in Dallas, TX with their three children.

ID / TAYLOR-STEARNS

Taylor Stearns

Chief Operating Officer

Birmingham, AL

Taylor's body count is so much bigger than yours, but we're not talking today's kids' slang. He served 10+ years as a U.S. Army Officer in the 1st Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment deploying multiple times as well as being hand-selected twice to command two units in support of U.S. Special Operations. How's this for lineage: Taylor is the latest soldier in a family of servicemen that dates back to the Revolutionary War without ever skipping a generation. Read that again! Taylor's attention to detail and ability to execute are second to none. He joined the Ship OGRE team in 2022 immediately following his active service to our country. He resides in Birmingham, AL with his wife and two children.

ID / CRAIG-FOSTER

Craig Foster

Chief Sales Officer

Greenville, SC

Craig is the OG as the third employee ever hired back in 2012. He passed on a 6-figure promotion at UPS to make scraps of that with Ship OGRE. Too many stories of the "old days" to list in a bio, but he'd happily tell you them over a good hang, as there are few people more fun to be around than him. Good luck finding someone that doesn't like Craig. A relentless salesman, his greatest close was his wife, with whom he now has three children. They raise their family in their hometown of Greenville, SC.

ID / KEITH-SCHATZLE

Keith Schatzle

Chief Financial Officer

Fort Worth, TX

While he doesn't look it, Keith is the "old guy" of our C-suite. What started at Arthur Andersen led to a long-tenured career in finance serving as CFO for multiple companies, the latest of which is Ship OGRE. How good is Keith at finance? Well, he sported water shoes while poolside at a recent leadership retreat. If that doesn't exemplify his expertise in finance, nothing does. A passionate fan of the Dallas Stars and a lover of fine wine, both pale in comparison to his passion for his wife, two children, and multiple grandchildren. Keith and his wife reside in Dallas, TX.

ID / KRISTI-HART

Kristi Hart

Chief Human Resources Officer

Birmingham, AL

Kristi's passion for supporting and caring for people is second to none. This passion has fueled her 25+ year career in HR, which is super impressive given that she's only 29. After 14 years working for Time Inc. subsidiaries, she became the CHRO for the largest non-profit in Alabama. In 2022 she joined the Ship OGRE team. She loves her Auburn Tigers, but not as much as her husband, son, daughter, and dogs! Kristi resides with her family in Birmingham, AL.