Alumnus Returns as Executive-in-Residence

Taggart is the chief financial officer for Toyota Material Handling North America, president of Raymond Leasing, chairman of Toyota Industries Commercial Finance U.S., chairman of Toyota Industries Commercial Finance Canada and chairman of Toyota Industries Lease Mexico. In his various executive leadership roles at Toyota, he partners with the executive leadership team to shape the strategy of TMHNA’s major group companies — Toyota Material Handling and The Raymond Corporation — from his offices in Coppell, Texas, Columbus, Indiana, and Greene, New York.  

In 1995, Taggart graduated with a business administration degree from Truman. While in school, he was a member of Blue Key, Alpha Phi Sigma, Big Brother/Big Sisters and served as a Residence Life advisor. His wife Melissa (Wines) Taggart also graduated from Truman in 1995 with a health science degree and is now a technical consultant for MSS Consultants. They have two daughters and a son, Sarah, Grace and Benjamin. Grace graduated from Truman in 2023 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing degree and works as a women’s oncology nurse in Phoenix, Arizona, for Mayo Clinic Hospital.
Taggart will visit Truman from Nov. 20-21. During his time on campus, he will present a fireside chat titled “American Industrial Renaissance” at 4 p.m. Nov. 20 in Violette Hall 1000.