Bob Heniff ’90

Bob Heniff ’90 came to Marist High School, where he built a strong work ethic, forged lifelong friendships, and learned the discipline that would serve him for decades to come.

At Marist, Bob was a member of the golf team under Coach Jerry Sullivan. The practices, competitions, and camaraderie of his teammates created some of his best high school memories. In the classroom, honors math with Owen Glennon taught him the importance of focus, commitment, and precision. Those lessons stayed with him long after graduation.

After Marist, Bob attended Bradley University, where he played on the golf team and roomed with fellow Marist alumnus Bill Maheras. After college, he began working in the family’s fuel and trucking business. When his father sold the company, Bob saw an opportunity to start something of his own.

From his Lakeview apartment, he hired four drivers and launched Heniff Transportation Systems. The early days were lean, but Bob had grown up around the industry. His grandfather and father ran Connerty & Heniff in Alsip, and as a teenager he washed trucks to earn extra money. That experience gave him the confidence to take the leap.

In 2002, Bob made his first acquisition. From there, the company steadily expanded, growing its fleet, opening new terminals, and investing in technology. Bob wasn’t afraid to take bold steps, such as building a shipping terminal in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina.

Today, based in Oak Brook, Illinois, the Heniff family of companies is recognized as North America’s premier leader in liquid bulk transportation services. The company operates approximately 2,000 tractors and 5,000 trailers through a network of more than 100 locations. Its expertise includes chemical and food-grade transport, rail transloading, ISO depot operations, equipment maintenance, third-party logistics, and tank cleaning services. With high-tech tracking systems, professional drivers, and a responsive customer service team, Heniff Transportation is committed to delivering products safely, securely, and on time. The company has even expanded internationally, purchasing two businesses in the Netherlands this year.

Bob now lives in the western suburbs of Chicago with his wife and two daughters. He still credits much of his success to the values he learned at Marist: integrity, discipline, and a commitment to community. From the fairways of Marist’s golf courses to leading one of the largest bulk transportation companies in the world, his story is a reminder that hard work and vision can turn a small idea into a lasting success.