 NATM is excited for new and revised sponsorship opportunities for 2020! There are marketing and general sponsorship opportunities available from $250 to $50,000 to fit any budget. Being a sponsor allows your company early access to booth selection, and provides a wide range of exposure, both electronically on NATM’s website and mobile app, as well as in print on the convention program map and in Tracks. This name recognition will help drive customers to your booth. You can find the 2020 Sponsorship Brochure at: https://www.natm.com/sponsor.html. Don’t delay – these opportunities are going fast! For more information about NATM’s 2020 Convention & Trade Show, including sponsorship opportunities and exhibit space, please contact Kelli Maydew at kelli.maydew@natm.com or call (785) 272-4433. 
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 Nominations are now open for the 2020-2023 term on the NATM Board of Directors. Would you like to be a part of the future success of NATM or do you know someone that would be a strong leader for the Association?
For more than 30 years, NATM has been fortunate to be guided by committed and visionary members serving on the NATM Board of Directors. It is because of these boards that NATM has a Compliance Verification Program, has been able to respond to issues such as tandem towing and tariff challenges, has created a national campaign to raise awareness of safe trailering and recently has been able to launch a Dealer Affiliation program. Through strategic planning, meaningful discussion and decisive action, the NATM Board is tasked with ensuring that the industry and the Association continues to thrive and grow. Nominations Process In accordance with the NATM Bylaws, the board of directors calls for nominations from the Association membership. Election of directors takes place by email ballot prior to the annual NATM Convention & Trade Show. Typically, the call for nominations goes out in September. Nominated candidates fill out a questionnaire, which is reviewed by the nominations committee. The nominations committee, chaired by the current vice president, selects a slate of candidates for approval by the board of directors. Ballots are sent to all NATM Regular and Associate Members in December. Regular members (trailer manufacturers) elect the regular member directors and associate members (suppliers/service provider) elect associate member directors. Board Member Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Terms and Term Limits Board members may serve two consecutive terms, of three years each, on the NATM Board of Directors. A member who is appointed to fill a vacancy on the board of directors is eligible to be elected for two complete terms following appointment to the board. If you are interested or know someone who is interested in serving on the NATM Board of Directors, or would like more information about the responsibilities and time commitment for serving on the board, contact NATM Executive Director Kendra Ansley at (785) 272-4433 or Kendra.Ansley@natm.com. Nominations must be received by Sept. 30, 2019 to be considered.  NATM is excited to debut a new award in February 2020. The Pam O’Toole Trusdale Woman in Manufacturing Award is given to a woman from the manufacturing floor to the C-Suite in the light- and medium-duty trailer industry who has demonstrated excellence in their role. The award recognizes the contribution of the recipient to the success of their organization and/or industry.
The award is named after Pam O’Toole Trusdale who served as NATM’s Executive Director from 1998 to 2018. Under her leadership, NATM flourished and expanded well beyond what the founders envisioned 11 years before. Membership numbers grew nearly 250 percent, NATM established the Compliance Verification Program. Trusdale supported the implementation of Compliance Decals in marketing members’ commitment to safety and since that time sales have surpassed eight million decals. Cash assets increased 630 percent, allowing investment in a government affairs program and safeguarding the Association during financial downturns. An ardent advocate for the industry, the establishment and growth of the government affairs program made it such that NATM now proactively addresses legislation at the national level. O’Toole Trusdale spent nearly 20 years leading in a male-dominated field and NATM is proud to honor her work with this award. The light- and medium-duty trailer industry is working diligently to close the skills gap and find opportunities to invest and influence workforce development efforts. It is estimated that by 2025, US manufacturing will face a shortage of 2 million workers. In surveying the landscape of manufacturing, the Manufacturing Institute, a subsidiary of the National Association of Manufacturers, determined that while women totaled 47% of the national workforce in 2016, the manufacturing workforce was only comprised of 29% women. Women today remain as perhaps the most underutilized workforce population in the light- and medium-duty trailer industry. A key to best tapping into this talent pool is to begin recognizing women in the industry, celebrating their accomplishments and contributions, and thereby celebrating female representation in a field many women may not have previously considered. The lack of female representation in the manufacturing sector not only contributes additional stress in an already tight labor market, but this lack of diversity can also affect business achievement. Research has indicated that workforce diversity improves a company’s opportunities for success and growth. Diversity has been proven to increase innovation and creativity, while also helping to retain employees amongst many other benefits. NATM, through the Pam O’Toole Trusdale Woman in Manufacturing Award and its other diversity initiatives, intends to support efforts to close the skills gap, tap into previously underutilized populations, and support women in manufacturing. If you would like to nominate a woman who has demonstrated excellence in their role and has made a significant impact for their organization or the industry more broadly, please contact NATM Executive Director Kendra Ansley at (785) 272-4433 or Kendra.Ansley@natm.com.  Talking about the importance of trailers built to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) can be a daunting task. End-users do not understand the complex regulations governing compliant trailer manufacturing. They recognize that they would not purchase a car without seatbelts, but they do not understand that purchasing a trailer without key safety features can be just as dangerous. With limited face-to-face time with customers, dealers can struggle to sell compliance. But in order to improve safety and reassure your customers that your trailers meet all Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, it is important to sell NATM Compliance as a key feature of a trailer.
To make things easier, NATM has created the "How to Sell Compliance" kit. This kit aims to help close the gap of communication between trailer manufacturers, dealers and end-users by providing trailer dealers with informative marketing pieces that will assist them in selling compliant trailers to their customers. Jam-packed with informative safety resources, customizable business cards with an emphasis on your dealership’s dedication to safety, talking points for dealers to utilize and more, this kit will assist trailer dealers in becoming fluent in safe trailering. NATM Dealer Affiliate Window Cling NATM Dealer Affiliates receive a complimentary NATM Dealer Affiliate Window Cling. This window cling will allow your dealership to show its commitment to safety and compliance. Proudly display it to show customers that your dealership is a resource of information with a focus on safety and compliance. Customizable Folding Business Card With an emphasis on buying trailers that have been certified to meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and best practices, these folding business cards are filled with information regarding the importance of buying NATM compliant trailers. Simply add your company logo and contact information to the business card template and pass out your dealership’s information and market your commitment to providing customers with compliant trailers. Customizable Standard Business Card Are folding business cards not your style? No worries! NATM also offers standard business cards for Dealer Affiliates. With the NATM Compliance Decal and the Dealer Affiliate Badge included on the card, your company is sure to be viewed as a leader in safety by your customers. Informative Printables These educational handouts are available for Dealer Affiliates to print and distribute to customers. With topics ranging from selecting the right trailer to the NATM Compliance Verification Program, customers can be assured they are shopping with a trustworthy dealer committed to safety education. Compliant Trailer Posters This 18 x 24-inch educational poster will help walk your customers through what it means to purchase an NATM Compliant trailer and can be proudly displayed in your dealership. Selling Compliance – Talking Points Talking about the importance of compliant trailers can be an intimidating task. With this list of talking points, communicating the importance of verified compliant trailers to your customers has never been easier. Impress your customers and instill confidence with your knowledge of federal regulations and your passion for safe trailering! The NATM Dealer Affiliate “How to Sell Compliance” kit takes the stress out of discussing Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards with end-users. Be the dealer your customers deserve and stand out from your competition by taking advantage of all of the benefits of being an NATM Dealer Affiliate. NATM Dealer Affiliates can contact Membership & Events Director Kelli Maydew at Kelli.Maydew@natm.com, to receive access to this kit. Not an NATM Dealer Affiliate? Visit www.NATM.com/dealers to learn more about the program. NATM will be offering two educational webinars this Fall and Winter, which are both FREE for members and dealer affiliates.
August 30 – 2:00 PM CST “Trailer Basics”
Presenters: NATM Compliance Director Terry Jones and Technical Director Colin Holthaus. REGISTER HERE! December 6 – 2:00 PM CST “Emerging Trends in Trailering”
Presenter: NATM Technical Director Colin Holthaus. REGISTER HERE! *Non-members can participate for $50.00  The Boat Trailer Manufacturers Association (BTMA) awarded EZ Loader's Gary Potter with the BTMA Lifetime Achievement Award on June 4, 2019 during a meeting at EZ Loader that introduced new programs and product.
The award recognizes the accomplishments of an individual who has great influence on the marine industry, specifically their accomplishments in the betterment of boat trailering safety and the boat trailering industry as a whole. Potter, Vice President of EZ Loader Custom Trailers in Arkansas, is set to retire later this year. BTMA is composed of boat trailer and trailer component manufacturers that are active members of NMMA. “Gary is extremely deserving of this recognition. As the only person to chair both the BTMA and the NATM, he brought these two organizations closer and into full cooperation on trailer certification in a manner that saved members money," said Thom Dammrich, NMMA president. "Gary has served on NMMA Boards and has been an active and enthusiastic supporter of the industry. He is one of the industry’s great advocates.” As a trailblazer in the boating industry, Potter’s list of contributions includes:
Robert Newsome, senior vice president of strategy, engineering standards and membership for NMMA, added, “There are very few people in this world that have done so much to improve an entire industry as Gary. In the past 15 years that I have had the pleasure to work with him, I have experienced first-hand his leadership and vision in so many areas.” On Feb. 27, 2014, Gary Potter of EZ Loader Custom Boat Trailers was awarded the NATM Outstanding Member Award at NATM’s 26th Annual Convention & Trade Show for his significant contribution to the trailer manufacturing industry. EZ Loader Custom Boat Trailers has been an NATM member since 1997 and is one of the companies certified by both the NMMA and NATM. He has served as the president of BTMA and as a board member for the National Association of Marine Products & Services. It was Potter who brought NATM and NMMA together to form a coalition, initiated NATM’s participation in the annual Regulatory Roundup and advocated for the joint certification program between NATM and the NMMA’s Boat Trailer Manufacturer’s Association (BTMA). Though integral in linking the marine and trailer industries, his involvement with NATM outside of those contributions is equally as impressive. He served as a board member from 2009 to 2013, serving as president of the Association from 2011 until 2013. Potter has also served on and chaired numerous NATM committees. During his time as president, he sat in on every single committee meeting held, his engagement unparalleled. He was also a member of the initial NATM Political Action Committee (PAC) Board, serving from 2010-2013. Gary Potter is greatly deserving of both the 2019 BTMA Lifetime Achievement Award and the 2014 NATM Outstanding Member Award. NATM Executive Director Kendra Ansley commented, “Gary was perhaps the most engaged and passionate NATM President the Association has seen. His enthusiasm for the industry and commitment to safety was one of the things that struck me most as a new staff person. His passion bred passion in those around him. His tenure on the board left an indelible mark on me.” To learn more about the BMTA, visit www.nmma.org/affiliates/btma. The original article can be found at https://www.nmma.org/press/article/22713. |
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