Membership renewals for 2019 have been mailed, and the main contact for your company has received an email notice as well. If you would like to confirm who your main contact is, please contact NATM Membership & Education Director Kelli Maydew or call NATM at (785) 272-4433. You can also log into the Members Only portal of www.NATM.com and select the “Update Your Contact Information” link to make edits instantly to this information. 

In addition to paying your membership dues by check or over the phone by credit card, you are also able to pay online using the Members Only portal at www.NATM.com. Once you are logged in using your company’s login credentials, select “Pay My Bills.” If you need your credentials, or have any questions during this process, please contact NATM Membership & Education Director Kelli Maydew.

For trade show exhibitors, it is important to note that NATM DUES MUST BE PAID BY DEC. 31, 2018 to maintain the member rate for your booth at the February 2019 trade show in Lake Buena Vista, FL.
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NATM is committed to improving the compliance program, delivering safety education and information, increasing consumer awareness about the importance of buying compliant trailers, providing opportunities for member input, and continuing to develop relationships with key decision makers on Capitol Hill and in federal agencies to advocate for industry needs.  
 
NATM, the Board of Directors, committees, and staff are working diligently to provide more value to members, and we look forward to working with you in 2019. We sincerely hope that you will allow us to continue to serve your needs and provide value to your organization.
 
Please contact NATM Membership & Education Director Kelli Maydew if you have any questions at (785) 272-4433 or email Kelli.Maydew@natm.com
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​Educational Workshops
The 2019 Convention agenda has been finalized! Attendees with full registrations may attend all events at the convention, including the educational workshop sessions and networking events, with the exception of the golf tournament. Booth workers or those with a trade show only registration may want to consider upgrading to a full registration if they wish to attend the educational sessions and all of the networking events.
The educational workshops for 2019 were carefully selected for both trailer manufacturers and suppliers alike. This year the convention will offer four different educational workshops February 19-20. The workshops are as follows*:

Workshop One (Tues. Feb. 19, 9:30-11:00 a.m.)
Strengthen Your Business by Integrating
Quality into the Process
Grace L. Duffy, ASQ Quality Management Division
Quality is something we do every day. The business runs better when we use the elements of quality for planning, managing and improving products and services. We don’t just make products better, we improve the way our business increases profits and reduces expenses. This session shares how to start an integrated quality management system from scratch. It focuses on small- to medium-sized businesses.

Workshop Two (Tues. Feb. 19, 1:30-3:00 p.m.)
Government Affairs Update
Darrell Conner, K&L Gates
NATM Government Affair Representative Darrell Conner will provide an update on NATM’s work in Washington D.C., congressional activities and federal agency efforts. Plus, a recap of past activities and a look ahead at what to expect in 2019.

Workshop Three (Wed. Feb. 20, 8:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.)
Practical Recruiting & Retention Strategies
Tracey Goold, Marsh & McLennan Agency
Let’s get real about recruiting and retention! We can all do research on benchmark data that improves recruiting and retention but how does that actually fit in to your specific company, culture, and business plan? We know that compensation and benefits are important but not everything. Also, increasing compensation and/or benefits is not always practical. Join us for an engaging discussion about practical tips that will make a difference in how you recruit and retain your star players, including two to five action items you can implement as soon as you return from the convention.

Workshop Three (Wed. Feb. 20, 8:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.)
Health Insurance: Cost Control & Association Health Plan Strategy
Lisa Clark and John Kerr, Marsh & McLennan Agency
It’s no secret that health care costs are rising. Pharmaceutical costs and use, new, expensive medical technology, chronic care and provider consolidation are factors contributing to increasing costs. As costs increase, frustration grows for health insurance buyers and the consumers of health care in our nation. Advances in medical technology and expanded pharmaceutical dependency will only grow and continue to drive your health care costs higher. So what is a business owner to do? How can consumers of health insurance better manage the costs of the benefit they are providing?
Association Health Plans (AHPs) will allow businesses to join together through an Association (NATM) to form a larger, more influential buying pool for the purchase of health insurance. This leverage should allow the AHP to negotiate more aggressive insurance pricing as well as the cost of administering those plans. Join Lisa Clark and John Kerr with Marsh & McLennan Agency to learn more about NATM’s forthcoming AHP.
*Workshop times and content are subject to change.

Technical Forums

Looking for technically-oriented education opportunities? Plan on attending the Technical Forum at the 2019 Convention & Trade Show! The Technical Forum sessions are as follows*:

Technical Forum One (Tues. Feb. 19, 9:30-11:00 a.m.)
Trailer Brakes and Suspensions for Light- and Medium-Duty Trailers
Bill Snider, Dexter Axle Company
Join Dexter Product Training Manager Bill Snider as he discusses electric, electric over hydraulic, surge hydraulic, and air brakes in both drum and disk applications. The forum will cover advantages, design, manufacturing differences, and recommendations for operation and maintenance of the different brake options. Snider will also explore trailer axle suspension applications that utilize leaf spring or torsion elements including the effects of suspension travel, loading, alignment and tire wear, as well as operational and maintenance considerations.

Technical Forum Two (Tues. Feb. 19, 1:30-3:00 p.m.)
A New Generation of Trailer Brakes
Todd Brinkman, General Motors
What would it take to stop a truck and trailer in the same distance as a truck alone? Join Todd Brinkman from General Motors to find out!

Technical Forum Three (Wed. Feb. 20, 8:00-11:00 a.m.)
Successful Application of Arc Welding Robotics
Brian Doyle, Miller Welding Automation
& Mike Mueller, B&W Trailer Hitches
This presentation is intended to help those new to automation and the seasoned user apply arc welding robotics successfully, and use the technology to improve their quality, throughput, and costs. Real world examples will be used to illustrate the concepts presented.

Emerging Trends in Trailering
Colin Holthaus, NATM
Join NATM Technical Director Colin Holthaus as he provides an update on towing trends, including both tow vehicle and trailer technology advancements such as the “smart trailer,” advanced towing features, and more.
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Your Tire Recordkeeping Obligations – Practical Guidance for Compliance
Panel
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has indicated an increased interest in compliance with tire recordkeeping regulations. Regulations can be confusing and the roles of tire suppliers, trailer manufacturers, and dealers in the process is complex. A panel of industry experts including a former FMCSA Administrator, tire suppliers, trailer manufacturers, and industry EWR and Recall consultant along with the NATM Technical Director will describe the regulations, possible compliance practices, and answer questions from industry attendees. 

NATM is pleased to announce that Kelli Maydew joined the NATM staff as Membership & Education Director in November.

Kelli is a graduate of Winthrop University. Her experience in membership retention and recruitment is applicable to her new role with NATM as she has worked with association members and database management for nearly ten years.
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Kelli and her husband Eric have one son, Easton. In her free time, she enjoys walking her golden retriever, chasing after her high-energy toddler, and cheering on the University of Kansas Jayhawks.

As the Membership & Education Director, Kelli will be the main point of contact for NATM members and prospective members and will help develop educational programs that recruit and retain members in the Association. Kelli looks forward to promoting trailer safety by keeping NATM’s members informed about compliance with regulations, industry standards and best practices, and by connecting members with valuable education and resources.

“I am excited for this opportunity and look forward to providing timely and ongoing support to our members,” said Kelli.
Kelli is eager to learn more about the needs of the light- and medium-duty trailer industry and to meet more NATM members when she attends the upcoming 2019 NATM Convention & Trade Show in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Welcome Kelli Maydew to the Association by phone at (785) 272-4433 or by email, Kelli.Maydew@natm.com. 

NATM is pleased to announce that Sean Sloan joined the NATM staff as a compliance consultant in October. With the expansion in NATM’s membership and its Compliance Verification Program, NATM found it necessary to hire an additional compliance consultant to assist with compliance consultations across the United States and Canada.

Sean Sloan is a graduate of Baker University with a major in Business Administration. Sean’s experience in corporate and government purchasing meant regular communication with manufacturers and suppliers which has lent itself well to his new role.

Sean and his wife Jeni have five children. In his free time, he enjoys tennis, fishing, and watching KU basketball.
As a compliance consultant, he will be conducting compliance consultations for trailer manufacturers. He also assists members in correcting any compliance deficiencies.

“I have learned a lot in the short time I’ve been here and am excited to continue to help trailer manufacturers with their compliance with federal regulations,” said Sloan.

Sean is excited to learn more about the needs of the light- and medium-duty trailer industry and continue to meet more NATM members as he travels to trailer manufacturing facilities with Colin Holthaus, NATM Technical Director, Terry Jones, NATM Compliance Consultant, and Scott Crimmins, NATM Compliance Consultant.
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Welcome Sean to the Association by phone at (785) 272-4433 or by email, Sean.Sloan@natm.com. 

It’s no secret that health care costs are rising. A number of factors contribute to these increasing costs—some of the biggest contributors include:

Increasing Pharmaceutical Costs and Use:
Health care costs are growing in part due to the increased use of prescription drugs, and an increase in the number of newer, more expensive drugs prescribed. Though prescription drug manufacturers have revolutionized modern medicine, these advances come at a cost.

As pharmaceutical companies develop new drugs to treat serious medical conditions, the market for those drugs expands accordingly. The trend in the pharmaceutical industry is to maximize profits by developing drugs to treat conditions for which there were previously no drug treatments. These new “lifestyle” drugs treat or control conditions like nail fungus, impotence, obesity or hair loss. Manufacturers then use direct-to-consumer advertisements that encourage customers to ask their doctors for prescriptions for these medications.

The increased use of lifestyle medications and direct-to-consumer advertising have raised serious questions about where America’s health care dollars are being spent and if consumers are getting the best value for their money.

New, Expensive Medical Technology:
New medical devices, diagnostic tests and medical imaging tools are enabling doctors to deliver care that would have been impossible in years past. Medical technology, just like pharmaceuticals, has revolutionized medicine and improved the lives of many people—but those advances have also come with hefty price tags. As the number of older Americans increases, these new devices and treatments are being used even more and with escalating price tags.

Chronic Care:
The health care system is primarily geared toward providing acute care and curing diseases. However, many people need care for chronic conditions such as heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes. Chronic conditions are the major cause of illness, disability and death in the United States, and they account for a significant portion of health care spending.

• According to the National Council on Aging (NCOA), about 80 percent of older adults have one chronic condition, accounting for more than two-thirds of the nation’s total health care costs.
• The NCOA also cites that 95 cents of every dollar of Medicare and 83 cents for every dollar of Medicaid go toward treating chronic disease.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that chronic diseases are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States.

Provider Consolidation:
Before managed care revolutionized the American health care system, individual medical providers determined the fees for their services. However, with the domination of managed care plans, most providers have been forced to negotiate their prices lower or risk losing patient volume from managed care plans willing to exclude non-compliant providers from their networks.

In order to maintain or regain some negotiating power, providers in many communities have consolidated their medical practices, effectively monopolizing procedures within specific service areas. These large provider groups have a much greater ability to negotiate with managed care plans that wish to provide convenient care options for their members.
Health care costs and, consequently, employee health benefits costs have been increasing at a very high rate for nearly a decade. Unfortunately, cost increases are still outpacing the rate of inflation, making health care a growing cost burden for consumers.

As costs increase, frustration grows for health insurance buyers and the consumers of health care in our nation. Advances in medical technology and expanded pharmaceutical dependency will only grow and continue to drive your health care higher. So, what is a business owner to do? How can consumers of health insurance better manage the costs of the benefit they are providing?

Association Health Plans (AHPs) will allow businesses to join together through an Association such as NATM to form a larger, more influential buying pool for the purchase of health insurance. This leverage should allow the AHP to negotiate more aggressive insurance pricing as well as the cost of administering those plans.

NATM Members from more than 20 states have already provided information for NATM’s Association Health Plan (AHP) evaluation.

To learn more about how to leverage NATM Membership to better manage healthcare cost:
Plan to join Marsh and McLennan Agency for the workshop session scheduled at the 2019 NATM Convention & Trade Show on Wednesday, Feb. 20 at 8:00 am. Schedule a one-on-one meeting with Marsh and McLennan Agency consultants during the 2019 NATM Convention & Trade Show to discuss your specific employee benefit challenges, strategy and NATM’s Association Health Plan initiative. Contact Lane McNeil at Lane.McNeil@natm.com to sign up.
Complete a Data Collection form for your company and if you want to be included in NATM’s AHP evaluation, please submit the completed form to Lisa Clark at Lisa.Clark@marshmma.com.

Contact Lisa Clark if you have specific questions regarding your employee benefit plan or NATM’s Association Health Plan progress prior to the 2019 Convention at Lisa.Clark@marshmma.com.

For more information about Marsh & McLennan Agency, visit www.marshmma.com.