Built on Knowledge: Tracey Vire's Almost 3 Decade Journey

When Tracey Vire first walked through the doors of A&N Trailer Parts nearly 29 years ago, she never imagined she'd build a career in the trailer industry. Looking for a steady job while raising her young children, she accepted a delivery driver position after her mother-in-law connected her with the company's owner. What started as an unexpected opportunity became a lifelong career built on curiosity, determination, and a commitment to serving others.

Today, Tracey serves as General Manager of A&N Trailer Parts, overseeing everything from payroll and inventory to sales, customer service, and employee support. Having worked in nearly every position throughout the company, from delivery driver and warehouse associate to shipping, receiving, accounts receivable, and the sales counter, she understands the business from every angle.

"I've done everything here," Tracey shared. "Since I've worked every position, I know what it takes. When I ask someone to do something, I know exactly what they're being asked to do."

Her journey is one that has impressed A&N Trailer Parts owner Deborah Adamson from the very beginning.

"She started at the bottom," Deborah said. "She drove a truck for me. She cleaned the warehouse. She pulled parts. There's not a job here that she hasn't done. She studied hard, paid attention, and knows trailer parts inside and out."

Working for a family-owned, woman-owned business has given Tracey a unique perspective on the industry's evolution. Over the past decade especially, she's seen more women step into technical sales, leadership, and decision-making roles.

"I've seen a lot more women in the industry," she said. "Sometimes the women know more. It's changed a lot from women simply answering the phone to taking on much bigger roles."

Like many women in technical industries, earning credibility wasn't always easy. One of Tracey's greatest challenges was gaining customers' trust and confidence in her expertise.

"Having customers put their trust and belief into what I was telling them was the biggest challenge," she explained. "There's no book for what we do; you have to learn it by being in it."

Deborah has watched Tracey overcome that challenge firsthand.

"When she started, a woman in the trailer parts business was unheard of," Deborah said. "It took a lot to convince some people that she knew what she was talking about, and she learned to do that so well that they don't even know what hit them."

Among Tracey's proudest accomplishments isn't a title or milestone, it's the reputation she's built through exceptional customer service.

"I'm most proud of the knowledge I have and the customer service I provide," she said. "If customers are treated right, they're always going to come back."

Tracey credits much of her success to Deborah, who believed in her potential from the very beginning and encouraged her growth throughout the years.

"She put a lot of faith in me," Tracey said. "She's my inspiration to be the best."

The admiration is mutual.

"I'm glad to have her. I'm glad she stayed with me," Deborah said. "She basically has run my business for the last several years. She keeps it going. She hires, she orders, she does it all."

Outside of work, Tracey's altruism continues. Whether she's tending her garden, baking, cooking, or spending time with her husband and family, she finds joy in caring for others.

"I love making life easier for the people right in front of me," she said.

That dedication to helping others is one of the qualities Deborah admires most.

"She's a good-hearted person," Deborah said. "She'll help anybody, anytime, anywhere."

Receiving recognition through NATM's Woman Crush Wednesday campaign has been especially meaningful to Tracey. She believes women throughout the trailer industry deserve to have their stories told and their hard work recognized.

"A lot of times women aren't recognized in this industry, but they work just as hard," she said. "I'm proud that this highlights the women out there who are working just as hard."

For women considering a career in the trailer industry, Tracey's advice is simple: keep learning and believe in yourself.

"Learn all the knowledge you can, keep pushing through, and have confidence in yourself," she said. "If you have confidence in yourself, you can make other people believe in you."

Beyond her leadership at A&N Trailer Parts, Tracey is also a member of NATM's newly formed Women Tow-Gether Committee, helping foster connections and support for women in the trailer industry.

Nearly three decades after taking a chance on a job she never expected to become a career, Tracey's story is a testament to the power of perseverance, continuous learning, and leading with service. From starting as a delivery driver to leading the day-to-day operations of A&N Trailer Parts, she has earned the respect of her customers, coworkers, and mentor alike. Her journey reminds us that expertise is built through dedication, and true leadership is measured by the people you help along the way.

Tracey is NATM'S July #WomanCrushWednesday!