Women in the Trailer Dealer Industry: Trailblazing Voices from Every Corner of the Business
In an industry historically dominated by men, women across the trailer dealer industry are making their voices heard, redefining expectations, and carving out a place where creativity, expertise, and passion thrive. In roles spanning sales, marketing, operations, and beyond, they are driving real progress. In every corner of the business, they are making space for others to thrive.
Mahli Wold: Creating Community Through Creativity
For Mahli Wold, stepping into the trailer industry wasn't part of the original plan, but it turned out to be the perfect fit. With a background in automotive marketing, Mahli was drawn to the branding and storytelling side of vehicles. When Central Trailer Sales recognized her dealership experience and creative talent, she transitioned into her role as Marketing and Promotions Specialist. Mahli touches every aspect of the company's brand, from promotional products to web development and content creation.
“If it has our logo on it, I’ve probably had something to do with it,” she joked.
One memorable project was a T-shirt featuring the company owner’s collector truck, blending branding with storytelling.
Her biggest challenge has been advocating for the importance of her role, which is largely behind the scenes.
“It isn’t being a woman, it’s having to constantly prove the value of my role,” she said.
Still, she’s found strength in a network of supportive colleagues and mentors. Like Amy, a 15-year veteran who has guided her through everything from sales communication to product strategy, plus support from her boss and his wife, has made all the difference.
What excites Mahli most about her role is the freedom to create. As a one-person marketing team, she values the trust her leadership places in her ideas. Her proudest achievements? Building a strong community through customer events, revamping the company website, and supporting initiatives like Trailer Safety Week. Outside work, she’s passionate about web development and skiing, even combining these interests in personal projects.
Her advice to women entering the industry: “If it doesn’t feel right, it’s not right. Find companies that support you because you’re good at what you do, not just because you’re a woman and they need that diversity.”
She encourages trusting your skills and instincts, knowing there are people who will recognize and value your expertise.
Denise Scholle: Empowering Through Knowledge
The Trailer Guy’s Denise Scholle’s journey into the trailer business was also unexpected but transformative. Initially working in design firms and event planning, she found herself gradually immersed in trailer repair alongside her husband. What started with helping her partner work on trailers in their driveway slowly became a partnership in life and business. It soon grew into mastering the technical details, like upgrading axles and building custom parts, skills she learned through hands-on experience and industry connections.
“I’m often building out axles, and there’s no book for that. It’s all about measurements, finding the perfect fit, and experience,” Denise explains.
Her role now centers around managing the shop’s service orders, ordering parts, and educating customers on trailer maintenance and safety, a responsibility she takes very seriously. Denise is especially proud of the role she plays in educating customers, particularly women who travel alone with horse trailers or RVs.
“I want them to be knowledgeable women in the industry, not just women in the industry,” she explained.
Navigating a male-dominated industry hasn’t been without challenges. Denise recalls times when customers would ignore her expertise, seeking out male colleagues instead.
“I’ve had to stand up, put my shoulders back, speak a little louder to be heard,” she said, but over time, her confidence and knowledge have won over many skeptics. “Some even apologize after realizing I’m the right person to talk to.”
“I speak up. I share my knowledge. And I help others do the same.”
Whether it’s through community events, charity fundraisers, or guiding other women in the industry, Denise sees every connection as a chance to give back.
Mentorship has been key in Denise’s growth. Her husband’s unwavering support and a longtime industry mentor, Denise Schrock, have provided guidance and encouragement throughout her career. Denise emphasizes the importance of mentoring for anyone entering the field.
“Find someone who believes in you, just as you believe in yourself. Find someone who can help pull out your strengths and your capabilities, and find that person who can even help you point out your faults so that you can embrace those and make those better. We naturally make mistakes, and that's how we grow. It's just as important to embrace our strengths as it is our weaknesses.”
Outside of work, Denise’s passion for boating and family keeps her connected to the lifestyle that fuels her dedication. She and her husband own several boats and enjoy spending weekends on the water with friends and family, a true extension of their business and personal lives.
Vicki Mirsberger: Building a Business and a Legacy
Co-owner of a small-town trailer dealership, Mirsberger Sales and Service Inc. and manufacturing company, Mirsberger Manufacturing LLC in Wisconsin, Vicki Mirsberger has been deeply involved in the business for over 20 years. After balancing another career in human resources for much of that time, she transitioned fully into the family business about a decade ago. Her day-to-day duties are diverse, including marketing coordination, payroll, human resources, dealer management software, and supporting daily operations across two related businesses. As a small business owner, she wears many hats and handles frontline issues firsthand.
“When I first joined full-time, I thought, ‘Am I going to have enough to do?’” she said with a laugh. “That was an understatement.”
Vicki’s career path wasn’t originally focused on trailers. She and her husband started as a used car dealership in the early 2000s, gradually expanding into trailers, especially after the 2008 recession reshaped the market. Over time, they fully pivoted to trailers, selling off the car dealership in 2015 and building a new, larger retail facility. Today, their dealership stocks around 500 trailer units and includes parts and service departments, growing steadily while maintaining small-town values and a family feel.
Staffing and inventory forecasting are ongoing challenges, especially amid economic fluctuations and labor shortages affecting many trades. Vicki notes that while she’s experienced some skepticism as a woman, often from customers unsure of her knowledge, she’s never found gender to be a barrier within the business. Instead, she focuses on leveraging her own strengths and partnering with others who complement her skillset.
She takes pride in maintaining a trusted name in the industry despite being located in a town of less than a thousand people. Vicki emphasizes that their success stems from sticking to core values, prioritizing customer trust, and fostering a family-like culture among employees. She and her husband are active in industry groups, advocating for more structure and safety standards in trailers, which she views as essential to the industry’s growth and customer protection.
“I think it comes down to being good people. So just trying to do the right thing, whether it's for your community, your customer, whatever it may be. Just hanging on to those values and trying to put that through in your culture,” she explained.
Outside of work, Vicki enjoys traveling and watching her children grow and get involved in the business; her son is already working full-time, and her daughter showing early interest. Family remains a central passion.
Her advice to women and business owners in the trailer industry is simple but powerful: “Stay true to who you are.” She encourages others to focus on their own goals and talents, adapt to industry changes, and not let anyone else’s expectations dictate their path.
“Being a female shouldn’t set you back from anything,” Vicki said. “Take your talents and run with it.”
Britt Yarbro: Managing the Details, Delivering Results
Britt Yarbro serves as the Sales and Finance Administrator for Happy Trailers, managing compliance, daily sales reviews across 12 locations, lender setups, and the Texas DMV interface for licensing and registrations. Known affectionately as “Happy Siri” for her vast knowledge and presence in training videos, Britt is a linchpin behind the scenes who ensures smooth operations and supports her sales team.
Her path into the trailer industry was unplanned. With a political science and legal research background, Britt took a job at Happy Trailers over 11 years ago as clerical support, intending it as a temporary gig. Instead, she grew into sales, finance management, and eventually administration, gaining experience in nearly every company role. This diverse exposure gives her a holistic view of the business and the industry.
Britt acknowledges the male dominance in the trailer world, recalling when she started there were barely any women in her company. Over time, that has shifted; now, much of their HR and finance departments are staffed by women. Still, she’s faced the challenge of proving herself to skeptics who underestimated her simply because she’s a woman. She’s learned to lean into that underestimation, turning it into motivation.
“People are going to underestimate you. Let them. Then prove them wrong,” she said.
One of her proudest accomplishments is her longevity and growth within Happy Trailers. Britt treasures the relationships she’s built, including customers who return years later with gratitude. The job has also helped her develop interpersonal skills and confidence.
Inspired by her mother’s encouragement to excel at whatever she does, Britt embraces continuous learning and the company’s growth momentum. Outside of work, she cherishes family, baking, and sculpting as creative outlets, and building projects like her own dining table to balance her intellectual daily work.
Her advice to women entering or growing in the trailer industry: expect to be underestimated and use that as fuel to push forward.
“If this is genuinely what you want to do, don’t let anybody take that from you,” Britt said. “Keep pushing. If you stop, you're never going to get anywhere. You just got to keep going.”
While each woman’s path into the trailer dealer world has been unique, they share many common threads: resilience, innovation, and a deep commitment to serving their customers and communities. From technical expertise and educational outreach to digital marketing and operational excellence, Denise, Mahli, Britt, and Vicki each showcase how women are playing vital roles in an evolving industry.
Notably, several of them pointed to the impact of female mentors or colleagues who helped them. A reminder of how valuable representation and support can be in a traditionally male-dominated space. These relationships, whether formal or informal, helped shape their confidence and careers and highlight the importance of community and connection in this field.
And though their journeys haven’t always been easy, they have forged ahead, not just succeeding in their roles but helping to redefine what success looks like in the trailer industry. As more women step into leadership, technical, and creative roles, they are bringing fresh ideas, collaborative leadership, and long-overdue visibility to a space that’s stronger because of their contributions.
These women aren’t just part of the trailer dealer industry; they are helping shape its future.
Mahli, Denise, Vicki, and Britt are NATM'S August #WomanCrushWednesday(s)!
In celebration of our first Trailer Expo happening in September 2025.
Join us for the inaugural Women Tow-gether Dealer Roundtable, an empowering session designed to connect women in the trailer dealer industry, share experiences, and spark meaningful conversations.
