NATDA Announces Formation of Manufacturers Council

St. Petersburg, Fla.– The North American Trailer Dealers Association (NATDA) has announced its inaugural Manufacturers Council, a group that will work closely with the Dealer Advisory Council to bridge the communication gap between trailer dealers and their manufacturing partners.

The first meeting between the two councils took place at the 2023 NATDA Trailer Show in Nashville, TN. Members of both groups expressed positivity from the 2-hour meeting and look forward to continued cooperation moving forward. NATDA will continue to facilitate quarterly calls with both councils to provide important updates, collect valuable feedback, and host discussions around industry matters that affect NATDA dealer members.

“As an association focused on the overall development of the trailer industry, we feel it’s our duty to help foster fruitful discussions between all those involved. In a short amount of time, the NATDA Dealer Advisory Council has proven a valuable asset to NATDA’s goals and core values. We believe the Manufacturer Council will not only continue in that vein but provide a new and thoughtful view that we might not otherwise have been able to consider,” said Executive Director Andria Gibbon, CEM. 

The Manufacturers Council consists of the following members: 

• Dan Mills, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at Alcom, LLC 
• Jacob Crabb, EVP of Brand at Diamond C Trailers 
• Michael Starkes, Head of Marketing, Southland Trailer Corp. 
• Rob Henry, Director of Marketing at Polar King International 
• Shaun Davis, Corporate Marketing Manager at Novae Corp. 
• William Dyck, Chief Operating Officer at Delco Trailers 

Additionally, former Dealer Advisory Councilman, Ryan Cope, was unanimously approved to join the Manufacturer Council after accepting a National Sales Manager position with Liberty Trailers. 

NATDA’s Director of Operations, Corey Langley, will serve as the Manufacturer Council liaison, providing a conduit between the council and the association itself. 

For any questions or comments, please email Corey Langley at corey@natda.org.

ABOUT NATDA

NATDA (North American Trailer Dealers Association) serves the light and medium-duty trailer industry by connecting dealers, manufacturers, and suppliers through various beneficial and educational platforms. From printed publications like its bi-monthly magazine and annual buyer's guide to the annual NATDA Trailer Show, NATDA's promotional outlets result in abundant networking opportunities with high-quality, industry-specific contacts. Learn more at natda.org.

ABOUT THE NATDA TRAILER SHOW

The NATDA Trailer Show is the first and only industry event that caters specifically to dealers and is not open to the public. The show's mission is to unite the light to medium-duty trailer industry under one roof to showcase the best and most innovative ideas, products, and solutions to help dealerships strengthen their performance year after year. The show features manufacturers, dealers, product and service vendors, and financial institutions. The event represents all industry segments including the cargo, race car, horse, livestock, marine, dump, flatbed, and toy hauler markets.