Guest editorial
Michael Thompson
Generation Next Board Chair
This article was published in the April 2020 edition of NTEA News.
It’s hard to believe another Work Truck Week has come and gone. The 20th anniversary event featured everything from Manufacturer and Distributor Innovation Conference to Green Truck Summit to a packed exhibit hall and special events — setting the standard for education and networking, and showcasing our industry’s latest offerings.
This year, Generation Next’s Board of Governors welcomed two new members elected to serve three-year terms: Joe Kafka from TODCO and Luke Ware from Sage Oil Vac. I look forward to what they will add to our already exceedingly talented group.
I would be remiss if I didn’t recognize our outgoing chairman, Shane Woodman. The leadership
and support he provided over the past five years of service were invaluable and have positioned us to make even greater strides in 2020 and beyond. Thank you, Shane!
2020 Generation Next Leadership Workshop
Generation Next is NTEA’s professional development organization. We encourage anyone with fewer than 10 years of industry service to explore membership. Our diverse group spans all functional areas of business — marketing, sales, customer service, finance, IT, engineering, production, executive-level, and more. This year, the Board of Governors will be expanding on our long-range strategic plan to more clearly define purpose and value provided to the membership.
Two things that will only continue to grow in scope are our special events at The Work Truck Show — Take5 and the Leadership Workshop and Networking Reception. Take5 is exclusively held for Show attendees who are new to the industry. It’s a great opportunity to talk with up-and-coming and established industry leaders in a relaxed and unassuming setting.
Traditionally, our Leadership Workshop has featured a keynote speaker. We broke the paradigm this year, inviting Bronkar Lee and Aaron Williams of Collision of Rhythm to perform a remarkable show focused on teamwork and maintaining the rhythm in our professional and personal lives. Their performance left the group with much to consider, and provided significant topics of conversation for the networking reception that followed.
Mark your calendar now for next year’s Show, scheduled for March 9–12, 2021, in Indianapolis. Sign up to receive email updates about the event, including when registration opens in the fall,
at worktruckshow.com/2021.
With an energetic and talented Board of Governors, along with tremendous support from NTEA’s Board, Generation Next is well positioned to continue delivering greater value to those new to our industry. I’m excited for what this year will bring. If you or a colleague are interested in learning more about our organization, email me at mthompson@readingbody.com.
Learn more at ntea.com/generationnext.
