NTEA Board of Directors election
NTEA’s Board election opens in December 2023. There must be at least two Board members representing each of the Manufacturer and Distributor classes. As this minimum requirement is already met, there are openings for four Manufacturer or Distributor Directors to serve three-year terms starting March 2024. The election process is conducted electronically, with links to the online ballot emailed to Distributor and Manufacturer members in December.
NTEA is governed by its Association Bylaws under leadership of a member-elected Board. Each Director completes a three-year term, and a Board-appointed president & CEO oversees day-to-day administration of NTEA. For a list of current Directors, visit ntea.com/board.
Bob Dakin
Director of Strategic Accounts, Last Mile and OEM
Safe Fleet
NTEA member company since 1979
Bob began his commercial vehicle industry career 15 years ago, upon being honorably discharged from the United States Marine Corps, and a subsequent career in law enforcement. For the past nine years, he has served in various roles for Safe Fleet, including regional sales, product management and national accounts. Previously, he worked in fleet management and as national account manager for Smart Power Systems and Harrison Hydrogen.
Bob has a bachelor’s from Central Michigan University in integrated leadership studies; an associate’s from West Shore Community College in criminal justice/L.E. administration; and advanced leadership studies from the University of Virginia. He served four years in the United States Marine Corps in San Diego, California, and was honorably discharged as a Sergeant.
He has been involved with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Washington DC Chapter, supporting and raising money for the organization; and with the Disabled American Veterans Organization as a lifetime member working with disabled veterans both locally and on a national level.
Bob seeks areas to contribute to the commercial vehicle industry, shape policies and foster collaboration as he continues to grow as an executive in the industry. By joining the Board, he hopes to give back to the industry and continue to make contributions to its success.
He envisions the Association serving in the future through daily direct action and connecting with the broader commercial vehicle industry. He notes he will serve as a champion to strengthen NTEA’s membership base through targeted and strategic recruiting of new members. Additionally, he would contribute experience with collaborative leadership, strategic vision, policy advocacy, industry expertise and communication skills.
Industry issues of great significance
- The work truck industry’s continued labor shortage and aging workforce are of great concern.
- A strategic focus on product safety and application safety is needed, thus improving the safety of the work truck eco-system, creating additional value for current and up-and-coming members.
- Rapid technology change discussions that have not been fully explored, including artificial intelligence, which will have a continued impact on our supply chain.
Tim Davison
Vice President of Sales and Marketing
Stellar Industries Inc.
NTEA member company since 1990
Currently the vice president of sales and marketing for Stellar Industries Inc., Tim’s entire 33-year career has been in the work truck industry. He has a broad range of sales, product and marketing experience at a variety of companies, including, IMT, Dura Glass Inc., Palfinger and Stellar, where he’s been for more than 20 years.
Tim has a bachelor’s in business administration from Mankato State University. In recent years, he has focused on helping his local high school and community college in creating a weld lab, and donating work truck equipment to help skilled trades students understand how commercial vehicles can help them be more productive. He is a member of Grace Evangelical Church.
He notes the industry has challenges ahead that will need manufacturers and distributors to work together to solve, and he looks forward to helping the industry navigate those challenges. Tim highlighted some unique events and government regulations affecting both manufacturers and distributors, such as customer buying habit changes coming out of the pandemic resulting in more online and direct buying behaviors, and the push for electric vehicles (EVs) in the work truck space. He feels he can bring insights into how other countries and industries are experiencing similar changes and help NTEA members navigate these issues to better serve customers.
He believes the Association will be crucial in helping members navigate upcoming government regulations, ensuring distributor relevance to customers as they change their buying habits, and helping manufacturers break paradigms to design world-class products to help customers be more productive.
Industry issues of great significance
- Government EV commercial vehicle mandates: As state and federal governments mandate greater EV truck usage, members will need help understanding the regulations, and how to design and upfit products of these new chassis.
- Increasingly direct buying habits: As customers choose to buy on a more direct channel, we need to help the local distributor understand how they can remain relevant to the local customer.
- Designing world-class products: Limiting North American customers to materials and designs traditionally from North America is cutting them short on opportunities to have lighter, stronger and more productive products.
Andy Peter
Vice President
Meyer Truck Equipment
NTEA member company since 2014
Andy is a 15-year veteran of the work truck industry and with Meyer Truck Equipment, where he’s served as general manager and vice president. He oversees HR, marketing and financial activities; has been involved in purchasing two truck equipment/accessory companies; implemented a new computer system; and administered and developed a companywide PEO program for all employees.
Andy has a bachelor’s in agriculture economics from Purdue University. He is involved with the Evansville Christian School Board as part of the executive team (secretary) and the Warrick Trails Board, which seeks grants and fundraising to build trails/paths to connect schools, neighborhoods and communities. He is also an elementary and middle school soccer and track coach.
Andy notes that NTEA has offered a platform for his 85-year-old company — Meyer Truck Equipment — to network with peers and customers, be better informed of industry news and become a better truck equipment upfitter. He feels joining NTEA’s Board of Directors would be the ultimate way to give back to an industry that has served his company for the past eight decades.
In the future, Andy said he would like to see the Association continuing to build on the great work done by the past Board leaders. Additionally, he said it will be vital for the Association to foster a “learn from each other” environment for the industry to efficiently solve fluctuating challenges. NTEA must continue to develop initiatives for community learning, information sharing and data collection.
Industry issues of great significance
- Managing and retaining a smaller, younger workforce.
- Helping upfitters stay directly connected with OEMs’ ever-changing manufacturing practices and specs.
- Training staff on selling, installing and being able to confidently advise customers of capabilities.
Emily Riggs Korns
President
J&J Truck Bodies & Trailers and J&J Truck Equipment
NTEA member company since 1972
Emily grew up at J&J — her first job was counting bolts in the warehouse before she eventually graduated to stuffing direct mail envelopes. She’s held administrative roles at J&J and served on the Board for 15 years. She spent most of her career outside of the industry in consumer packaged goods and healthcare. She’s held executive positions in marketing, communications and business development including two Fortune 500 companies, Mars Inc. and Nestle. Emily began serving as president of J&J in 2022 and co-owns their parent company, Riggs Industries.
She has a bachelor of science from the University of Pittsburgh and a master’s in business administration from the Katz School of Business. She is an active member of three occupational education advisory boards in the Somerset community — for the vo-tech campus, school district and community college. Emily also serves on the boards of the local Boys & Girls Club and Chamber of Commerce, and the Regional NIST MEP Center. She has a “side hustle” as owner of Uptown Works, a co-working and entrepreneurship hub in Somerset.
Emily notes that J&J has been an NTEA member for over 50 years, and they value the leadership and resources the Association brings to its membership. She feels her non-traditional career path would enable her to bring a unique perspective to the Board. On a personal level, it would give her team great pride to see a third-generation owner of J&J on the Board, and it would be a recognition of her late father, Bill Riggs, and his life's work.
NTEA helps leaders in the work truck industry adapt to change, she adds. The world keeps evolving, from geopolitical influences, to technological advancements and supply chain management. Many businesses in this industry are small to medium-sized, privately-held companies that don't have massive budgets to employ researchers, strategists and consultants to help navigate, and she sees NTEA continuing as an expert resource and facilitator for adaptation.
Industry issues of great significance
- Workforce development: Identifying opportunities for manufacturers and upfitters to invest in attracting untapped talent; for OEMs and upfitters to work more collaboratively to make builds easier; and for increased investment in training and automation.
- Regulatory: NTEA can help members have better conversations with OEMs, legislators and customers, so we can be proactive, not reactive.
- Generational transitions: Many NTEA member companies are family-owned, which presents unique challenges and opportunities for the industry moving forward. NTEA could have a role in providing a supportive community for family transitions and planning.
Kevin Sumrak
Senior Director, Sales & Truck Body Strategy
Wabash
NTEA member company since 1980
Throughout his 10-year career at Wabash, and prior, Kevin has had the opportunity to lead teams in product management, sales, and entire value streams and business units. This experience has provided a well-rounded perspective when collaborating with cross-functional groups, which he believes will translate well to the Board and provide valuable leadership.
Kevin has a bachelor of science from Purdue University and certificates from the University of Notre Dame (executive management and supervisory development); Pragmatic Marketing Institute (PMC Level IV certified); and Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management (creating and managing strategic alliances).
He is involved with the Concord Rotary Club, Bent Oak Homeowner’s Association (past president), assistant boys tennis coach for Concord Community Schools, Ford Commercial Upfitters Board and NTEA’s Van Body Manufacturers Division.
Kevin said he decided the time is right to run for the Board and give back to an organization from which he has benefited greatly. He feels this is a critical time of transformational change within the industry, and organizations like NTEA should continue to have strong leadership, which he wants to help provide.
He believes NTEA plays a pivotal role in guiding the work truck industry into the future by fostering collaboration, setting industry standards and providing a platform for knowledge exchange. Through strategic initiatives and collective efforts, Kevin sees the Association steering the industry toward innovation, sustainable practices and adaptability to emerging trends, ensuring long-term growth and relevance.
Industry issues of great significance
- Regulatory requirements the industry is facing in the drive to zero emissions.
- Labor, including lack of drivers, the industry’s aging workforce, and the ongoing struggle to find and retain skilled workers.
- Continuing global supply chain constraints experienced since the onset of the pandemic.
Shane Woodman
Global Sales Director
Onspot of North America Inc.
NTEA member company since 1997
An 11-year veteran of the work truck industry, Shane is global sales director for Onspot, where he oversees all sales on a global scale. Previously he served the organization as OEM sales manager and North American sales manager. Prior to joining Onspot in 2016, he worked for Muncie Power Products as Northeast region sales manager.
Shane has a bachelor’s in business management from Pennsylvania State University and a master’s in business administration from Walden University. Additional education includes an executive program in industrial management from KTH Royal Institute of Technology and sustainability within industrial production program from University West. He is on the executive committee for Magnolia Green Community and is involved in the Chesterfield County First Tee.
Shane notes that NTEA has been instrumental in shaping his career within the industry, opening doors that would have otherwise remained closed. He served on the Generation Next Board of Governors from 2015–2020 (he was chair in 2019). This role afforded him insight into the vast potential of the industry, contributing significantly to both his personal and professional development.
If granted the chance for Board service, he is eager to reciprocate the invaluable support NTEA has provided him. Given the pervasive presence of this industry in daily lives, he sees it as an honor to contribute to shaping its future and paving the way for generations to come.
Shane envisions the Association as a catalyst for assisting young professionals in building their careers in a purposeful and impactful manner and aspires to play a key role in attracting and recruiting talent from various industries.
Industry issues of great significance
- Attracting, recruiting and retaining young talent remains a recurrent theme and should be prioritized.
- The shift toward electrification appears imminent, but given our existing infrastructure, the path for managing fleets in the future seems unclear.
- The rapid pace of technological advancement is clear, especially with new technologies being integrated into work trucks driven by both regulations and customer demands. The question arises: Who plays the role of the catalyst in informing and training technicians to adapt to these changes?