Rick Albertini
NTEA Board Chairman
President & CEO
Phenix Truck & Van (Pomona, California)
In the commercial vehicle industry, collaboration is one of the cornerstones of innovation. It provides space for unique perspectives and diverse experiences, sparking new ideas and creativity. Collaboration also allows us to share the challenges we’ve faced and how we’ve overcome them, leading to more efficient and effective responses to a rapidly evolving industry. Commercial Vehicle Upfitting Summit is a key forum for the kind of collaboration that fuels innovation.
This annual event — held October 13–14, 2026, at Kalahari Resorts & Conventions (Sandusky, Ohio) — brings together the vehicle upfitter community with chassis manufacturer technical and engineering experts. During OEM-led programs and vehicle displays, attendees will have the chance to preview commercial vehicle updates, learn more about the changes coming to the industry, and consult directly with OEM technical experts on critical upfitting issues. Additionally, education sessions and industry resource displays offer key learning opportunities for upfitters to expand their current skillsets.
The Summit is also a chance for attendees to exchange ideas with other industry professionals. Making connections at this event can open doors to lasting partnerships that contribute to the industry’s long-term growth. Networking can broaden attendees’ knowledge and allow them to find quick solutions to technical issues. Conversations at the Summit could lead to new product launches and other engineering innovations that further transform the commercial vehicle space. Collaboration is often the first step in making meaningful change with lasting impact.
I encourage you to attend Commercial Vehicle Upfitting Summit this fall and start the important conversations that will drive our industry forward. Learn more on pages 28–29 of this issue of NTEA News and at ntea.com/upfittingsummit. Let’s get ready to collaborate at this year’s event.