Trailer Manufacturers See the Future At 58th Annual TTMA Convention

June 1, 2000
Conomic forecasts and a glimpse of new and future trailer products highlighted the 58th annual convention of the Truck Trailer Manufacturers Association

Conomic forecasts and a glimpse of new and future trailer products highlighted the 58th annual convention of the Truck Trailer Manufacturers Association May 3-7, 2000, at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort in Indian Wells, California.

The association also elected a new slate of officers. Tom Spencer, chief executive officer for John Evans Manufacturing Company, is the new chairman of the board. He assumes the position following the completion of a year of service by Kit Hammond, president of Great Dane Division of Great Dane Limited Partnership.

Brian Ling, Reliance Trailer Manufacturing, was chosen to serve as vice chairman. During the convention, Ling filled in for Spencer, who was unable to make the trip to Indian Wells due to illness.

The officers and directors chosen to lead the association during the 2000-2001 term are:

Chairman of the Board Tom Spencer John Evans Manufacturing Sumter, South Carolina

Vice Chairman of the Board Brian Ling Reliance Trailer Manufacturing Cotati, California

Treasurer Don Wahlin Stoughton Trailers Inc Stoughton, Wisconsin Chairman, Policy Committee Bob Foster Heil Trailer International Chattanooga, Tennessee

Vice Chairman, Policy Committee Kit Hammond Great Dane Division, GDLP Savannah, Georgia

President Richard Bowling TTMA Alexandria, Virginia Chairman, Tank Conference Ray Schaffer Weld-It Company Los Angeles, California

Vice Chairman, Tank Conference Tom Determan Determan Brownie Inc Minneapolis, Minnesota

Chairman for Associates Joe Harrison Kentucky Electric Steel Inc Ashland, Kentucky Vice Chairman for Associates Bob Dubsky Hadley Products Corp Grandville, Michigan

Immediate Past Chairman for Associates Joe Gallo Holland Binkley Company Warrenton, Missouri

Chairman of the Convention Committee Brian Ling Reliance Trailer Manufacturing Cotati, California

Vice Chairman of the Convention Committee Jay Nieszel Trailmobile Trailer LLC Chicago, Illinois Kenney Allred Timpte Inc David City, Nebraska

John Cannon Brenner Tank Inc Fond du Lac, Wisconsin

Charles Dutil Manac Orangeville, Ontario, Canada

Larry Hartog Kentucky Manufacturing Company Louisville, Kentucky

William Herndon HPA Monon Corporation Monon, Indiana

Norm Hutchinson Hutchinson Industries Downsview, Ontario, Canada Frank Katz Strick Corporation Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania

Jay Nieszel Trailmobile Trailer LLC Chicago, Illinois

Rick Odle Talbert Trailer Manufacturing Inc Rensselaer, Indiana Lorri Palko Dorsey Trailers Atlanta, Georgia

Bill Persinger Wilson Trailer Company Sioux City, Iowa

Jeff Pitts Pitts Trailers Pittsview, Alabama Scott Semlinger Lufkin Trailers Lufkin, Texas

Dave Shannon Beall Trailers of Montana Billings, Montana

Jerry Thomsen Trail King Industries Inc Mitchell, South Dakota

Kit Hammond, left, receives a plaque from Brian Ling, vice chairman of TTMA, in appreciation of Hammond's service this past year as chairman of TTMA

TTMA officers for the coming year are pictured with their spouses at the TTMA banquet: TTMA Vice-Chairman Brian Ling & Debbi; Policy Committee Chairman Kit Hammond & Karen; TTMA President Dick Bowling & Emily. The new TTMA chairman, Tom Spencer, was unable to attend because of illness.

TTMA Board of Directors members pictured at the TTMA convention include: Jay and Judy Nieszel, Trailmobile Trailer; Bill & Jane Herndon, HPA Monon; Jeff and Cher Pitts, Pitts Trailers; Rick & Wendy Odle, Talbert Mfg; Jerry & Pam Thomsen, Trail King Industries; and Scott & Luanna Semlinger, Lufkin Trailers.

Sports Committee members pictured at the TTMA convention are: David & Mary Hartman, Midwest Products, sports committee chair; Denny & Donna Weisend, Hayes Lemmerz; Dan & Marilyn Rengert, TODCO; Ray & Deana Anderson, Trailer/Body Builders; Bob & Linda Dubsky, Hadley Products; and Rick & Linda Quinn, Southern Fabricators.

More TTMA Sports Committee members: David & Angelia Baratti, Grote Industries; Morie & Gail Myers, Stemco Inc; Rich & Betty Adams, Timken Co; Steve & Sandy Luc, Meritor Automotive; Bill & Kris Schaffer, Overseas Hardwoods; and Bob & Nancy Voss, Tuthill Transport Technologies.

More TTMA Sports Committee members: Ed Gleason, OMCO; Ron & Teresa Onken, Kysor/ Westran; Herb Hildebrand & Ruthann FitzGerald, Nose Cone Mfg; Jack & Vicki Field, ALCOA; Bob & Anne Mathieson, DuPont, golf chair; and Bill White, Fleet Equipment, tennis chair.

Hospitality Committee members pictured at the TTMA convention are: Jack & Susan Smith, Holland Neway, hospitality committee chair; Robert & Lynn Haas, Main Steel Polishing; Tom & Betty DeBlase, Midwest Products; Joe & Joanne Hodges, Peterson Manufacturing; Mike & Nancy White, Hutchens Industries; and Bob & Deb DiPonio, Haldex Brake Systems.

TTMA Board of Directors members (all chairmen or past chairmen of the TTMA Tank Conference) are: John & Joan Cannon, Brenner Tank; Ray & Kay Schaffer, Weld-It Co; Norman & Joan Hutchinson, Hutchinson Industries; and David & Vicki Shannon, Beall Corp.

More TTMA Hospitality Committee members: Del Seehusen, Associates Commercial; Jim & Pat Canaday, Kemlite Co; Dan & Becky Wallace, Phillips Industries; Rod & Arlene Richardson, MGM Brakes; and Jules & Jane Davis, Dana Corp.

More TTMA Hospitality Committee members: Jack & Grace Kyle, Steel of West Virginia; Pat & Peggy Brandt, Dana Corp; Mel & Mary Lou Court, Newcourt Inc; Terry & Gail Rone, Accuride Corp; Don & Margaret Waldie, Pechiney Rolled Products; and Phil & Sally Mings, Lasco Composites.

TTMA Tank Conference Chairman John Cannon of Brenner Tank Inc is presented a plaque in appreciation of his outstanding service by the incoming Tank Conference chairman, Ray Schaffer of Weld-It Company.

The two new chairmen of the TTMA Engineering Committee are Jeff Bennett of Utility Trailers, new first vice-chairman, and Jeff Hamilton of Kentucky Manufacturing Company, new chairman.

Ex-Officio directors of the TTMA (past chairmen of TTMA) are: Don & Carol Wahlin, Stoughton Trailers; Glenn Taylor & Glenda Cole, Bankhead Enterprises; Jim & Donna Wilfore, Fontaine Trailer; and Bob & Betty Foster, Heil Trailer.

Pat O'Brien, product engineering manager for E D Etnyre & Co, is presented a plaque in appreciation of his outstanding service as chairman of the TTMA Tank Conference Engineering Committee, by John Cannon of Brenner, Tank Conference chairman.

Joe Gallo of Holland Binkley Co is presented a plaque for outstanding service as chairman of the TTMA Associates by Joe Harrison of Kentucky Electric Steel, incoming chairman of the TTMA Associates.

During the TTMA Engineering Committee meeting at the TTMA convention, Jeff Hamilton of Kentucky Manufacturing Co, incoming chairman of the TTMA Engineering Committee, presents a plaque in appreciation to Engineering Committee Chairman Ron Zubko of Strick Corporation.

TTMA President Dick Bowling and Excise Tax Consultant Bernie Fischgrund presented the annual update on federal excise taxes at the TTMA convention in Indian Wells CA.

New Chairmen of the TTMA Associates are pictured with their spouses at the TTMA banquet: Chairman Joe & Judy Harrison, Kentucky Electric Steel; Past Chairman Joe & Jerrie Gallo, Holland Binkley Co; and new Vice-chairman Bob & Linda Dubsky, Hadley Products Corp.

Winners of the TTMA Plant Safety Contest are Bob Foster, president of Heil Trailer International, for Heil's Athens TN tank trailer plant; TTMA Chairman Kit Hammond, who presented the awards; Rod Ehrlich, VP-Engineering of Wabash National Corp, for Wabash's Lafayette IN van trailer plant; and Jeff Pitts, president of Pitts Trailers, for its Pittsview AL plant competing in Category C for small trailer plants. Other winning plants not represented at the TTMA convention are Wilson Trailer Company of Sioux City IA for its Yankton SD plant, winner of the Category B for medium-size plants; Determan Brownie Inc for its Minneapolis MN plant, winner of Category B tank plants; and Boston Steel & Manufacturing of Malden MA, winner of Category C (small) tank plants.

Past chairmen of the TTMA Associates are pictured at the TTMA convention: Jim & Pat Canaday, Kemlite Co; Jules & Jane Davis (standing) Dana Corp; Mike & Nancy White, Hutchens Industries; Bob & Deb DiPonio, Haldex Brake Systems; Rich & Betty Adams, Timken Co; Gene & Jean Mitchell, Business Communication Services; Dan & Marilyn Rengert, TODCO; Tom & Betty DeBlase, Midwest Products; and Ed Gleason, OMCO.