Please vote for only TWO Dealer candidates.

Per the NTDA Bylaws amended by the membership on September 30, 2020, “Members shall be entitled to vote. Members generally are companies, and therefore act through designated representatives (e.g., primary member contact). Proxy voting is NOT permitted. Selecting more than the specified number of candidates invalidates your ballot. Online and mailed ballots must be signed. Ballots may also be signed, scanned and emailed to membership@ntda.org.

Ballots must be postmarked no later than Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. Online voting will conclude at midnight on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023.

 

The two newly elected Board members will begin their three-year terms of service upon installation at the October 2023 NTDA Board of Directors Meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023 in Marco Island, FL. The NTDA Board is made up of 12 members, nine of which are Dealer members, and three of which are Allied members.

 

Neil Christensen

Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing
Wabash Canada
Mississauaga, ON

NTDA Dealer Member Since 2016
Years in Present Position: 15
Years in Trailer Industry: 34

Neil is Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing of Wabash Canada, and has worked in the semi-trailer industry for 34 years. Prior to joining Wabash Canada, Neil served in various positions for Provincial Trailer Rental; Mond Industries; Trailcon Leasing; Penske Truck Leasing, and Trailmobile.

Neil has been a member of the Ontario Trucking Association and the Toronto Transportation Club (TTC) since 1989. He served on the Board of Directors of the TTC from 1998–2006 as was chair in 2005. He has also served as chair of numerous TTC events, including their Golf Tournament, Ski Day, and Go-Kart Day.

Neil holds a Bachelor of Arts from York University in Economics and Business (Toronto, Ontario, Canada).

Industry issues of concern to Neil include: 

1. Availability and growth of technicians to service the products that we sell.
   
   
2. Educating members on critical issues, including regulatory burdens on trailer dealers.
   
   
3. Influencing and improving the economic environment for dealers and our customers and promoting and upholding the highest standards of business within the industry.

 

Mark Diamantopoulos
Vice President of Sales
Breadner Trailer Sales
Breslau, ON

NTDA Dealer Member Since 2011
Years in Present Position: 7 Years
Years in Trailer Industry: 28 Years

Mark currently serves as Vice President of Sales for Breadner Trailer Sales. After completing his education, Mark worked in distribution learning how to cube out a trailer and set up distribution lanes for a major food distributor in Canada. Mark began his career with Trailer Wizards/Provincial Trailer Rentals and then became Senior Account Manager for Action Utility Trailer Sales. He went on to Wabash of Canada as VP of Sales before moving to Reefer Sales & Service (Carrier Dealer). Mark went back to Trailer Wizards as VP Sales. The company was purchased by TIP Canada.

Mark attended Humber College Queens University where he studied Sales Management.

Mark has coached hockey for 20-plus years.

 Industry issues of concern to Mark include: 

1. Driver Shortages: With the average driver age being over 50 years of age, companies are finding it much harder to recruit younger good drivers.

2. Insurance Cost: Our customer’s insurance costs continue to increase and they are looking for more affordable options.

3. CSA/Boarder — At one point during COVID truckers got together to block the boarder (Windsor/Detroit crossing). I wasn't standing with the drivers but understood the frustration. There are too many rules for drivers.

 

David Ferguson

President
Ferguson Farms, Inc.
Leesburg, IN

NTDA Dealer Member Since 2009
Years in Present Position: 8
Years in Trailer Industry: 18

David has served as President of Ferguson Farms, Inc. since 2016. David oversees the dealership’s day-to-day operations including its rental fleet; trailer sales; shop and repair facility; and manufacturing. David joined Ferguson Farms in 1999 as a part-time shop tech and then became Sales/Shop Manager in 2012.

David holds an Associate’s Degree in Agronomy and a Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Systems Management from Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN. David is a member of the Farm Credit Mid-America Advocate Council, and he has served as Vice President and Past President of Leesburg Lions Club.

Industry issues of concern to David include:

1. Supply Chain: The continued challenges we are seeing with procuring components and supplies. Lead times have continued to be pushed out with some items in a worse scenario than we had at the peek of COVID. This situation has been exacerbated by supplier consolidations.

2. Pricing Stability: With the volatility in input pricing currently, it has become harder to speculate inventory and valuations of used equipment.

3. Shirking Employee Pool: As we have seen in a number of industries, the number and quality of the younger labor pool is getting smaller and smaller. As a large part of the workforce reaches retirement age, how does the industry move forward in keeping production where it needs to be?

 

Gene Masteller

Owner/President
Atlantic Great Dane
South Portland, ME

NTDA Dealer Member Since 2000
Years in Present Position: (3 Years as President; 1 year as Owner)
Years in Trailer Industry: 33.5 years

Gene has worked at Atlantic Great Dane over 33 years. He purchased the company just over a year ago after serving as President for three years. During his tenure at Atlantic Great Dane, Gene has worked in nearly every aspect of the company, including as a shop hand, technician, parts, and warranty manager, as well as inside and outside sales. Prior to joining Atlantic Great Dane, Gene worked for a State Farm agency in Jacksonville, FL and was licensed to sell property/casualty, health, and life insurance.

Gene attended the University of Southern Maine and served as a vendor member in the Maine Motor Transport Association. He successfully completed Great Dane’s truck body sales training as well as Dale Carnegie Leadership Training for Managers.

Outside of work, Gene has served as Chairman of Cub Scout Pack 399 for two of the three years his son was active in the Scouts. He is a founding partner and board member of Saco Bay Lacrosse, a startup feeder program for Thornton Academy, where he also coached the league’s 4th–8th graders. During the fall sports season, Gene also coached 2nd–5th graders for the Saco Junior Trojans, which is also a feeder program for the Thornton Academy’s football program. He served on the Saco Junior Trojans Board in various positions throughout his tenure. Gene is a Lifetime Member of Trout Unlimited where he has volunteered to promote sustainable cold-water fisheries in Maine.

Gene worked with the Great Dane Dealer Technology Council and was a 2003 Charter Member of the group. This steering committee was established to share ideas of streamlining communication with dealers as well as developing a framework for providing dealers the required information in the development of Great Dane's GUI pricing module.

Industry issues of concern to Gene include:

1. Driver Demographics: The aging demographic of drivers in the industry is a concern as replacing retiring drivers is becoming more of a challenge. Through public relations initiatives, the Association must continue to promote the industry as an excellent career opportunity.
   
   
2. Green Transportation Initiative: As new technologies (e.g., electrification, batteries, hydrogen, etc.) are mandated in California and across the U.S., the cost of ensuring an industry infrastructure to support a totally green transport world seems insurmountable. The hypocrisy of these regulatory burdens plague dealers and customers alike by increasing costs, while not providing viable, clean energy solutions. The negative impacts on water, air, energy, disruption to wildlife habitats, soil, and other long-term ecological damage are counter to our sustainability efforts.
   
   
3. Federal Excise Tax (FET): The increased cost of trucks and trailers is creating a huge financial burden for fleets. The FET on some of these vehicles alone can be upwards of $60,000. There needs to be tax rationalization, justification, and transparency from the government as to where these tax dollars are being spent.

 

Bill Nehmer
President
Great Dane of Utah, Inc.
Salt Lake City, Utah

NTDA Dealer Member Since 2008
Years in Present Position: 22
Years in Trailer Industry: 39

Bill began working in the trailer industry in 1983 as a parts delivery driver for Salt Lake Great Dane while attending college at night. In the summer of 1984, he started selling parts full time. Bill spent three years selling parts and learning what makes trailers go down the road. In 1987, he moved into Trailer Sales for Salt Lake Great Dane and sold new/used trailers for six years at which time he was offered a minority ownership position. Minority ownership over the years eventually opened doors for complete ownership.

Bill attended Snow College/Ephraim, UT. He currently serves on the Utah Trucking Association Board of Directors and is a member of the Great Dane Dealer Council.

Bill is a Lifetime Kingpin member in Sales for Great Dane Trailers.

Bill is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He served on a Church Service Mission to Charleston, WV from 1980–1982.

Industry issues of concern to Bill include:

1. Encouraging Future Generations: From an ownership perspective, attracting the next generation into a great industry is something that impacts all of us. There are many opportunities to have a good career in the trailer business. Helping to promote the industry helps build a better workforce. In turn, a better workforce allows us to be better dealers.
   
   
2. Promoting Educational Advancement with Employees: Bill stated, “Supporting our employees in training and advancement within the companies helps us to retain our workforce and be much more efficient. We need and have great people. When our employees consider, ‘Is this good for the customer and good for the company’ it is a good path? When an employee wants us to hire a family member or someone they know, we are succeeding in our support.”
   
   
3. Advocating For High Standards: Bill stated, “I know a lot of fellow Dealers representing various brands of trailers. I would like to be someone they can call with a good customer needing help in my area that I can be trusted with this relationship to assist in the solution. It is a daily/weekly and monthly crusade. A worthy pursuit for all of us.”

 

Stephen Schneider

Chief Retail Officer/President/COO
Hinton Transportation Investments (HTI)/Pace Transportation Services
Grand Rapids, MI

NTDA Dealer Member Since 2002
Years in Present Position: 6
Years in Trailer Industry: 12

Stephen has served as HTI’s Chief Retail Officer (and its operating divisions) for six months. He served as President/COO for six full-line Pace Transportation Service dealerships for the past six years. Stephen is also a member of the HTI Board. Prior to joining Pace, Stephen served in various management capacities for Southwestern Pneumatic, Wabash Trailer, Polar Tank, and 19 years with the Morgan Truck Body.

Stephen attended Hillsborough Community College. Much of Stephen’s educational experience came from on-the-job training. He credits being in the trenches and having to go to work at a young age to provide for allowing him to gain insights from the ground up.

Industry issues of concern to Stephen include:

1. Federal Excise Tax: “Repeal of the Federal Excise Tax should be replaced with a new tax that is more equitable to all businesses within the transportation industry,” stated Stephen.
   
   
2. Economic Pressures: Industry consolidation is creating economic pressure on small and medium-sized fleets.
   
   
3. Political Elections: The coming election year will create a “wait and see” economic environment that will impact all aspects of our industry.