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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.