Nov 1, 2007 12:00 PM

With an eye toward the future, the National Trailer Dealers Association held its 18th annual convention October 2-4 at the Hilton El Conquistador Golf and Tennis Resort in Tucson, Arizona.

More than 200 NTDA members attended the convention, which combined forecasts for the future with nuts-and-bolts sessions designed to upgrade dealer performance today.

Ken Vieth, founder of ACT Research, provided a forecast for trailer sales, while a panel of three leading trailer manufacturers gave their views on current trends affecting trailer manufacturers, their dealers, and customers.

The association also voted in a slate of officers and directors. Leading the association for the coming year will be:

President: Peter Verbeeck, president of Utility Trailer Sales & Leasing in Hialeah, Florida.

First vice-president: Elvin Spellman, treasurer of Spellman Trailers in Franklin, Wisconsin.

Second vice-president: Holly Hale, president of Country Supply Trailers in Manteno, Illinois.

Treasurer/secretary: Dave Boyd, president of Aero Industries in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The following trailer dealers will serve on the NTDA board for the coming year:

Paul Cobham, president of Glasvan Trailers in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada;

Michael Depew, president of CMD Trailer Sales & Leasing in Jacksonville, Florida;

Tim Donahue, president of Shamrock Utility Trailers in New Stanton, Pennsylvania;

Roger Simon, president of Pioneer Trailer Sales in Santa Ana, California; and

Todd Wayne, vice-president and sales manager of Crossroads Trailers Sales & Service in Albert Lea, Minnesota.

Allied directors this year will be:

Chris Hammond, vice-president of dealer sales, Great Dane Trailers in Savannah, Georgia; and

Keith Limback, director of dealer sales for Manac Trailer in Freeport, Pennsylvania.