By Adam Keane, NTEA President
Executive Vice-President, Allied Body Works Inc. (Seattle, Washington)
This article was published in the February 2018 edition of NTEA News.
My responsibilities as NTEA president are coming to a bittersweet end. As I consider my time on the Board of Trustees, one of the things I’ve valued is learning from some of the industry’s best and brightest. Reading through final thoughts from the last three NTEA presidents makes me realize how, despite business differences, our experiences serving the Association are
so similar.
Last year, Matt Wilson (2016–2017 NTEA president) started his final article by saying, “Blink and it’s over.” So many of life’s great accomplishments and endeavors feel this way. As my term draws to a close, I’m so thankful for this journey. Oftentimes in life, we look toward the prize — the light at the end of the tunnel. I can honestly say that, during my eight years on NTEA’s Board, my service has been a privilege — not a chore. Each time the Board got together, I felt energized about business back home and the direction of the Association and industry in general. I hope my love for our industry has been evident from my comments in this column.
Looking back at closing comments from Mark Woody (2014–2015 NTEA president), I was reminded that he has a similar passion for the industry. His concluding article discussed key issues and NTEA’s plans to address them. Three years later, we’re all still dealing with difficulties recruiting and retaining qualified employees, and engaging the next generation. NTEA continues to focus on offering resources and insights that speak to these critical challenges. In fact, there will be a number of relevant educational sessions at The Work Truck Show® 2018, and I encourage everyone dealing with these issues to attend. The Association is not a body of still water but a moving river; we keep evolving to deliver expertise to our growing body of stakeholders. Fleet Technical Congress is a prime example of this expansion, and I’m looking forward to experiencing this first-time event — held in conjunction with The Work Truck Show 2018.
With the new initiatives NTEA is bringing forward, I believe we’re living up to the vision Jeff Messer (2015–2016 NTEA president) shared at the end of his term: “I am confident NTEA and its leadership will continue to be a strong voice for our industry.” In his final article, Jeff responded to an interesting question: “Why would anyone volunteer to spend weeks away from their company, commit to writing monthly articles and devote valuable waking hours to committee conference calls and emails?” He answered this complex question better than I could articulate, talking about how he made personal relationships, gained insights and developed a better understanding of NTEA. A common follow-up question I’ve received concerns how I’m able to juggle roles as both NTEA president and business leader. I’m pleased to report that, despite the amount of time spent on Association matters, the positive aspects far outweigh any perceived negatives. It’s been a lot of work, but fun and rewarding. This assessment is something past presidents have tried to convey, but I don’t think you fully understand until experiencing it for yourself.
During Work Truck Week, I will get together with Matt, Jeff, Mark and other former NTEA presidents, and I look forward to sharing my gratitude for what they’ve done for the Association and industry. At the President’s Breakfast, I’ll summarize all of the work NTEA has done in the last year and thank you, the membership and industry, for giving me the opportunity to serve as your Association president. While on the Board, I’ve had the opportunity to participate in some amazing meetings and events and meet some wonderful people in the process. I’m thankful for each person I’ve encountered. Each of you has helped shape the way I think about our industry and influence decisions made during my time on the Board.
To my fellow Board members, you’ve been most formative in my understanding of our working world. I’m grateful for your wisdom, our conversations and, most of all, your friendship. To the remaining members of the Executive Committee, I’m confident that, as you continue on your journey, you will always keep the Association’s best interest in mind and continue to build upon the progress we’ve made. Todd Davis, best wishes as president in the year ahead. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. With your skills, I have no doubt you will do a fantastic job; the key is to take time to enjoy it.
During my time on the Board, I was a part of NTEA’s executive director transition from Jim Carney (who held this position for 35 years) to Steve Carey in 2012. When you have a strong system in place for so many years, there is obviously a degree of uncertainty that comes with change. NTEA’s staff leadership continues to stay in front of current industry issues and has expanded the staff resources available to us as member companies. I will miss working with them on a regular basis.
Last but not least, I need to thank my team at Allied Body Works Inc. and my family. You have all sacrificed to allow me the time and energy needed to serve in this capacity. I thank each of you from the bottom of my heart for your understanding, effort and continued support.
It has been a pleasure to serve as your 2017–2018 NTEA president. I wish you and our entire industry the best of luck in coming years and look forward to seeing many of you at NTEA events in the future.