Todd Davis, NTEA Chairman
Phenix Truck Bodies & Van Equipment
Pomona, California
This article was published in the November 2018 edition of NTEA News.
It’s crazy to think the holiday season is already upon us. November begins the push toward year-end for most and is always a busy month. It also marks our team’s commitment to planning for The Work Truck Show® (March 5–8, 2019). As soon as NTEA releases the schedule in the fall, our team starts evaluating educational topics/special sessions and mapping out other event priorities. We know Indy is where our industry comes together to conduct many layers of business. We also know that, with the abundance of opportunities during the week, creating a comprehensive strategy is critical. The good news is, last year, The Work Truck Show drew a record crowd of industry professionals — 2018 was actually the biggest NTEA event in history.
I’d like to highlight some of the dynamics that have me excited about Work Truck Show 2019. Even though I’ve attended for years, I always find tremendous value and come away feeling enthusiastic about my business and our industry.
In a unique setting like The Work Truck Show, I’m reminded of the power of the connections you can make. The industry-wide forum provides countless opportunities to collaborate with management, sales and engineering teams; explore partner potential; learn from other equipment upfitters; talk to regulatory experts about relevant issues; and meet with suppliers to discuss new offerings. Together, all of this activity will help our team refine and often create new, go-forward strategies.
I’ve found that the opening reception (on Tuesday evening) proves a great way to start the week and engage industry peers. An added bonus this year, the reception will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium — home of the Indianapolis Colts. We’ll be able to throw footballs on the field, get behind the scenes and visit an NFL locker room, and enjoy the 30,000-square-foot view from the seats, all while catching up with colleagues.
Work Truck Show educational content is always presented by industry leaders and/or subject matter experts. Given our organization’s commitment to education and training, I consider these opportunities a chance to listen, learn and consider new ideas that will help Phenix evolve. The topics addressed in the programs often help with immediate challenges (i.e., workforce engagement and retention), while other sessions provide more macro-level ideas that advance our understanding of market movement and trends to establish or reset strategies as needed. Networking is an organic byproduct.
Once the exhibit hall opens, our Phenix team makes sure to first execute our pre-planned strategy on the show floor. We’ll meet with existing suppliers, but as important, we will evaluate new and unique supplier offerings, discuss which innovative products may create opportunities, and test emerging technologies. With roughly 500 exhibitors, there’s no shortage of fresh ideas on display. It’s always helpful to schedule free time on the show floor — time to just walk around and explore companies and market segments not currently part of the existing plan. By the time it’s all said and done, I end up covering the floor multiple times each year.
Looking at the 2019 schedule, I’m eager to attend the new Manufacturer and Distributor Innovation Conference. Like Green Truck Summit and Fleet Technical Congress, it’s held in conjunction with The Work Truck Show at Indiana Convention Center. This Work Truck Week addition offers companies like mine insights on how to improve manufacturing efficiency and business results using the latest techniques and technology. I hear attendees will discover the most innovative tools, processes, and resources available and learn how all of these solutions are scalable and customizable to operations of all sizes. Specific topics will zero in on welding as a core competency; using government programs to improve productivity; building a culture of mentoring; using a lean approach to foster an innovative environment; and developing a process to attract and train workers. In my mind, it doesn’t get more practical than this.
I encourage you to join me in Indianapolis for The Work Truck Show 2019. When thousands of professionals in our industry get together, it’s sure to be an enriching experience.
You can find details at worktruckshow.com, or contact NTEA’s team directly (800-441-6832; info@ntea.com).
