FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. – Allen Birmingham, national sales manager for Tommy Gate Co. (Phoenix, Ariz.), was installed as the 46th president of the National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA) last week at The Work Truck Show 2010, held in St. Louis, Mo. Birmingham accepted the gavel from immediate past president Andrew Outcalt, president of Meyer Products and Swenson Spreader (Cleveland, Ohio), at the President’s Breakfast & NTEA Annual Meeting. The Association’s Annual Meeting is held in conjunction with The Work Truck Show, North America’s largest work truck event.

Birmingham began his career in the work truck industry as Midwest territory sales manager for Tommy Gate Co. in 1991. He was promoted to national sales manager of domestic and international sales, where he has served for the past 17 years. In this position, Birmingham was integral in the launch of Tommy Gate Co. into the Mexican market in 2005.

“We have all been impacted by these challenging economic times,” said Birmingham. “Our industry is known to be resilient and I am dedicated to implementing new member opportunities and enhancing existing programs that will assist my fellow NTEA members in this recovery.”

Birmingham holds a bachelors degree in political science from the University of Arizona and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix.

NTEA also announced the election of three new members to the NTEA Board of Trustees who were installed at the 46th Annual NTEA Convention. Their three-year terms also began at that time.

Two new Distributor Trustees were elected: Jim LoPresti, president and CEO of Auto Safety House, LLC (Phoenix, Ariz.); and Jeffrey Messer, president of Messer Truck Equipment (Westbrook, Maine).

One new Manufacturer Trustee was elected: Dave Zelis, director of sales and marketing of Buyers Products Co. (Mentor, Ohio).

Also serving on the 2010-2011 Board are these Executive Committee Members:

·    NTEA President Allen Birmingham, national sales manager for Tommy Gate Co. (Phoenix, Ariz.);
·    First Vice President Steve Sill, president of Aspen Equipment Co. (Bloomington, Minn.);
·    Second Vice President Frank Livas, senior vice president for Brake & Clutch Inc. (Salem, Mass.);
·    Third Vice President and Treasurer Shawn Jacobs, president and COO of STS Trailer and Equipment (Syracuse, N.Y.); and
·    NTEA Executive Director and Secretary Jim Carney.

Serving alongside Executive Committee members are:

Distributor Trustees  –

·    Bobby Horton, general manager of Commercial Body & Rigging (Garland, Texas);
·    Steve Hayes, general manager of Layton Truck Equipment (Colorado Springs, Colo.); and
·    Richard Sippola, president of Carnegie Body Co. (Cleveland, Ohio); and

Manufacturer Trustees –

·    Mark Woody, president of Palfinger North America (Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada); and
·    Brett Collins, vice president of sales and marketing of Venco/Venturo Mfg. Inc. (Cincinnati, Ohio).

Collins was appointed to the Board of Trustees, separate from the recent elections, in order to fill a vacant Manufacturer Trustee position.