Summer means the arrival of some of our area’s favorite events. Royal Truck & Utility Trailer is proud to be a part of the community and a sponsor of Western Michigan community organizations and events. We take our responsibility to be a good corporate citizen and make a meaningful impact on our community seriously and have since our founding in 1970.
With that in mind, we’re thrilled that our sponsored event lineup includes the Great Lakes Big Rig Challenge and the West Michigan Truck Show.
From May 24 to May 26, the Onaway Speedway will host the 7th Annual Great Lakes Big Rig Challenge sponsored by Royal Truck & Utility Trailer. Feel the power of semi-truck racing during a weekend of uphill semi-truck drag races including loaded and bobtail trucks.
This exciting three-day sponsored event schedule starts on Friday, May 24 with a practice at the track, followed by a parade and live entertainment. The racing action starts on Saturday and continues through Sunday with live entertainment and fireworks on Saturday night.
Featured events sponsored by Royal Truck & Utility Trailer at this family-friendly weekend include vendors, a kid zone, and a truck show.
What began as a fundraiser to help a local driver with cancer treatments four years ago is now a major community event in Hudsonville, MI: The West Michigan Truck Show. On June 7 and 8, the Hudsonville Community Fairgrounds welcomes trucks to a non-judged show. Royal Truck & Utility Trailer is proud to be a Diamond Sponsor of this community event that will include live music, kids’ events, a raffle, a pig roast, truck and tractor pulls, and more.
This year, the program of sponsored events at the nonprofit West Michigan Truck Show will support the West Michigan K9 Foundation. This organization helps provide working service dogs to veterans and community organizations.
When Roy Bumgarder and his business partner founded Royal Truck & Utility Trailer in 1970, building long-term relationships was a key principle. Not much has changed in over 50 years as our family-owned company still prioritizes the creation of lasting partnerships within the industry and with our customers. The Great Lakes Big Rig Challenge and the West Michigan Truck Show are a chance to get out and meet with people, make connections, and make memories.
We work closely with event organizers to ensure that everyone who attends has a great time, providing financial and other support to secure entertainment, vendors, and activities for all ages and interests. We make sure the event lineup by sponsors makes a positive difference in the lives of others.
The Great Lakes Big Rig Challenge and the West Michigan Truck Show are just two events in Royal Truck & Utility Trailer’s sponsored event lineup. Our commitment to community goes well beyond a sponsored event agenda and includes initiatives that help local community organizations do their work.
One organization that we help is Forgotten Harvest which aims to help fight hunger and food insecurity in Metro Detroit by reducing food waste and delivering surplus food to local charities.
We also support local educational organizations and schools, including the Northville Educational Foundation, Plymouth-Canton Community Schools, Plymouth Scholars, and participate in the Driving Fore Autism golf outing to raise money for Garrett’s Place Life Skills Center for Autism.
We invite you to join Royal Truck & Utility Trailer at the Great Lakes Big Rig Challenge from May 24 to 26 and the West Michigan Truck Show from June 7 to 9 to enjoy the lineup of sponsored activities, great food, and family fun. Kick off your summer fun with these exciting community events!
If you want to know more about these events, other upcoming community efforts that Royal Truck & Utility Trailer plans to be a part of, or want to get involved with our sponsored event lineup, contact us directly at (313) 524-2531.
Chief Legal Officer
Anthony Sciara is our Chief Legal Officer, Corporate Secretary, and a Member of our Board of Directors. He has been a licensed attorney for nearly 15 years. Anthony earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Eastern Michigan University in 2002 and his Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois (Chicago) Law School in 2006. Anthony represented the company for eight years as outside counsel before formally joining the team in October of 2019. Anthony handles and/or supervises all legal and compliance matters for the company, including executive strategy, corporate transactions, and dispute resolution. In addition to his responsibilities with the company, Anthony serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Northville Educational Foundation, participates in the Association of Corporate Counsel, and was previously an Adjunct Professor of Lawyering Skills at the University of Illinois (Chicago) Law School. Anthony is most proud that his position allows him the opportunity to solve problems for us in creative ways, which minimizes risk and maximizes success. The thing Anthony loves most about being part of Royal Truck & Utility Trailer is the sincere and uncommon passion that ownership, leadership, and other employees share for the success of the company.
Chief Financial Officer
Julie Igielski is the Chief Financial Officer at Royal Truck & Utility Trailer. Julie attended Michigan State University and earned her Bachelor’s in Merchandise Management in 2004 before attending Eastern Michigan University to get a Master’s degree in Accounting. After graduating with her MSA, she received her Certified Public Accountant license. Prior to joining the Royal team in 2013, Julie held various accounting positions at both publicly and privately owned companies. Since deciding to continue on in the family business nearly 8 years ago, she has helped us accomplish so much. Julie is in charge of all of our finances, creates all of our financial statements, works closely with our CEO and COO when making executive decisions, and works with the bank when acquiring new properties and companies. She is most proud of her CPA license and all of the growth and success she has helped Royal achieve. The thing she loves most about her job is being able to work with her family and her co-workers who have become her family over the years. We are so happy that Julie decided to join the team, we are so appreciative of all she does for us every day.
Chief Operating Officer
Adam Pigeon is the Chief Operating Officer here at Royal Truck & Utility Trailer. Adam joined the team in 2009 after graduating from Eastern Michigan University with a Bachelors of Science in 2008. He first joined us as a Parts Counter Representative and advanced to Parts Purchasing Manager. Adam was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in January of 2015 and under his leadership we have seen such tremendous growth. Adam is tasked with overseeing all of our day to day operations between all four facilities and works closely with Corporate Officers, Department VPs, and Directors to implement the company’s strategic plan. When asked about his favorite part about being a part of Royal Truck & Trailer, he shared that he loves the people he works with every day. Something Adam takes pride in is all of the company growth that he has helped achieve over his time at Royal. With over 10 years experience, he has become knowledgeable about the industry and strengthened his skills in operations management, leadership, team building, and contract negotiation. Adam has served on multiple industry advisory and councils and boards. Adam is such an asset to our company and we are so proud of everything he has accomplished during his time with us at Royal Truck & Trailer.
Chief Executive Officer
Ken Bumgardner is the CEO of Royal Truck & Utility Trailer. Ken is an extremely hardworking individual with interpersonal and problem-solving skills. He graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a degree in Business Management in 2001. Ken has been with the company since he was 12 years old, he was always helping out at the shop to spend time with his dad before joining the team full time in 2001. Before becoming our current CEO, he has held various positions working his way up in the company, such as: cleaner, parts runner, parts counter, parts manager, trailer salesman, office manager, vice president, and president. Ken wanted to join the family business because of his very close relationship with his family, and he loved working with and spending time with his dad. On a daily basis, he is in charge of merger and acquisitions and overseeing our C-level executives. In addition to these responsibilities, Ken also makes sure everyone at Royal is happy in their roles; he thoroughly enjoys working with all of the members of our team. Something he is very proud of is the acquisition of East Michigan Trailer Sales in 2017 because of how it has impacted the dynamic of Royal. He is on the Board of The National Trailer Association and formerly was on the Board of The Michigan Trucking Association. Under Ken’s leadership, we have accomplished great new highs and cannot wait to see what else we can accomplish in the future.
Chief Executive Officer
Ken Bumgardner is the CEO of Royal Truck & Utility Trailer. Ken is an extremely hardworking individual with interpersonal and problem-solving skills. He graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a degree in Business Management in 2001. Ken has been with the company since he was 12 years old, he was always helping out at the shop to spend time with his dad before joining the team full time in 2001. Before becoming our current CEO, he has held various positions working his way up in the company, such as: cleaner, parts runner, parts counter, parts manager, trailer salesman, office manager, vice president, and president. Ken wanted to join the family business because of his very close relationship with his family, and he loved working with and spending time with his dad. On a daily basis, he is in charge of merger and acquisitions and overseeing our C-level executives. In addition to these responsibilities, Ken also makes sure everyone at Royal is happy in their roles; he thoroughly enjoys working with all of the members of our team. Something he is very proud of is the acquisition of East Michigan Trailer Sales in 2017 because of how it has impacted the dynamic of Royal. He is on the Board of The National Trailer Association and formerly was on the Board of The Michigan Trucking Association. Under Ken’s leadership, we have accomplished great new highs and cannot wait to see what else we can accomplish in the future.