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Royal Truck & Utility Trailer is proud and humbled to announce that we received the inaugural Trailblazer Award from the National Trailer Dealers Association. The NTDA established this award to recognize member dealerships that exemplify excellence in business operations, customer experiences, and community importance.
As a third-generation family business, we could not be more proud of this honor. It’s a tribute to the hard-working individuals who make our company what it is. Our staff’s commitment to taking care of our customers and putting their needs first put us where we are today, and this award is truly for them.
Last spring, NTDA members had the opportunity to nominate dealers for a Trailblazer Award. We were proud to be one of the five finalists for the award out of 30 different nominees, a group that also included dealerships from across the country representing over a dozen commercial brands.
To become a finalist, we completed a detailed questionnaire highlighting the contributions of our incredible team to our success. In our questionnaire, it was important to us that we focus on our employees and our expectation that every team member show customers the same value and respect they receive. Our answers, coupled with the selection committee’s review of our business, philanthropic, and customer service approaches, propelled us to the honor of winning the Trailblazer Award.
We accepted the recognition during the NTDA conference in Florida in October 2023.
The Trailblazer Award is new, and Royal Truck & Utility Trailer is the first recipient. Established by Successful Dealer and sponsored by Hendrickson and Procede Software, the award recognizes excellence among North America’s truck trailer dealers. Any non-OEM trailer dealer was eligible for a Trailblazer Award nomination from an industry partner, colleague, or customer.
Criteria for the award include superior customer service, business savvy, and a commitment to philanthropy and the community. From our beginnings as a two-bay trailer service operation to the business we are today, with two storefronts and over 100 dedicated employees, our focus has always been on providing the best service in Michigan.
Putting people over profits is a core value of Royal Truck & Utility Trailer, and relationships are at the heart of everything we do, from marketing to post-sale support. We work hard to be a one-stop shop for customers and go beyond selling new or used equipment to provide trailer service, upfitting and custom fabrication, equipment leasing, and more.
None of this would be possible without our dedicated and engaged employees. We’re proud that we weathered the COVID-19 pandemic without laying off a single employee and even provided bonuses during precarious economic conditions. One reason we received the Trailblazer Award is our commitment to employee well-being and success, which they, in turn, reflect with their commitment to customer service.
Winning the Trailblazer Award is confirmation that our approach to business operations at Royal Truck & Utility Trailer has us on the right track. By maintaining our father’s and grandfather’s focus on taking care of our employees, we are achieving unprecedented growth and success, and we plan to remain on this trajectory.
Moving forward, we plan to continue building relationships and focusing on how to support our team to be the best it can be. We don’t plan to slow down but rather will continue marketing our ever-expanding range of services and areas of operation. Earning this award will help us show people who we are and what we bring to the trailer industry.
The entire Royal Truck & Utility Trailer team is grateful and honored to receive the Trailblazer Award. It’s gratifying to receive recognition from our peers in the industry for the team’s hard work and commitment to excellence. We’ll continue to uphold the principles that the selection committee saw in our company and serve as a solid example of what the Trailblazer Award means.
If you want to know more about the Trailblazer Award or have questions about Royal Truck & Utility Trailer, including employment opportunities, contact us today.
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.