Page 22 - TrailerTalk - December 2025

TRAILERTALK
Meet the New 2025-2026 NTDA

Chairperson Heather Wilson

“The trailer segment is vital to our industry. It’s in our business’ DNA,”
she said.

Beyond business logic, there was a personal pull. Wilson described the
NTDA as an association where doing business still feels like “friends
and family,” and she wants that spirit to continue long into the future.
Encouraged by active Board members, she ran for the Board — and
now encourages others to do the same.

“I would encourage anyone considering running to give it a try.”
A Chairperson Platform Rooted in Inclusion

The National Trailer Dealers Association (NTDA) enters the 2025–2026 For Wilson, the NTDA’s biggest benefit comes down to relationships
year with a familiar face and a fresh sense of momentum. Heather and shared learning. She credits the association with building
Wilson, Chief Commercial Officer of BMO Transportation Finance in connections for BMO that “cross generations,” and notes that the
Irving, Texas, has stepped into the role of Chairperson of the NTDA Association’s annual Convention and Board meetings are highlights
Board of Directors. With two decades of experience in transportation of her year.
finance and a long-standing connection to the Association, Wilson
She also emphasized NTDA’s practical value: shared best practices,
brings both continuity and clear-eyed optimism to NTDA’s next chapter.
market insights, and candid experience-sharing among dealers and
A 20-Year Career Built in Transportation Finance partners. In an industry that relies on trust as much as supply chains,
that kind of network is hard to replicate anywhere else.
Wilson’s path into the semi-trailer and transportation finance
world began in 2005, when GE Capital acquired what is now BMO’s Priorities for 2025–2026:
Transportation Finance business. Around that time, she started Stay the Course, Keep Growing Value
supporting the group and providing consulting services to dealer and
Wilson’s goals as Chairperson focus on strengthening NTDA’s long-term
carrier customers.
success while staying rooted in what members already love about the
What started as a professional assignment quickly became a career association. She highlighted three priorities:
passion. “I fell in love with the industry and the people, and haven’t
1. Continue adding real value for members while remaining true to
looked back since,” Wilson shared. That blend of market complexity
what has made NTDA great.
and close-knit relationships is a theme Wilson returns to often —
and one she aims to protect and grow as Chairperson. 2. Serve as a strong voice for trailer dealers, especially on key issues
such as tax policy through the Associations’ Political Action
A Legacy Connection to the NTDA
Committee.
BMO’s relationship with NTDA runs deep. BMO is a Charter Member
3. Invest in the industry’s future workforce through the National
and has prioritized the Association’s Annual Convention for 35 years —
Trailer Dealers Foundation.
long before Wilson attended her first conference. She had heard about
the NTDA event for years, especially its distinctive format and reputation Wilson is quick to point out that meaningful progress has already been
as a “must-attend” gathering for trailer dealer and allied members alike. made on these fronts. Her message is clear: keep the momentum, don’t
drift from NTDA’s purpose, and build for the future without losing the
Her first convention came after she was promoted into a marketing role
culture that defines the group.
and finally had the chance to participate firsthand. “I believe it was in
Naples, Florida,” she recalled. Like so many members, Wilson found that A Chairperson Platform Rooted in Inclusion
the NTDA wasn’t just another industry meeting — it was a community.
Alongside her three core goals, Wilson shared an additional principle
Why She Ran for the Board she hopes to reinforce: ensuring that every member feels welcome
within the NTDA.
Wilson says her decision to join the Board was driven by the importance
of the trailer segment and the unique culture the NTDA has created. Continued on Page 23

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