1.877.gets.utA • www.uta.org Volume 14 • Issue 4 • April 2012 Used Truck Association J.R. Martinez to Keynote Chartered May 16, 1988 UTA’s 2012 Convention! Published by the used truck Association 325 Country Club Drive, suite A stockbridge, gA 30281 .R. Martinez had a great year in 2011! Not only did he Jand his dance partner Karina Smirnoff take ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” Season 13 coveted Mirror Ball Table of Contents Trophy, but he was also named the 2012 Tournament of Roses Parade Grand Marshal. “J.R. is an inspiration to us Board News & Views ...........................2 all and a natural fit for our theme Just Imagine,” explained New Members ..................................3, 5 Tournament President Rick Jacksonj. To top it all, J.R. was featured in the People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive issue Face to Face with Jon Pearson ............4 and named one of their “25 Most Intriguing People of the UTA Lifetime Achievement Awards Year.” But, not all of J.R.’s years have been this rewarding. Nominations ......................................6 Jose Rene Martinez was born June 14, 1983 in Shreveport, LA to Maria Zavala. His two sisters, The Brooks Group Consuelo and Anabel, were raised in El Salvador with his mother’s family. Sadly, J.R. never met Sales Tip of the Month ......................6 Anabel, who died as a toddler. When J.R. was nine, he and his mother moved to Hope, AR, finally settling in Dalton, GA, the place he proudly calls his hometown. During his senior year he played New Changes Make UTA.org strong safety for the Dalton High School Catamounts and went to the State Championship. More Useful than Ever .....................7 Playing professional football was his dream until he suffered an injury during that same year. Happy Anniversary to After high school J.R. joined the Army, proud to serve his country. During his basic training at Tulsa Truck Depot! ..........................7 Fort Benning, he gained skills as an 11-B Infantryman. With basic training behind him, J.R. was 2012: Off to a Strong Start ..............8-9 assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division. Industry News Briefs .................... 10 -11 In March of 2003, J.R. went to Iraq. Less than a month into his deployment, while serving as a Bryan’s Spotlight ...................................12 Humvee driver in Karbala, his vehicle hit a land mine. The three soldiers with J.R. were ejected from the burning vehicle, but he was trapped inside and suffered smoke inhalation and severe Industry Events Calendar ................... 14 burns to more than 40 percent of his body. J.R. says that while he was fighting for his life and From Where We Sit ...........................16 awaiting medical help in Iraq, his sister Anabel appeared to him, giving him the strength to stay alive. He spent nearly three years recovering from his wounds and endured 33 different surgeries The UTA… including skin grafts and cosmetic surgery. Members Supporting Members! During J.R.’s recovery, a nurse asked him to speak to a burn patient who had just seen his body for the first time and had become withdrawn. After a 45-minute visit, the patient opened the curtain, letting light into his room and his heart. J.R. saw the impact he had on this patient and decided to use his experience to help others. J.R. has become a highly sought-after motivational speaker, traveling the country to spread his message of resilience and optimism. He devotes himself to showing others the true value in making the most of every situation. He speaks to large corporations, veterans groups, non-profits, SHARE YOUR NEWS and schools. J.R. has been featured in the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post and the New York Times. He has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, 60 Minutes, The View, CNN, FOX with the UTA Industry Watch. News, and Good Morning America. send submissions, ideas and J.R. has also had success as an actor. He played ‘Brot Monroe’ on the daytime drama “All My Children.” comments to: In true Hollywood fashion, he attended an open casting call for the show at the urging of a UTA Industry Watch Editors friend. After several meetings with producers, he was cast, and his acting career began. Due to Brad and Deb Schepp and Jay Burgess his popularity, a storyline meant to last three months, led to three years with the show! c/o grace Management While J.R.’s war experience was certainly life-changing, he insists it was a change for the better. 325 Country Club Drive, suite A “I discovered it is what is inside a person that matters most, and I wouldn’t change anything… stockbridge, gA 30281 absolutely anything!” says J.R. “I do believe everything happens for a reason, and I’m extremely Phone: 877-GETS-UTA (877-438-7882) grateful for that day because it led me into this life!” Fax: 770-454-0029 Today, that life includes a happy home with his girlfriend Diana and his black lab. He also enjoys [email protected] working out, and he’s working on a book. Learn more about J.R. on his website: www.knowjr.com n 2012 UTA Industry Watch Board of Directors Board News and Views UTA’s Dealer Group is Off and Running he UTA Dealer Group is off to a running start in 2012, as we work on our agenda for the Tyear. We capped off 2011 when we awarded the Dealer Member and Vendor Member of the Year awards at the convention. It was an excellent way to celebrate some of the UTA’s great talent and resources. The winners represented a long history of professionalism in the used truck industry. Front, L to R: Kenny Doonan, Tim In case you missed the awards, the winners were: Ormsby, Tim Ronan, George Barnett, Victor Manilla, American Motors Andy Holloway, Truck Central Marty Crawford, Mike Thurston Joey Lojek, Premier Truck Sales Joe Gallowitch, Inland Kenworth Back, L to R: Bryan Boyd, Bryan Haupt, Tom Cullison, Rush Enterprises Jim Zimmerman, Kenworth of Pennsylvania Sheri Aaberg, Tom Pfeiler, Rick Clark, Terry Williams, Truck Blue Book Lara Haag, John Cosgrove, Bobby Williams, Ken Kosic, Jay Burgess - In the next couple of months, nomination forms will go out via email for 2012’s awards. Any UTA member can nominate any other UTA member for these awards, which will be presented alternate (not pictured) at our November convention. You can nominate as many members as you would like. President The Dealer Group has had several meetings to brainstorm and plan for this year’s events. One of Rick Clark this year’s priorities is to continue learning and educating UTA members on Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) and Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) technologies. A specific concern this year is the Vice President work being done to replace or bypass the emissions systems. How do we identify these bypassed Bobby Williams systems, and what liability do we have as dealers selling these trucks? Our plan is to gather Treasurer information, and share our findings at our November convention. Tom Pfeiler Our group has also been working with the Membership Committee to explore the best ways to grow the UTA’s membership. One item we will work on is a flyer or presentation for dealer owners Secretary explaining who we are at the UTA, and the benefits of membership. We also want to take a closer Sheri Aaberg look at vendor membership, and how we reach out to vendors who are not familiar with the UTA. President Emeritus We want to show these potential members the benefits the UTA can bring to them, as well as Marty Crawford what they can bring to UTA dealers. Remember our vendor members when you do business, they are vital to our success! Affiliates & Benefits Committee We are also working on a strategy with the Web Committee to enhance communication Chairman between the UTA’s dealers and vendors. I am really excited about this idea. We are just in the Bryan Boyd development stage, but I hope to have some news along these lines by late summer. Convention Committee Chairmen The Dealer Group is considering other projects as well. Ideas in the hopper include: Getting Sheri Aaberg & Tim Ormsby emissions information out to our members, especially to non-OEM dealers; ideas for speakers at UTA Jerome Nerman Family the UTA convention; a used tire program, working on warranty programs, and getting dealer/ Foundation Scholarship Committee owners to the UTA convention. Let us know what other topics interest you. Chairman We will have a face-to-face Dealer Group meeting the day before the Scholarship Golf Outing in Tim Ronan June in Kansas City. Don’t forget this great event, which Tim Ronan and his group put on every June to support our scholarship fund. This year’s event is being held June 20-21, in Blue Spring, Elections Committee Chairman MO. So mark your calendars right now for the Scholarship Golf Outing and support this cause. George Barnett If you want to join the UTA Dealer Group we are always looking for more people with great ideas. Marketing Committee Chairmen Call me or your regional rep. As you can see, this group is doing some great things for the Used Jay Burgess & Rick Clark Truck Association. Medium Duty Committee Chairman Regional Dealer Group Reps: Alan Strickler, Eddie Altman, Guy Cheney, Michael Kirby, Mike Tom Pfeiler Roney, Steve Sonego, Zach Baurer n Membership Committee Chairmen John Cosgrove & Kenny Doonan Training Committee Chairman Ken Kosic Mike Thurston, Co-Chair UTA Dealer Group Committee UTA Dealer Group Committee [email protected] Chairmen Mike Thurston & Bryan Haupt UTA.org Website Committee Chairman Bobby Williams 2 April 2012 www.UTA.org UTA Industry Watch It’s always a treat to welcome new members to the Used Truck Association.