Tom Matter, winner of NATDA’ s 2026 Membership Satisfaction Survey drawing, reflects on his first year with NATDA.
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Tom Matter, winner of NATDA’ s 2026 Membership Satisfaction Survey drawing, reflects on his first year with NATDA.
Member feedback plays a vital role in helping NATDA deliver valuable resources, education and opportunities for trailer dealers nationwide. Through the Membership Satisfaction Survey, members share what’ s working, identify emerging needs and help shape the future of the association.
As a thank you for participating, survey respondents are entered into a drawing for a three-night trip to the NATDA Trailer Show. This year’ s winner was Tom Matter, owner of Pasadena Trailer & Truck Accessories.
Tom entered the trailer industry as a newcomer looking for resources connections and support to help him get up to speed, after purchasing a dealership in 2025. Now completing his first year as a NATDA member, he offers perspective on the value of membership and the importance of staying engaged. We caught up with Tom to discuss his experience and what he’ s learned along the way.
Q & A with Tom Matter, Owner, Pasadena Trailer & Truck Accessories
Q: How long have you been an NATDA member, and what led you to join? A:“ We’ ve been members since 2025, when I acquired Pasadena Trailer from two brothers who founded the dealership in 1993 and built it from the ground up. I joined to learn about the industry, I came from the outside and needed all the support I could get trying to fill the shoes left behind.” operations manager, Randy, who was a mechanic with Pasadena Trailer for seven years before being promoted, spoke very highly of the NATDA Trailer Show in terms of both education and exposure. Randy is a dang good mechanic, but he came back from the NATDA Trailer Show saying,‘ I thought I knew it all.’”
Q: How has education and technical training helped your team? A:“ Being new to the industry, it’ s been immensely helpful finding resources at a very 101 level, but also educating our seasoned staff on newer trends.”
Q: What are you most looking forward to at the 2026 NATDA Trailer Show? A:“ I’ ve signed up for some of the educational sessions, and I’ m sure those will be great, but really seeing and experiencing the equipment and trailers firsthand, that’ s the fun part of the business for me.”
Q: What would you tell a dealer who’ s on the fence about joining NATDA? A:“ It’ s not just for owners and managers. Everyone can benefit.”
Tom’ s story is also a reminder of the value NATDA membership can provide at every stage of a dealer’ s journey. Whether you’ re new to the industry or have decades of experience, NATDA membership offers access to education, technical training and industry connections that can help your dealership grow. Learn more at natda. org / member-benefits.
Q: What’ s been the biggest benefit of your NATDA membership so far? A:“ It’ s only been a short while, but our
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