Industry Updates

Distributor Service: Doing What Only You Can Do

The GenNext Industry Update features interesting, thought-provoking guest editorials and comments from professionals throughout the heavy-duty aftermarket. Our introductory editorial comes from Bill Wade.

Bill Wade, Wade & Partners

I‘ve had a lifelong love affair with big machines. Steel forges and paper mills, draglines and haul trucks, large aircraft and huge ships, heavy trucks and locomotives — virtually any cool industrial or military gadget likely to show up on the History Channel’s Modern Marvels. Continue reading →

Education Update

What you can learn from GenNext in 2015.

Jason Kraus, GenNext Education chair

For those who participated in our 2014 educational webinars, thank you.  As a reminder the sessions are included in your membership dues, so there is no additional expense — just content focused on helping to improve your knowledge and skills in a variety of topics. Continue reading →

Mentorship Update

We’re Excited to launch the first phase of our Mentorship Program.  It’s not too late to sign up!

Edward Kuo, GenNext HD Mentorship Chair

GenNext is excited to launch its first Mentoring class at HDAW’15.  Mentoring is one of the primary mantras of the GenNext organization and we have received significant interest in this program, both from GenNext members who are interested in being mentored and from experienced industry leaders who would like to help the future of the industry. Continue reading →

Recruitment Update

GenNext is growing and we’re excited to have everyone here.

Nikki Paschall, GenNext Recruitment Chair

What a year 2014 turned out to be! It’s hard to believe we’re planning for 2015 already. The past 12 months have brought tons of new faces to GenNext and we’re excited to have everyone here! Continue reading →

Sponsorship Highlight

You can still get in on the ground floor.  

Bill Betts, Sponsorship Committee Chair

It is hard to believe GenNext is entering its second year of operation.  Our first year sponsors are to thank.  We have 19 in total and they can be found by visiting our website at http://gennexthd.comsponsors/.

The GenNext mantra is to Educate, Mentor, and Recruit the next generation of Heavy Duty Aftermarket Leaders and we are poised to do more of it in 2015 because of the generous support of our sponsors.  Continue reading →

Supplier Highlight

Getting to know Betts HD.

Bill Betts, Vice President of BettsHD

Briefly describe the history of BettsHD? (This can be a barebones summary; as we know the BettsHD history is quite long.)

Betts Spring Company, as our business was originally known, was founded in 1868 by William Michael Betts, my great great great grandfather. William was decorated by the Queen of England for his mastery in spring making. Excited by new opportunities in America, he sailed to the United States in 1860, eventually settling in San Francisco. He opened his own shop, making springs for carriages, wagons and streetcars. We rebranded our evolving business as Betts Company in 2013.  Continue reading →

Distributor Highlight

The 4-1-1 on Weldon Parts.

Dave Settles, President of Weldon Parts, Inc

Briefly describe the history of Weldon?

Weldon Parts, Inc. was founded in 1955 by brothers Dean and Leon Settles in North Bend, Neb. Weldon has an interesting history and didn’t start out in parts and distribution. Weldon began by manufacturing metal skids, then morphed into erecting grain bins, the business then moved to repairing trucks, and finally into parts and distribution. Parts and distribution has been our primary business since the 1960s. Continue reading →