[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15481]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          PAM O'TOOLE TRUSDALE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. LYNN JENKINS

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 3, 2017

  Ms. JENKINS of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize my 
constituent and friend Pam O'Toole Trusdale, on the occasion of her 
retirement as Executive Director of the National Association of Trailer 
Manufacturers (NATM). Pam is a longtime resident of my district and 
lifelong Kansan, attending Parsons Senior High and Washburn University. 
She joined NATM in 1998 and served as its Executive Director for nearly 
twenty years. Her leadership has enabled NATM to grow significantly 
from a small group of horse and livestock trailer manufacturers into a 
strong voice for trailer safety.
  During Pam's tenure, NATM's membership has added more than 700 
trailer manufacturers and component suppliers which collectively employ 
more than 419,000 American workers. NATM's staff has similarly grown 
over the years and the Association moved in 2013, to accommodate their 
growth in staff, to a new headquarters in Topeka, Kansas. Recognizing 
the importance of engaging in the legislative and regulatory process, 
Pam led the development of NATM's advocacy in Washington, D.C., which 
brings trailer manufacturers to visit Congress and federal agencies 
each year. In working closely with the National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration, she has helped facilitate education and communication 
about emerging issues. Pam has also worked to develop relationships 
with other industry groups and has helped create a strong coalition of 
advocates in the name of NATM's mission of improving trailer safety.
  Among Pam's many accomplishments was the development of NATM's 
Compliance Verification Program, which brings NATM consultants to all 
trailer manufacturer member facilities biennially to ensure they have 
processes in place to build trailers in accordance with federal safety 
standards and industry best practices. Under Pam's leadership, NATM 
members voted unanimously to make this important program a requirement 
for membership in the Association. Beyond this program, Pam has 
overseen the development of additional technical resources and 
educational programming to help member companies continue to have the 
tools to comply with regulations as well as grow their own businesses.
  In addition to her work at NATM, Pam is an active participant in the 
Topeka community. She has served on the Board of Regents at Washburn 
University, has been a leader with the Kansas Society of Association 
Executives and a member of the Stormont-Vail Foundation Advisory Board. 
Pam is the proud mother of three and grandmother of eight. I want to 
thank Pam for her tireless commitment to trailer safety, and years of 
service to NATM and the Topeka community. I wish her and Tom many happy 
years of retirement.

                          ____________________