TYSONS, Va. – Trey Mytty, president and CEO of Truck Center Companies in Omaha, Neb., is one of six nominees for 2019 Truck Dealer of the Year – a national award that recognizes commercial-truck dealers for industry leadership, business performance and community service.

“It’s an honor for me [and the dealership] to be nominated for this award,” said Mytty, who became dealer principal in 2008. “I’m proud to represent Daimler Trucks of North America brands.”

In 1990, Mytty began working at the dealership washing trucks and cleaning the shop during a summer job while in high school. The following summer he delivered parts and handled shipping and receiving.

After graduating from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln with a marketing degree in 1996 he returned to the dealership selling Freightliner trucks. After several years working successfully as a sales consultant, Mytty accepted a management position and then was later named vice president. Soon after, he leveraged a buyout of the business.

Today, Truck Center Companies includes eight dealerships and parts and service facilities in Nebraska, Kansas and Iowa with 575 employees representing Freightliner, SelecTrucks, Freightliner Custom Chassis, Western Star, Thomas Built Buses, Ottawa and Isuzu franchises.

“The transportation industry is amazing. It’s always changing but the fact that there are great people involved in it doesn’t change,” he said. “I feel fortunate to have been blessed with meeting such good people. Many of them work for my company.”

Mytty is an advisory board member and fundraiser for several community organizations, including Make-a-Wish Foundation Nebraska and Boy Scouts of the Midland (past board member). He also served as an adviser for health organizations which support the wellness of children and their families.

“The Make-a-Wish Foundation means a lot to me. 2019 will be Truck Center Companies 25th year supporting Make-a-Wish,” Mytty said. “We are striving to surpass $3 million in total donations to Make-a-Wish for our 25th year. The kids we grant wishes to have touched my heart.”

Mytty also provides scholarships to wrestlers though the Guy Mytty Foundation, named after his late father who was a high school teacher and five-time state champion wrestling coach.

“My father taught me that coaching people will produce results. Working to get better every day and setting goals will produce results,” he added. “The lessons were countless and the impact he had on my life and that of many others is something I still smile about today.”

Over the past decade, the dealership has won numerous awards including Freightliner Trucks (Aspire Award, Leland James Award, Elite Support, Elephant Award, Longevity Award and Technician of the Year); Daimler Trucks North America (Sales Leadership); Thomas Built Buses (Dealer of the Year, President’s Club, Trainer of the Year and Platinum Support); Western Star (Star Performer Award); Isuzu (Circle of Excellence); Cummins Engine Co. (Regional Sales Award); and SelecTrucks (President’s Club).

The national Truck Dealer of the Year award is sponsored by the American Truck Dealers (ATD), Heavy Duty Trucking magazine and Procede Software.

The other nominees are David Kriete from Kriete Truck Centers in Milwaukee, Wis.; Kim Mesfin from Affinity Truck Center in Fresno, Calif.; Terry Minor from Cumberland International Trucks in Nashville, Tenn.; Harry Moyer from Lowe and Moyer Garage in Fogelsville, Pa.; and John Nichols from Palmer Kenworth in Indianapolis.

The nominees were selected by ATD board members and dealer association executives. Professors from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business in Bloomington, Ind., will evaluate the nominees based on dealership performance, industry leadership and community service.

The winner and runner-up will be announced on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019, during the 56th annual ATD Show in San Francisco, which runs concurrently with the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Show from Thursday, Jan. 24, through Sunday, Jan. 27.

ATD, a division of NADA, represents more than 1,800 heavy- and medium-duty truck dealerships in the U.S.

For more information about the ATD Show, visit atdshow.org.

This is the fifth article in a six-part series featuring each nominee for 2019 Truck Dealer of the Year.