Betts Company started 156 years ago and, on Tuesday, it's sixth president, William Michael Betts IV, was inducted into the Hall of Fame at Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week 2024. He is the 18th inductee into the hall.
Mike Betts serves as CEO of Betts while his son, Bill, is president.
"There are so many to thank," Betts says in accepting the award. "Thank you to all who do their best to support and grow our industry."
Mike Betts credits much of his company's success to the trailblazers who came before his generation of leaders.
"Their journeys of hardship and perseverance, along with their passion and drive to move forward is what inspires us today," he says.
Betts Company started out making springs for horse-drawn carriages in 1861. Since then, it has grown into a diversified heavy duty company, not only making springs, but also spray suppression systems; servicing trucks and selling parts.
"A common theme each generation has shared is embracing hard work, and what comes from that," Mike Betts says. "I am very proud of our legacy and even more proud of who we are today under the leadership of my son, Bill."
Mike Betts says his company's culture of continual education and improvement has bled over into the communities and, hopefully, into the industries. The company has built "world-class" career and technical education programs in transportation and manufacturing, he says, and then invited anyone in the audience to visit the company in the central valley of California.
"Investing in the next generation is our future," he says, and it's important for the business leaders in the room to act as civic stewards to work for continuous improvement in their own communities. "Your efforts will help our industry grow and prosper."
Mike Betts went on to cite Right to Repair and looming emissions standards as challenges to the industry..
"We are facing unprecedented overreach by the EPA and certain government mandates on what they think future trucks should look like and how the trucks should be constructed and operated." he says. "Educate yourselves on what CARB and the omnibus rule mandates are demanding of the transportation industry in California and soon in 13 other states."
What the industry is being asked to do is too much, too fast, he added.
"We have not made the proper infrastructure investments that will allow the industry to operate without bringing the industry to a standstill," Mike Betts says.
He called on HDAW attendees to take action, to work together to move the industry forward.
"I leave you with a question," Mike Betts says. "How can all of us within the industry come together — the OEMs, marketing groups, industry associations — and collaborate to recalibrate and reset our industry path forward with good, common-sense solutions for future success. The time is now."
