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Left to right: Ralph Gatti, Sal Gatti and Aden Miller.
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Truck cap and tonneau cover manufacturer A.R.E. has announced Aden Miller and Ralph Gatti have received the SEMA Light Truck Accessories Alliance (TORA) 2011 Hall of Fame Award.
The TORA Hall of Fame Award has been established to recognize quality and service in the light-truck industry. Both Miller and Gatti played integral roles in the founding of A.R.E. and its contributions to the light truck community.
A.R.E. was founded in 1969 by friends Sal Gatti (Ralph Gatti’s father) and Jonas Yoder, plus first employee Aden Miller, to manufacture high-quality aluminum frame truck caps that fit the needs of truck owners. As the company grew, Ralph Gatti joined Miller to focus on production, and in 1979 they designed their first joint product, the Deluxe Commercial Unit (DCU). In 1982, Miller and Gatti introduced the first fiberglass truck cap into A.R.E.’s product lineup.
As instrumental leaders in creating new-product components at A.R.E., both Miller and Gatti have been recognized for their product designs. Miller has received the Ron Webster Award for Innovation and Design Excellence and the Chrysler/SEMA Award for Innovation/Engineering Excellence. Gatti’s focus on innovation and his customer-centered approach grew the business from a small regional cap manufacturer to an industry leader.
“Our company continues to grow and succeed as a leading truck accessories business as a result of the core values that these gentlemen put in place during the first formative years of A.R.E.,” said Terry Seikel, A.R.E. president and CEO. “More than 40 years later, we are still committed to product innovation, design excellence and a customer-centric work ethic. We are very proud of Aden and Ralph for receiving this award and for joining our co-founder Sal Gatti in the TORA Hall of Fame.”
Miller retired as vice president of design and engineering at A.R.E. in 2006. Gatti currently serves on the board for A.R.E. As positive mentors to friends and industry colleagues, both Miller and Gatti have spent much of their retirement volunteering for natural disaster efforts and leading missions overseas.
