Building on Legacy: How Venture Trailers’ Values Drive Innovation in 2025

When you step into Venture Trailers’ Baltimore facility today, you’ll find a modern manufacturing operation complete with automation, customized work orders, and streamlined processes. But spend a few minutes talking with owners Stephanie and Matt Van Slyke, and you’ll quickly understand that while the technology may be cutting edge, the company’s core values remain firmly rooted in its 1988 founding principles.

A Foundation of Family and Hard Work

Venture’s story begins with Stephanie’s father, a marine industry veteran who saw an opportunity in the boat trailer market. What started as a way to support his boat manufacturing business evolved into a standalone venture that would shape the marine industry for decades to come.

Stephanie and Matt were both involved with the business from the beginning, with Matt working in the manufacturing plant and Stephanie covering the front office.

“We started at the very bottom,” Stephanie recalls. “I did every position administratively on the business side of things. And Matt did the same thing, which gave us a true understanding of the business, allowing us to do what we do today.”

Matt remembers his father-in-law telling him “You had it worse than anybody in this place… I hope you know why.” He responded that he absolutely understood, and he would not have changed it because the experience gave them “every tool to be able to do what we’re doing now.”

Even though, they add with a laugh, neither one of them ever imagined themselves running the business, “The old man had an uncanny ability to rope you in,” says Matt.

Fueled by the freedom to innovate and improve, Matt and Stephanie eventually took on more and more of the leadership of the business.

“That freedom of being able to do things, put things in place and watch it be a success or a failure and learn a lot along the way, that was very appealing,” Stephanie reflects.

Evolution Through Innovation

The 2007 recession proved to be a pivotal moment for Venture. Facing a 40% drop in business, the company was forced to think of new ways to drive business. So, they made a strategic shift from standardized manufacturing to customization, focusing on dealer needs in a way that would transform their business model.

“In the early years it was a very cookie cutter trailer. You look at a catalog, you’re going to get this model, it’s going to come out this way and that’s end of story,” Matt explains. “When we had the recession, we started catering towards the dealer’s needs.”

Knowing that dealers were also struggling, and may have fewer staff on hand, Venture began to think about ways they could help ease the burden by customizing the trailers. “We said to ourselves, why don’t we just put it at this measurement so that they have to do less work? The trailer shows up on their lot, they put the boat on it, they don’t have to do the extra work to adjust it,” Matt explains.

This customer-first approach has become a cornerstone of Venture’s operations. As Matt notes, “A trailer is a trailer–there is nothing exceptionally unique. All the trailer companies buy their stuff from the same place, whether it be wheels, axles, whatever. The only thing that can separate you is not the product, it’s the company itself.”

People-First Manufacturing

Perhaps what sets Venture apart most is their approach to employees. In an era where manufacturing often prioritizes automation over people, Venture has found ways to embrace technology while maintaining their commitment to their workforce.

“When we purchased automation three years ago, the people that were replaced with that automation weren’t let go, they were repurposed,” Matt emphasizes. “That’s important.”

This commitment to employees extends far beyond the factory floor. The company has helped employees with everything from car purchases to medical care. As Stephanie shares, “We support them as if they are our family. When people go through tough times, they need a resource. They know that they can depend on us for stability and support and comfort.”

2025 and Beyond

As Venture moves into 2025, they continue to balance innovation with tradition. The company remains focused on continuous improvement, whether that’s streamlining manufacturing processes, enhancing customer service, or finding new ways to support their employees.

“The goal is constantly to make things better. That’s just how we think,” Stephanie says. “It doesn’t matter how long he and I have been in the company, we are constantly making improvements somewhere. It’s never ending.”

This commitment to improvement, coupled with their unwavering dedication to people – both employees and customers – positions Venture Trailers for continued success. While the manufacturing industry continues to evolve, Venture’s foundation of hard work and personal connection provides a stable platform for innovation and growth.

After all, as Matt puts it, “A product is indicative of the environment it’s built in.”

At Venture Trailers, that environment is one of care, commitment, and continuous improvement – values that have served them well for over 37 years and will continue to guide them into the future.