Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/165243
AED Steers New Fair Effective Tax Rate Coalition Industry Beat Kobelco Hosts Headquarters Ribbon-Cutting Event KOBELCO Construction Machinery USA recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at their new North American Headquarters in Houston, Texas. The brand relaunched earlier this year as an independent product line. Nearly all of the company's 40+ dealers were in attendance along with staff members from all over the world, local and national media, and several local government officials. Continuing its position as one of the leading voices on construction industry tax issues, AED announced it would serve as a steering member of the newly formed Coalition for Fair Effective Tax Rates (CFETR). CFETR will ask lawmakers and the Obama administration to use lowering effective tax rates as a leading metric – and a key measure of success – as tax reform develops on Capitol Hill. The coalition also wants to impress upon lawmakers and key stakeholders that high effective tax rates have negative consequences for American businesses and the overall economy. The alliance of business organizations includes large corporations and small mom-and-pop shops paying individual tax rates. All agree with leading policy experts that the current system is broken and comprehensive reform is needed. CFETR will take no position on any specific preference or provision. Instead, it plans to concentrate on the benefits of viewing tax reform through the lens of effective tax rates with the goal of creating a fair, neutral playing field across all industries and business sectors. In the News Gibson Machinery, Oakwood Village, Ohio, was recently nominated and selected to be part of GE Capital and Slate's 2013 Roadshow for Growth – a six-month, 20-city tour addressing the issues of middle market businesses, a sector that generates $9 trillion in annual revenue and accounts for nearly 34 percent of total U.S. employLee Gibson ment. Traveling in a branded bus, Roadshow for Growth visited middle market businesses in Cleveland, Detroit, Charlotte, Dallas, Atlanta, and Los Angeles, Larysa Gibson among other cities. Gibson Machinery was honored to be one of the few businesses chosen to be interviewed and filmed as a stop on this tour. In the video titled "Selling Construction Equipment – and Breaking the Glass Ceiling," Lee Gibson, Larysa Gibson, and Meredith Gibson share their insights on Gibson Machinery's success during the economic downturn. Larysa Gibson also explains how she meets the challenges of being a female owner in a heavily male-dominated industry. Colorado Equipment recently acquired Tom Growney Equipment. The combined operations of Colorado Equipment, Colorado Machinery and Wyoming Equipment will be renamed "4 Rivers Equipment." The company has 14 locations in Colorado, New Mexico, west Texas and Wyoming. Faris Machinery is planning a new 7,500 square-foot facility at its current location at 2269 Commercial Blvd. in Colorado Springs, Colo. The new facility will be triple the size of the current location. In the past two years, Faris has acquired Foster Equipment (concrete equipment) and Boyle Equipment (environmental equipment). Wacker Neuson is offering a special five-year extended warranty for all 10 of its excavator models purchased between July 1, 2013 and Sept. 30, 2013. This limited-time warranty includes a fiveyear/5,000 hour extended powertrain and hydraulics warranty. Crane Institute Certification (CIC) announced the availability of certification programs for operators of articulating boom cranes and digger derricks. Atlas Copco was selected as a member of the FTSE4Good index, which includes world-leading companies that score well on environmental, social and governance practices, and was named a "Leader." Runnion Equipment now offers Elliott Equipment Company's line of HiReach aerial work platforms at their location in Caledonia, Wis. The HiReach line features fully hydraulic boom extension systems without cables or chains to provide smooth, precise rides. Tiffany Sewell-Howard, chief executive officer of Charles Machine Works, Perry, Okla., has been elected as a director of the CE Sector Board of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM). Tiffany Sewell-Howard 16 | www.cedmag.com | Construction Equipment Distribution | September 2013 14_industry beat_KP.indd 16 8/28/13 12:39 PM