CED

December 2013

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From the Chairman Executive Vice President & COO ROBERT HENDERSON Associated Equipment Distributors Oak Brook, Ill. The Main Event OFFICERS Chairman - MIKE QUIRK Wagner Equipment Co. Aurora, Colo. AED's Summit is nonstop opportunity for relationship building. Vice Chairman - TIM WATTERS Hoffman Equipment Co., Piscataway, N.J. Sr. Vice President - DON SHILLING General Equipment & Supplies, Inc. Fargo, N.D. Vice President - RICK VAN EXAN Toromont Industries Inc. Concord, Ontario Vice President - WHIT PERRYMAN Vermeer of Texas Inc. Irving, Texas Vice President of Finance MICHAEL D. BRENNAN Brandeis Machinery & Supply Co., Louisville, Ky. Past Chairman - LARRY GLYNN CMW Equipment St. Louis, Mo. AT-LARGE DIRECTORS RON BARLET Bejac Corp. Placentia, Calif. PAULA BENARD C.N. Wood Co., Inc. Woburn, Mass. GREGG R. ERB Erb Equipment Company, Inc. Fenton, Mo. DENNIS J. HELLER Stephenson Equipment Inc. Harrisburg, Pa. MIKE ROONEY Thompson Tractor Co., Inc. Tarrant, Ala. MICHAEL J. SAVASTIO Groff Tractor & Equipment, Inc. Mechanicsburg, Pa. REGIONAL DIRECTORS BRUCE A. BOWMAN Upper Midwest Reg. Star Equipment, Ltd Des Moines, Iowa GARY FRELICK Western Canada Reg. Douglas Lake Equipment Langley, BC PATRICK MCCONNELL, West Reg. Clyde/West, Inc. Portland, Ore. CHRISTOPHER PALMER Northeast Reg. Wood's CRW Corp. Williston, Vt. MARK ROMER, Southeast Reg. James River Equipment, Inc. Ashland, Va. JEFFREY SCOTT Rocky Mountain Reg. Intermountain Bobcat Salt Lake City, Utah RICK VAN EXAN Eastern Canada Reg. Toromont Industries Ltd. Concord, ON GARY D. VAUGHN South Central Reg. OCT Equipment, Inc. Oklahoma City, Okla. BY MIKE QUIRK One of the really interesting experiences of being your chairman this year has been the time spent writing this column each month. I get full editorial freedom and can write about anything I want. I have apparently not abused that privilege because what I have written has been published without correction or conflict. While never having taken a journalism class, I did spend a considerable portion of my youth under the watchful eyes of the Sisters of Saint Dominic. If you have enjoyed any of what I've written, they deserve at least a portion of the credit. If you have not enjoyed it, please don't tell them; this is a volunteer position and I have served enough detention for this lifetime. This column has afforded me some reflection on my personal experiences with AED and my career. It has also involved equal amounts of understanding the "here and now" along with trying to read the future. The changes, the constants, and the concerns of our industry have been many – my involvement with AED has been one of the constants. AED is unique. It provides the collective experience of our distributors, manufacturers, and service providers from across the continent. All involved have a stake in the continued health and prosperity of the equipment distribution business model. AED provides a rare and valuable opportunity to bring things into perspective. More than that, it provides an unfiltered view of the global industry beyond the lines and limitations of brand families we represent. Next month, we have the major event on the AED calendar – Summit. Over the years, the annual meeting has changed names, venues, and agendas, but it remains the big one for our association. I don't remember how many of these I have attended over the years, but each has been a valuable experience for me as my responsibilities grew. Long before I played an executive role, I was looking forward to the January event. As a salesman, I was gaining sales training and time management techniques. As a division manager, I was pounding the CONDEX floor meeting with suppliers and vendors, getting a look at new products and business processes. From early morning business sessions to the evening trips through the hospitality suites and parties, there was constant opportunity for relationship building in a fertile field of discovery. Whatever my responsibility, I was always impressed by and learned a lot from the sessions and experiences. My companies have used this opportunity for a number of purposes. Sometimes it was a bit of a reward trip for an up-and-coming employee at a nice venue with their family. Sometimes it was a training session for parts and service people to get exposure to alternative resources and processes. More often than not, it was a time to validate roles and responsibilities with our business partners. Always, it was the place to see the latest the industry has to offer and reconnect with peers and meet new friends and partners. I can tell you stories of what I learned in Orlando, San Francisco, Anaheim, and San Antonio. Equally as memorable were the great events in Washington, Las Vegas, and San Diego. This year it is Houston, which has emerged as a world-class venue. We'll be at the beautiful Hilton Americas, and there will be sessions for all generations in our companies with fresh ideas to improve profitability, performance, and customer service. Give yourself and your staff the memorable experiences of the 2014 AED Summit. You will laugh, learn, and like what AED has put together for you. I hope to see y'all in Houston! (aedsummit.com) MIKE QUIRK (mquirk@wagnerequipment.com) is vice president of Operations at Wagner Equipment Co., Aurora, Colo. December 2013 | Construction Equipment Distribution | www.cedmag.com | 5

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