Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/236097
AED Leader ("Meet Brian McGuire" continued from page 26) a lack of appreciation for the manufacturing field. "So the cliff notes version of the story is, six years later, for the last two years we've had a positive membership growth for the first time in 20 years." Participation increased – and they measured it. Brian helped re-energize the Young Leaders Groups and led a resurgence in the TMA's training program. Under his stewardship, the association recovered financially and paid back reserves that were tapped during the recession. Best of all, "people say there's an overall feeling throughout the association of excitement and optimism," Brian said, "and people like to be involved with the association." And now it's AED's turn to receive this achiever's expert attention. Priority No. 1: getting out and meeting as many of the AED members as he can – and listening. "We need to take a hard look and evaluation, and see what needs to be done," he said, but added, "When you come into a job like this you want to be respectful of the past; there's some big shoes to fill here and we want to be respectful of that." New From... Brian and Heidi McGuire have been married for 17 years and have three school-age children. Listening – important in any job – was a critical skill during Brian's eight-plus years as senior regional manager in Illinois and Wisconsin for the National Association of Manufacturers based in Washington, D.C. Being the face-to-face contact to recruit and engage members at the grassroots level, he recognized that listening not only helps build trust, but acting on what you hear is the real test of integrity, an attribute he values above all else. "It comes down to the fact that people have to believe you have integrity and that you're going to follow through on what it is you're discussing and what you're committing to," Brian said. "They have to be able to trust that you're going to actually provide some return on their investment. People are interested in results – they don't want to have a conversation for the sake of having a conversation." KER OUNTED BREA HYDRAULIC M LT CUTTER ASPHA MADE IN THE USA We Make Pounding the Pavement Profitable! info@ajaxtools.com Visit www.ajaxtools.com to see our Post Drivers, Deck Busters, Frost Wedges, Tamping Pads & More! 28 | www.cedmag.com | Construction Equipment Distribution | January 2014 Policy and Participation One of the areas where Brian will turn his results-focused efforts is on continuing the growth of members' grassroots involvement in AED's public policy advocacy. "I am a big believer that the messages members of Congress hear from our Washington office have to be heard back in their districts," he said. "They have to connect with the work of AED to work back home. And they do that through meeting the owners of the dealers back in the district, understanding how those votes on EPA regulations as well as