Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/330408
From the Chairman June 2014 | Construction Equipment Distribution | www.cedmag.com | 5 President & CEO - BRIAN MCGUIRE Associated Equipment Distributors Oak Brook, Ill. Executive Vice President & COO ROBERT HENDERSON Associated Equipment Distributors Oak Brook, Ill. OFFICERS Chairman - TIM WATTERS Hoffman Equipment Co., Piscataway, N.J. Vice Chairman - DON SHILLING General Equipment & Supplies, Inc. Fargo, N.D. Sr. Vice President - WHIT PERRYMAN Vermeer Equipment of Texas, Inc. Irving, Texas Vice President - RICK VAN EXAN Toromont Industries Ltd. Concord, Ont., Canada Vice President - WES STOWERS Stowers Machinery Corp. Knoxville, Tenn. Vice President of Finance MICHAEL D. BRENNAN Brandeis Machinery & Supply Co., Louisville, Ky. Past Chairman - MIKE QUIRK Wagner Equipment Co. Aurora, Colo. AT-LARGE DIRECTORS TODD BACHMAN Florida Coast Equipment, Inc. Boynton Beach, Fla. RON BARLET Bejac Corp. Placentia, Calif. DENNIS J. HELLER Stephenson Equipment Inc. Harrisburg, Pa. LARRY R. MILLER Kelbe Bros. Equipment Co. Inc. Butler, Wis. MITCH NEVINS Four Seasons Equipment, Inc. Houston, Texas MIKE ROONEY Thompson Tractor Co., Inc. Tarrant, Ala. REGIONAL DIRECTORS RYAN GREENAWALT Midwest Reg. Alta Equipment Co. Wixom, Mich. TODD HYSTAD Western Canada Reg. Vimar Equipment Ltd. Burnaby, B.C. PATRICK W. MCCONNELL West Reg. Clyde/West, Inc. Portland, Ore. CHRISTOPHER PALMER Northeast Reg. Wood's CRW Corp. Williston, Vt. GILES POULSON Rocky Mountain Reg. Faris Machinery Co. Commerce City, Colo. JAY RODES, Southeast Reg. Wilson Equipment Co. Lexington, Ky. RICK VAN EXAN Eastern Canada Reg. Toromont Industries Ltd. Concord, Ont. GARY D. VAUGHN South Central Reg. OCT Equipment, Inc. Oklahoma City, Okla. Our Washington Fly-In was the first week in April – I Love This Event! This is easily the best event that AED offers – it's the most fun, most rewarding, and by some accounts the most important. Don't miss the Fly-In next year – we need you there and I personally guarantee that you will enjoy it! Not only do I get an opportunity to shape the dialogue in Washington concerning issues that are important to me and my business, but I also get a one-day "crash course" on what's is really going on behind the scenes in our capital. Did I mention that I really enjoy this event?? Christian Klein and his staff do a great job lining up congressmen, senators, political pundits, and experts from within our indus- try's various lobbying groups and associa- tions as speakers for a whirlwind day of famil- iarizing us with the different issues being debated in Congress that affect our busi- nesses. This is a great day! Lots of great information, an opportunity to meet House members and senators and to hear their views in person. There's even a cool cock- tail party to wrap things up – you can't go wrong here. This year the first reception on was the rooftop of Caterpillar's building in Washington! Thank you, Caterpillar! On Day 2 (typically a Thursday), we bring our story to our own elected members, those guys that represent us from our home districts, and we pitch them on what's impor- tant to our businesses and our employees. If you have never done this, don't sweat it; AED provides lots of support and hand-holding – just ask them in advance. Did I mention that this is a fun event?! The atmosphere at the Fly-in is light but interesting, and definitely good fun. We distributors are a fun bunch of guys and gals, and this is a great opportunity to meet your peers around a common goal. Did I mention that this is important? This year, amongst a host of other issues, our federal Highway Trust Fund is going to go broke in August. It is vital to our industry that we let Congress know how important the Trust Fund is to our country, our regions, our industry, and our businesses. We must commit funding to our highways and infra- structure, and AED allows your voice to be heard on this issue. Hopefully, by next year we will have resolved this issue, but don't worry, another will have leaped out to take its place – there is always something going on in Washington that affects your business – you need to be there to shape the outcome of the debate. And Manufacturers Are Welcome Too! Hey manufacturers, this is a great event for you to attend too – we would love to have you. Nearly all of the issues that are impor- tant to AED are also important to you. Take advantage of your AED membership and come to Washington to participate in this great industry event! I CAN'T SAY IT ANY MORE EMPHATICALLY: THE AED WASHINGTON FLY-IN IS A GREAT TIME AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU THERE NEXT APRIL!!! Meanwhile, check out the photo highlights on page 12 – a great group from the North American Equipment Distributors Association (ag industry) joined us again at Fly-In and we had a record attendance. TIM WATTERS (timwatters@hoffmanequip.com) is president of Hoffman Equipment in Piscataway, N.J. I Love Our Washington Fly-In! And if you didn't attend Fly-In in April, you blew it! BY TIM WATTERS