Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/358154
Groundwork OFFICERS Chairman A. ROY KERN Equipment Corporation of America Coraopolis, Pa. Vice Chairman DENNIS VANDER MOLEN Vermeer MidSouth, Inc. Jackson, Miss. President BOB HENDERSON The AED Foundation Oak Brook, Ill. Treasurer JOHN D. CRUM Wells Fargo Equipment Finance Pittsburgh, Pa. Immediate Past Chairman CHRISTOPHER PERA Highway Equipment Company Zelienople, PA AED Board Representative WES STOWERS Stowers Machinery Corp. Knoxville, Tenn. Executive Director STEVE JOHNSON The AED Foundation Oak Brook Ill. DIRECTORS GARY BRIDWELL Ditch Witch of Oklahoma Edmond, Okla. JOHN COSGROVE Central Power Systems & Services, Inc. Liberty, Mo. MIKE HAYES Komatsu America Corp. Rolling Meadows, Ill. TIMOTHY KRAMER Kramer Ltd. Regina, Sask. DR. WAYNE LONGBRAKE Former Dean, Penn. College of Technology Williamsport, Pa SONJA METZLER Ohio CAT Broadview Heights, Ohio DAVID REILLY John Deere Construction Equipment Moline, Ill. KENNETH SILVERMAN Volvo Construction Equipment Shippensburg, Pa. MARK TEEL Caterpillar, Inc. Peoria, Ill. M. KEITH TIPPETT Kirby-Smith Machinery, Inc. Oklahoma City, Okla. 12 | www.cedmag.com | Construction Equipment Distribution | August 2014 Being an expert on one part of a dealership does not mean someone can envision the big picture. Nor does an employee's specialization in one aspect of the business necessarily parlay into overall understanding of the company. But thanks to "Test Drive," employees can receive hands- on learning about other departments within a dealership and how their work and decisions fit in to make the business successful. The AED Foundation and PriSim Business War Games present Test Drive again this fall – it's an exclusive AED training class devel- oped to improve the decision-making and performance of heavy equipment dealer- ships. This two-day workshop, Oct. 1-2, is an interactive, realistic business simulation that motivates and engages participants. Uniquely dealership-oriented, it includes sales, parts, service, staffing, F&I, and equipment-rental decisions. Best of all, Test Drive capitalizes on the fact that adults learn and retain better through experience. By adding high-energy activities and mild competition to a rich educational experience, Test Drive helps your managers frame critical learning within a relevant context. Teams of simulated dealerships play to win at Test Drive, where immediate results of team deci- sions are provided – and the team that performs best wins the "game." By applying knowledge gained from intervals of lecture, partici- pants learn valuable strategy, as well as financial and busi- ness skills. Promote real team- work among your staff by sending a company team to experience the busi- ness simulation at Test Drive. Previous team attendees, like Patten CAT, Wells Fargo Equipment Finance, Metso and Liebherr, all have gained important knowledge and understanding from Test Drive. But individual participants are welcome! Every attendee gains valuable business benefits as well as insights into their own management style. Get the Big Picture at 'Test Drive' Send one or send a team – simulated equipment dealer program accelerates better business operations. "The program was fun and challenging and provided focused collaboration with other business leaders from various disci- plines. We worked well as a team as we navigated through the ins and outs and ups and downs of a dealer equipment business. We were able to test theories and business strate- gies and see the results of our decisions immediately. I would recommend this to anyone looking to sharpen their business skills and to those who would benefit from gaining a high level perspective of how business works in the real world in a safe and laboratory-style environment." John Hofmeyer Rental Manager, Construction Products Patten Industries, Inc. Oct. 1-2, 2014 Chicago Marriott Southwest at Burr Ridge Burr Ridge, Ill. Test Drive: The Business War Game for Distributor Operations Dealership Teams: 0DQDJHUVZLWKWHDPPHPEHUV 0DQDJHPHQW7HDPV3DUWV6HUYLFH Sales, Rental, Branch ([HFXWLYH0DQDJHU&RPELQHG7HDPV Individual Dealership Managers - Parts, Service, Sales, Rental, Branch Individual Dealership Team Members Register now; even better, register a company team. Discounts available for multiple attendees from one organization. Visit www.aedu.org/testdrive for more details and to register. Who Should Attend