The AED 2018 AED Executive Conclave is expected be a gathering of nearly 70 top executives from construction equipment distributors stimulating new thinking and inspiring action on economics, innovations, technology and relationships.
Attendees to last year's Executive Conference represented:
- Over $2.3bil in annual sales revenue
- Over 5300 employees
- Over 200 locations in the US and Canada
NOTE: All Sponsors will be provided an electronic version of the registered attendees before and after the conference. Sponsors can provide company literature be included for download on their conference app profile page.
1. Gold Keynote Sponsor – Dick Stewart $5,000 (exclusive)
"Dealer Competitive Strategy: State of the Art"
Session scheduled for Wednesday, September 26th from 1:15pm to 2:15pm. Sponsor will be recognized by with signage indicating “Gold Keynote Sponsor” throughout seminar, sponsor slide during breaks. Sponsor will introduce the keynote speaker and is asked to provide their brief comments about the industry from their perspective before introducing the keynote speaker. This sponsorship includes registration for up to one company representative (a $895 value).
Dick is a veteran of the professional services sector with his career spent at Grant Thornton LLP and SAP. As a partner at Grant Thornton, Dick interacted with dozens of enterprises including independent equipment dealers. That experience feed his interest in why some companies do well and some do not, even though in the same industry. As a SVP and General Manager at SAP Dick engaged in leading edge technology issues and the reasons why the promise of technology often did not live up to its promise. At both Grant Thornton and SAP Dick held management and leadership positions that allowed him to work on the businesses in addition to in them.
Although formally retired, Dick’s curiosity and interest in business took him to the University of Denver where he is a 2018 Master of Science candidate with a focus on strategy and innovation. He has been sanctioned by the University to complete primary research in the independent equipment dealer sector with the aim of identifying emerging trends in dealer strategies and business models. That research is being conducted in partnership with AED.
Dick is a graduate of Wichita State University, the Young Presidents Organization, and executive programs from both Harvard and Wharton. Dick and his wife live in Colorado as do their married children and their grandchildren.
2. Gold Keynote Sponsor – Dirk Beveridge (SOLD)
"The Innovative Distributor Mindset"
Sponsored by:
Of Dirk Beveridge, William Taylor, Co-Founder of Fast Company magazine said: “Every field has its rabble rousers, change agents, thought leaders-people with the wisdom to understand the past, and the creativity to conjure up a new vision for the future. In the field of wholesale distribution, Dirk Beveridge is that thought leader.”
Beveridge is the leading advocate of change and innovation throughout wholesale distribution. As the industry’s most outstanding speaker, he delivers a new voice, a new energy, and a new outlook.
Dirk’s presentations are unparalleled. He delivers original, proven, and often disruptive thinking. His energy and passion for excellence are infectious and inspires audiences to step from the zone of comfort to unleash the urgency of change. Beveridge is routinely asked to speak on innovation, business strategy, sales, and leadership.
Noticing that innovation was bypassing wholesalers and distributors, Beveridge founded UnleashWD in 2012 which is setting a bold agenda for the 300,000 distributors in the country. The UnleashWD Innovation Summit is an essential annual industry event. This one-of-a-kind summit delivers an outstanding immersive experience through amazing speakers, inspired networking and relevant application. You can learn more at www.unleashwd.com.
Dirk’s latest book INNOVATE! How Successful Distributors Lead Change In Disruptive Times was published September 2015 by the NAW’s Institute for Distribution Excellence. Writing about INNOVATE! former Supreme Allied Commander at NATO Admiral James Stavridis (Ret) observed: "At the heart of any healthy industry is innovation -- the ability to change as circumstances dictate with agility and intelligence. In INNOVATE! Dirk Beveridge provides a roadmap for creating innovation. This is an instant classic, and has wide applicability not only in the complex world of distribution, but in the widest sense."
For over 25 years as a consultant to a wide range of companies, Beveridge has helped leading firms align, focus, and strengthen their sales and leadership strategies to remain relevant, outperform the market, and provide deeper value to customers.
3. Gold Keynote Sponsor – Dr. J.D. Foster (SOLD)
"Economic Outlook"
Sponsored by:
Dr. J.D. Foster is senior vice president, Economic Policy Division, and chief economist at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He explores and explains developments in the U.S. and global economies. He also participates in discussions around the country regarding the economy and economic policy and supports other functions at the Chamber with economic analysis and guidance.
Prior to joining the Chamber in June 2013, Foster was the Norman B. Ture Senior Fellow in the Economics of Fiscal Policy at The Heritage Foundation, a longstanding nonprofit, Washington, D.C., research organization.
Before coming to Heritage in 2007, Foster spent five years as associate director for economic policy (chief economist) at the Office of Management and Budget, the White House. In 2001, Foster served as economic counsel in the Office of Tax Policy, the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Prior to that, he served as legislative director to Rep. Crane (R-IL), vice chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means of the U.S. House of Representatives.
From 1993 to 1999, Foster was executive director and chief economist of the Tax Foundation, one of the nation’s oldest and most respected nonprofit research organizations. Before that, he was chief of staff at the White House Council of Economic Advisors under Dr. Michael Boskin. Earlier he served consecutively under Sens. Armstrong (R-CO), Symms (R-ID), and Nickles (R-OK) representing them on the Senate Finance, Budget, and Policy committees.
Foster writes extensively on tax policy and entitlement reform, as well as on matters of monetary policy and international economics. He received a B.A. in economics and a B.A. in mathematics from the University of Colorado, an M.A. in economics from Brown University, and a Ph.D. in economics from Georgetown University.
4. Gold Keynote Sponsor – Barrie Kirk $5,000 (exclusive)
"Entering the Age of Self-Driving Construction Equipment"
Session scheduled for Thursday, September 27th from 2:00pm to 3:00pm. Sponsor will be recognized by with signage indicating “Gold Keynote Sponsor” throughout seminar, sponsor slide during breaks. Sponsor will introduce the keynote speaker and is asked to provide their brief comments about the industry from their perspective before introducing the keynote speaker. This sponsorship includes registration for up to one company representative (a $895 value).
Barrie Kirk is the Executive Director of the Canadian Automated Vehicles Centre of Excellence (CAVCOE).
He has worked in the technology industries in Canada, the U.S. and the U.K., including senior management positions in Ottawa-area companies. He is a well-known consultant, speaker and broadcaster on automated vehicles.
His other roles include the Board of Directors of Unmanned Systems Canada, the Automotive Advisory Board of Centennial College, and the Canadian Advisory Committee for ISO TC204. Barrie received a B.Sc. (Honours) in Electrical Engineering from Coventry University, U.K. and is a Professional Engineer.
5. Gold Keynote Sponsor – Ed Wallace $5,000 (exclusive)
"Relational Capital: Unlocking the Hidden Growth Engine"
Session scheduled for Thursday, September 27th from 3:15pm to 4:30pm. Sponsor will be recognized by with signage indicating “Gold Keynote Sponsor” throughout seminar, sponsor slide during breaks. Sponsor will introduce the keynote speaker and is asked to provide their brief comments about the industry from their perspective before introducing the keynote speaker. This sponsorship includes registration for up to one company representative (a $895 value).
Ed Wallace is President of AchieveNEXT Human Capital. Ed consults with and speaks for corporations and associations across the globe with a client list that is a Who’s Who of Fortune 500 companies.
He is the author of Fares to Friends, Creating Relational Capital, Business Relationships That Last, and his most recent the #1 best-selling The Relationship Engine. In addition, Ed is currently on the Executive Education faculty of Drexel’s LeBow College of Business and Villanova University’s Human Resources Master’s program.
6. Gold Keynote Sponsor – Tom Morrison (SOLD)
"When Uberization Collides With Your Industry"
Sponsored by:
Tom Morrison is a 1990 graduate of Florida State University with a B.S. in Finance and currently serves as CEO of the Metal Treating Institute. Tom has over 20+ years of experience in business and association management having served as CEO of three different organizations. Through Tom’s leadership, MTI’s net worth has grown over 1,900% since 2006 through embracing change, focusing on marketplace disruption and driving maximum value to the customer experience.
In 2015, Tom launched his first personal development book through Waldorf Publishers and Amazon called How to Get People to Scream Your Name and Beg For More and is currently working on his second edition called, The Dash… Making Sure Your Obituary Won’t Suck..
Tom is active in the Florida Society of Association Executives, Council of Manufacturing Executives, and American Society of Association Executives. In 2012, due to peer recognition of Tom’s professionalism, business innovation, and passion, he was named the 2012 FSAE Association Executive of the Year.
Tom is a nationally sought after professional speaker on the topics of market disruption, maximizing customer value & engagement and personal development.
Tom’s passion is inspiring people, associations and companies to maximize their success in seizing the opportunities that are coming their way.
7. Silver Sponsor – Wednesday Night Cocktail Reception (SOLD)
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8. Silver Sponsor – Thursday Night Cocktail Reception (SOLD)
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9. Bronze Sponsor – Conference App (SOLD)
Sponsored by:
10. Bronze Sponsor – Conference Lanyards (SOLD)
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11. Bronze Sponsor – Conference Notebooks and Pens $2,000 (exclusive)
Brand your company name/logo on notebooks for distribution at the general session. These are very popular items that attendees take back with them to use at the office. Notebooks are included with the sponsorship. Pens can be provided by the sponsor as well.
12. Bronze Sponsor – Conference Pocket Schedule $2,000 (exclusive)
Brand your company name/logo on conference pocket schedule. Sponsor will be provided a full page in the inside front cover and back cover of the pocket schedule for company information and branding.