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AED History

Our History

Courage and gumption. These are honestly the two best words to describe how AED members have managed to survive and thrive for more than 100 years. The Association deserves similar recognition for doing a phenomenal job of shepherding its members through both good and bad times. The industry that effectively built this country has endured many trials over the years. From the Great Depression to world wars and the economic crisis of the 80s, AED members have found a way to survive. The Association has been unwavering since its inception, continually finding ways to navigate challenges that are thrown its way.

AED has made great strides over the years to make the industry stronger and to help our members become more successful. We aim to continue to provide our members with the tools they need for ongoing success and profitability by strengthening our advocacy and public policy efforts, education, career, and workforce development, as well as industry-specific research. We’ve come a long way to reach these goals, yet we still have a long way to go.

Our History

Look Back At Over 100 Years Of AED!

  • First Order of Business

    The first AED meeting is held on January 27.

  • AED Gets Off to A Great Start and Hits the Ground Running

    AED is officially recognized by manufacturers of equipment. Morton Hunter is both president and secretary.

  • Manufacturers are admitted to AED for the first time (as allied members), and 20 join this year.

  • AED Past Presidents Club is inaugurated.

  • CONDEX (Conference, Display and Exhibit Center, where manufacturers showcase products) is initiated at the annual meetings.

  • Dealer ethics are a key component of discussion at the 1962 AED meeting. AED hires a firm to manage public relations.

  • P.D. “Bud” Hermann, who has led AED since 1950, is voted Association Executive of the Year in a nationwide poll of association managers. Hermann is also on the board of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. President Reagan sends a letter thanking Hermann for supporting his economic reform program.

  • AED begins a new series of videos, seminars and publications on rental management. Plans to form The AED Foundation are revealed this year. The Washington office prepares an “Environmental Compliance Handbook,” and an environmental hotline, to answer compliance responsibility questions, is installed.

  • AED develops online resources for members, putting its magazines, directories, catalogs and other resources online. The AED Foundation helps strengthen vocational school programs for equipment mechanics.

  • For the first time ever, AED’s annual meeting features four separate programming tracks: sales, rental, parts and service managers. An industry roundtable conference this year says that the future of equipment distribution lies in leveraging capital, intellectual capital and relationships to be proactive instead of reactive.

  • Brian P. McGuire joins AED as president and CEO.
  • AED 100 years

    AED celebrates its 100-year anniversary.
  • 1920

  • 1925

  • 1933

  • 1942

  • 1957

  • 1962

  • 1968

  • 1981

  • 1991

  • 1996

  • 2003

  • 2014

  • 2019

Also helping to create a stable future, the government relations team has continued to expand its efforts, making strides by encouraging legislation that will benefit our members. AED has recently focused on creating unparalleled engagement between its members and policymakers to forge meaningful relationships.

Looking to the future, action (or lack thereof) in Washington, D.C., state capitals and Ottawa will continue to be an integral part of the long-term viability of the construction equipment industry. Threats and opportunities abound during the policymaking process and there’s little indication, despite all the rhetoric, that government is reducing in size. Consequently, the impact legislators, regulators and government officials have on equipment dealers, profitability and cost of doing business will continue, if not increase, moving forward. The stakes of government action and inaction will remain high, and the Association will continue to be the collective voice of the equipment industry to ensure positive policy outcomes for AED members.

 

As we move forward to the next 100 years, AED will continue to do everything it can to support the success of our members. We will grow with them, support them and encourage them to rise to their highest standards, as we also hope to do along the way. Because when our members succeed, so do we.

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