http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfmThe latest headlines and articles from the CEDMag.com.(c) 2010, Associated Equipment Distributors. All rights reserved.5Our culture today puts a tremendous emphasis on athletics. Our attraction to the competition and sacrifice in the arena draws many of us into a world all its own.   Every team has its own personality, and one member can change the way a team works. A leader or a player can determine how the r...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926299Thu, 02 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMTI was driving to a meeting in north suburban Chicago a couple of weeks ago and tuned in to a news-talk radio program hosted by Mike McConnell. A Philadelphia native, he’s a talk show veteran formerly of WLW-AM 700 fame in Cincinnati – on this particular morning, he was sharing informatio...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926300Thu, 02 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMTThe latest phase of Start Us Up USA! has bolted out of the gate full speed. On Friday, Aug. 13, AED and Associated Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) hosted a special conference call introducing a “campaign pledge” initiative aimed at getting lawmakers to commit to making surface transportati...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926317Thu, 02 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMTAl Morgan wants you to win more business, create loyal customers and drive success – let him show you how by attending his “Excellence in Branch Operations Management” seminar on Sept. 22 and 23 in Oak Brook, Ill. Managers will learn leadership skills and develop an action plan tai...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926318Thu, 02 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMTThe blowout of the Deepwater Horizon oil well in April has been a slow-motion disaster for Gulf states, with the agony measured in economic uncertainty as well as in real-and-present environmental injury.   Construction contractors are among the residents of states bordering the Gulf of Mexic...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926320Thu, 02 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMTWhen it’s working right, a dealer’s rent-to-rent business boosts profitability. AED’s Cost of Doing Business Report provides consistent evidence that firms with strong rent-to-rent revenue have greater profits than firms with less rent-to-rent revenue. However, the recent economic ...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926321Thu, 02 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMTIf you want to do business with Daniel K. East, the district manager for Reynolds Southwest, Inc., in Albuquerque, N.M., he has one word for you: honesty.   Reynolds, Inc. is a national, highly diversified construction company today that has been in business for almost 70 years. Its customer ...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926322Thu, 02 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMTLast month, we examined the rights of employers to track and monitor employees’ on- and off-duty Internet usage and social networking. We closed with a caution to employers regarding what they say, text, post, blog  or tweet concerning any information they gain and upon which they base hi...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926323Thu, 02 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMTOne of the first real jobs I had in early adulthood was being a field service representative. The job required travel, accomplishing tasks, taking orders, and then delivery. Being single, off the farm, and ready for the adventure, the job was more than this guy could ever imagine growing up. Freedom...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926234Mon, 02 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMTFor the second year in a row, at least since I began paying attention, a pair of Merlin hawks nested in my neighborhood this spring and beginning a few weeks ago, we now have three gawky adolescent hawk babies swooping around our yard, calling to each other with an endearing, peepy sort of whistle. ...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926235Mon, 02 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMTAddress more dealer-manufacturer issues! That statement is a perennial plea among AED dealer members whenever they are surveyed about program content at the AED Executive Forum. Conflicts flare up, market and economic challenges turn up the heat on sales expectations, and communication breakdown is ...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926236Mon, 02 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMTFree to AED members, a professional education plan now for every dealer manager will yield tangible results by winter.   Did you know that it costs a mere 1/30th in time and money to develop an excellent person you already employ as opposed to hiring someone new?*   AED members can tak...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926237Mon, 02 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMTAED Chairman Testifies for the Industry at House Committees Last month Dennis Vander Molen told Congressmen how depreciation bonus and water infrastructure funding are core to CE’s recovery.   AED 2010 National Chairman Dennis Vander Molen, president and general manager of Vermeer MidS...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926238Mon, 02 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMTWith construction activity down, contractors are understandably reluctant to purchase new machines. Yet adoption of machine technology shows no sign of stopping, as contractors look for ways to cut costs and win jobs in a tight market. With approximately 10 percent of applicable machines currently e...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926241Mon, 02 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMTTotal construction spending fell 0.2 percent in May after the outsized 2.3 percent rise in April. Spending is now 3.2 percent above the February low point for this cycle but is down 31 percent from the peak spending level 50 months ago. May’s 35,000 construction layoffs had signaled a larger d...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926250Mon, 02 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMTToday’s economy is fragile, showing signs of growth while still searching for something on which to sustain that growth.   How’s the recovery going? Slowly is probably the best single word that describes the situation for the nonresidential construction market across the country. ...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926253Mon, 02 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMTWhile it is not groundbreaking news, is it safe to say that the Internet has changed the way we operate our businesses and personal lives over the last 15 years? That question has a pretty obvious answer, but the more current version of the same inquiry is whether or not social media sites such as F...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926254Mon, 02 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMTEven as the construction equipment industry and its allies wait desperately for Congress to reauthorize what is commonly called “the highway bill,” another emerging mode of surface transportation is struggling to stay on the map and gain recognition for its role in modern mobility. High ...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926255Mon, 02 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT “Be sincere and true to your word, serious and careful in your actions; and you’ll get along.” - Confucius   And what “Confucius say” is smart. This is especially important when you are dealing with customers who are difficult or downright angry.   ...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926256Mon, 02 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMTWhen buying and selling construction equipment, many questions need to be answered, but none is as important as: How much is the machine worth? Back in 1958, some equipment appraisers located in the San Francisco Bay area decided to create a guide that would help equipment owners and dealers figure ...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926257Mon, 02 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMTWhile planning for the 2010 CFO Conference, I happened to meet an equity fund manager who expressed an interest in construction equipment distribution – yes, there are actually people out there who still have faith in your industry.   I ended up inviting Nick Agliata to present at this ...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926258Mon, 02 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMTJust as some activity begins to improve, as reported by Reed Construction Data and McGraw-Hill in this issue, a new set of challenges have formed on the horizon. The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) reports that many state Departments of Transportation (DOT) are projecting 30 to 50 pe...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926259Mon, 02 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMTThe notion that a four -year degree is essential for real success is being challenged by a growing number of economists, policy analysts and academics. They say more Americans should choose other options such as technical training or two-year schools, which have been embraced in Europe for decades. ...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926260Mon, 02 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMTWhen difficult economic times set in, most families and small businesses turn to their budgets and look for places to cut back and find savings. The family budget establishes a framework and a plan of action to guide us through lean times. Budgets also give us a sense of stability and certainty in t...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926261Mon, 02 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMTIt is very complicated to understand what it is going to take to jump start our economy again. This is especially true with our challenges coming from a global perspective. Politics, timing, capitalism pressures, and wars all contribute to the complex nature of global economies.   Taxes are a...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926147Fri, 02 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMTOn a Wednesday morning in April, I had occasion to sit around a breakfast table and visit with some of my favorite kinds of people: AED member distributors. In my line of work, I do chat with distributor executives on the telephone rather frequently, but having a face-to-face conversation is always ...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926148Fri, 02 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMTThe best doctor is the one who not only gets to the bottom of the patient’s ailments, but also treats, as so many medical advertisements say, the human spirit – and then, ultimately, sends you on your way equipped to battle your symptoms on the home front. Similarly, as host and moderato...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926149Fri, 02 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMTThe knowledge, skills, and competencies of your key managers comprise the backbone of your business. Labor-market experts recommend continuous training beyond initial qualifications to maintain, upgrade and update skills throughout an employee’s working life - even more so for your management ...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926150Fri, 02 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMTIowa Distributors Rally with Message for Congress AED and AEM continue building Start Us Up USA! momentum.   From Las Vegas to Chicago, Washington, D.C., to San Antonio, and now DesMoines, Iowa, AED and AEM have worked to keep up the momentum that the campaign has built since its inception...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926151Fri, 02 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMTThe tightening of credit over the last couple of years has had a devastating effect on AED members. According to research from AED’s Washington office, there has been a loss of hundreds of millions of dollars of revenue over the last 12 to 18 months due to the lack of available capital to deal...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926152Fri, 02 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMTChange is always a little bit unsettling, and it’s coming faster than ever before in the construction equipment industry. Dealers across the country are preparing for new Tier 4 machines, with one eye on their OEMs and the other eye on emissions regulations where they do business.   Dea...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926153Fri, 02 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMTThere are no secret handshakes; no passwords; and no dues into the club of what I call World Class Dealers. Nor are there guarantees, but the odds of success improve among the dealers who not only acknowledge but embrace and practice these fundamental principles – which I offer more as reminde...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926154Fri, 02 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMTMost distribution businesses operate exceptionally efficient warehouse, trucking and backroom operations. At the same time, there tend to be some serious inefficiencies in the sales side of the operation. This is not because the sales force is riddled with apathetic individuals – but the Willy...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926155Fri, 02 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMTAs finance and insurance manager for McCann Industries, Mike Ruddy’s work begins when a salesperson asks him to close the deal. Ruddy’s job: To find a financing package that works for the customer and get the deal closed – quickly. Unlike many dealerships that relegate this assignm...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926156Fri, 02 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMTI had a busy month. Planning for and leading the annual CFO Conference Working on new cost-cutting opportunities for members Planning new Web-based training deliverables for members Keeping pace with the constant changes in the marketplace   Busy, busy, busy. &nbs...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926157Fri, 02 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMTRecently I had occasion to review a 1992 paperback classic, “Soar With Your Strengths” by Clifton & Nelson. The premise is that successful teams and companies should be willing to draft, recruit, hire or promote ladies and gentlemen who have extraordinary talents and proven skills; t...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926158Fri, 02 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMTHave you heard the new acronym: PIIGS? It stands for Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece and Spain, and they’ve received worldwide attention because their debt is considerably above their respective Gross Domestic Products (GDP).   It’s a serious problem. Portugal’s external de...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926159Fri, 02 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMTThe current highway reauthorization has been a train wreck.   Needs are overwhelming, but a lack of cash has brought the process to a grinding halt. There’s simply not enough money to pay for the current level of highway investment, let alone grow the road program. Congress can’t ...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926160Fri, 02 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMTNothing lasts forever.  It may sound corny, but time is indeed the great equalizer, whether it be for clothes, car tires or our own flesh and bones. Time wreaks its own specialized brand of havoc on just about everything, given a long enough span, and all we can do is ready ourselves to roll wi...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926161Fri, 02 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMTGrowing up on the farm in Iowa with two brothers and a younger sister, there was never a dull moment. And between working and being mischievous, there was never a shortage of opportunities to display some good core values of family life. In fact, with only a 16-month spread between each of us boys, ...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926058Wed, 02 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMTFour days after the outstanding AED Government Affairs Conference in Washington, D.C., the Building and Construction Trades division of the AFL/CIO gathered at the Washington Hilton for their legislative conference, and I was able to drop in for the opening program with a front row press pass. The s...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926059Wed, 02 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMTWant to increase visibility for your company? Introduce a new product or service? Develop sales leads by getting closer to potential dealer customers faster – all while supporting The AED Foundation’s programs and services in professional education?Consider how much good you can achieve ...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926060Wed, 02 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMTSurprises in a dealership service department for a customer are seldom good. In fact, any surprise is usually bad news that can jeopardize the relationship that you worked so hard to develop with a customer. But dealers who have a policy of no surprises work hard in communicating with their customer...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926061Wed, 02 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMTAct 1, Scene 1: An economic storm has ravaged the industry, taking some dealer casualties and leaving many others hanging on for life; credit remains tight, consolidation in distribution is underway. It’s a land inhabited by four or five manufacturing giants that dominate the geographic market...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926062Wed, 02 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT Thieves will never stop creating new ways to steal construction machinery, and a dealer’s best defense is to stay one step ahead of them with multiple layers of protection.   While thieves still seek out easy targets on unattended jobsites, they are also increasingly likely to walk...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926063Wed, 02 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMTCongratulations. If you are reading this, you survived the storm of the century and lived to tell the tale.   The equipment industry has just suffered through the worst business conditions anyone can remember. The recession, credit crisis, and housing market collapse have meant a depression f...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926064Wed, 02 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMTIn the construction industry, it can take a while for a new technology to catch on, but when it does, watch out. The Vaculift System, manufactured by Vacuworx Intl., is a perfect example.   Vacuworx entered the North American market in 1999, when company founder and President Bill Soloman sou...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926065Wed, 02 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMTIn this economy, one day the recovery is moving ahead and the next day we are back in the dumps. All you know for sure is that it is really tough to manage in this situation, not knowing what steps to take next.   We all agree the economy still stinks and all your managers have headaches, but...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926066Wed, 02 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMTIt seems relatively clear that the great recession ended in June/July 2009, followed by a gradual economic recovery led by strong growth in China, India and Brazil. U.S. data is generally positive with clear strength in manufacturing, while Europe and Japan both show signs of slow economic growth. T...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926067Wed, 02 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMTI recently viewed a show on You Tube from BMW showing a technician replacing a radiator core. Nothing very fancy, right? Well, this technician walks up to his tool box and puts on a pair of glasses. Makes adjustments and pushes on them to start. He is standing in front of the car and an image is tra...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926068Wed, 02 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMTBauma 2010, the once-every-three-years construction machinery trade show held in Munich, Germany, took place from April 19 to 26, despite the fact that the Icelandic volcano prevented many people from attending, especially those travelling from any place that required their plane to pass over airspa...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926069Wed, 02 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMTAED’s 2010 Government Affairs Survey, conducted during the first two weeks of April, provides important insights about the impact of the equipment industry depression on AED members, the benefits of recent stimulus legislation, and distributor policy priorities.   Impact of the Equipmen...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926070Wed, 02 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMTSumitomo (S.H.I.) Construction Co., Ltd. Acquires 100 Percent Ownership of LBX Company Case Construction Equipment has sold its interest in the firm Sumitomo (S.H.I.) Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. (SCM), a leading manufacturer of hydraulic crawler excavators headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, ann...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926071Wed, 02 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMTThe Obama Administration and the passage of the Recovery Act have stemmed the nation’s monthly job losses. However, the country is still faced with the challenge of creating jobs that will get Americans back to work.   The U.S. jobs deficit has reached millions. Our unemployment rate is...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926072Wed, 02 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMTRelationships. We all have them. Some close, some far away. Some we build and benefit from everyday, while others maybe once a year. Some we can live without and others we cannot.   AED members say that one of the most important reasons to go to the annual Summit is for networking, and indeed...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925866Fri, 02 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMTA long time ago I heard a preacher – a single gentleman – wryly comment on the reason for his bachelorhood: “I guess I’d rather want what I don’t have,” he said, “than have what I don’t want.”   Ain’t it the truth. (just kidding!) &...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925867Fri, 02 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT“The road to recovery will likely be marked by slow and steady acceleration, rather than speed.” This quote from the Wall Street Journal’s Marketplace section, March 2, 2010, comes as no surprise to AED distributors or OEM suppliers. Let’s use this as the backdrop for a look ...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925868Fri, 02 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMTThe sins that I am talking about can be summed up in the following list: Not paying enough attention to cost Taking customers for granted Not fully utilizing technology Taking employees for granted Not listening Not worrying about competition Settling inst...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925869Fri, 02 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMTTony started his relationship with AED in the early 1970s and spent more than 30 years as the association’s Washington counsel, representing distributors on Capitol Hill and building AED’s grassroots program.   He hired me to join his law firm shortly after I passed the Bar in 199...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925870Fri, 02 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMTA brand new AED 20 Group Workshop is the cornerstone of this year’s spring edition of the CFO Conference: Financial Issues for Distribution CFOs and CEOs. Steve Larrimore and Greg Smith from Performance, Inc., an ADP company, lead the two-and-a-half-hour interactive session, titled: “Imp...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925871Fri, 02 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMTThe results are in! According to The AED Foundation’s recent professional education market survey, the key reasons AED members avoid professional education are time, travel and cost. The members have spoken, and The AED Foundation has responded with four all-new Lunch and Learn Webinars. Prese...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925872Fri, 02 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMTHighway Program Back Up and Running Following Temporary Shutdown Senate jobs bill holds an extension that would support surface transportation through end of 2010.   On March 2, two days after the federal highway program was brought to a grinding halt, theSenate enacted a 30-day extension o...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925873Fri, 02 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMTThere you are, diligently working away against an unprecedented downturn in the equipment market. You are pouring over your balance sheet and asking yourself, “How can I shore this up?” You are pouring over market data and wondering, “Can there really still be this level of price p...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925874Fri, 02 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMTWhen a vital piece of construction equipment is tied up in the shop for repairs, the owner not only has to deal with downtime, but also with the uncertainty of repair costs.   And if the final cost exceeds what he thinks is fair, he may decide to take his business elsewhere.   Aware th...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925875Fri, 02 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMTDespite the fact that telematics are now standard on many models of construction equipment, many contractors and dealers have yet to fully integrate telematic data into their daily work routines.   The heart of the problem was revealed in a 2008 study of current and future needs for telematic...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925876Fri, 02 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMTOne of the realities of management information systems is that they only express what actually happened. In many instances, it is important to understand the financial and operating impact of what didn’t happen. This is especially important with regard to missed sales opportunities.   G...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925877Fri, 02 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMTSomewhere out there a war is raging, one that has been going on for years. This particular war is unique in that it doesn’t have any immediate life-threatening dangers, but it does have its own very special set of business risks that you should be aware of.   Believe it or not, it&rsquo...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925878Fri, 02 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMTThough you might not sell or rent aerial work platforms, there is still plenty you should know about Trico Lift, an AED dealer headquartered in Millville, N.J., with seven branch locations serving the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest and Gulf regions. Trico’s safety program has not only earned...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925879Fri, 02 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMTLast month I made reference to a comment made by John Hoffecker of AlixPartners at AED's annual Summit Meeting in San Antonio. Among the many conclusions John drew from AlixPartners' Heavy Equipment Study (see last month's column), one stood out and I thought I would put it to the test c...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925880Fri, 02 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMTWhen I was growing up on a farm and then into young adulthood, my dad would explain to us how life was an adventure. That was because of the seasonal changes we experienced living in Iowa, farming, and our summer vacations of travel.   When my wife and I made the big move to Columbus, Ohio, s...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925768Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMTOptimism is a curious thing, both a blessing and a curse depending on how you look at it.   Let’s talk about optimism and the U.S. economy, as well as the construction equipment industry. I hear a lot of talk about a flat 2010 and anticipated, tangible recovery in ’11. While it&rs...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925769Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMTThirty-one percent. That is the percentage of cost reduction required to compensate for every dollar of revenue lost – an interesting stat that needs investigating to see if it works for an equipment distributor. More on that later.   The “new normal” is a lot lower than the...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925770Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMTThe U.S. economy has begun its recovery. So says the most recent GDP data which trumpeted real growth of 5.7 percent in Q4-2009, up sharply from the twice restated 2.2 percent real growth in Q3-09, even if more than half of the gain came from reduced inventory destocking. Even non-farm payrolls were...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925771Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMTAt the recent AED Summit in San Antonio one of the questions presented to me from the floor was, “How do we get our customers to understand what their true costs are in doing mechanical repairs and maintenance?” Good question!   Let’s look at the format and the information t...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925772Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMTThe survey stares at you and you know it should be completed, but it takes time – about an hour and a half, according to AED’s Vice President of Finance Gary Bartecki. This year, make a point to keep the AED Cost of Doing Business Survey near the top of your priority list, because you wi...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925773Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMTSummit Golf Outing Raises $17,000+ Foundation fundraising events support industry-specific professional education and workforce development. In the early morning on Wednesday Jan. 20, a busload of golfers arrived at The Quarry Golf Club for a great day of camaraderie and fun to benefit The AED...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925774Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMTJCB and Volvo Construction Equipment to Partner Framework agreement to impact skid-steer and compact tracked loaders   JCB and Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) have entered into a framework agreement under which they will cooperate on the engineering and manufacturing of skid-steer ...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925775Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMTFrom Baton Rouge, La., Mike Bates, president of Cajun Equipment Services LLC, manages equipment for all Cajun Industries LLC subsidiaries, which include Cajun Constructors Inc., Cajun Deep Foundations LLC and Cajun Maritime LLC. Cajun Industries LLC is a soup-to-nuts conglomerate that has completed ...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925776Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMTHigh-income and high-net-worth individuals who may have waited for years to convert a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA will finally get their chance in 2010. That’s when the income limits that prevented some traditional IRA owners from making the conversion, will be lifted.   The benefits ...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925777Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMTIn 2007, Matt Campbell and Derek Stimson faced a similar situation. With no family members in the business, they contemplated what would happen to their dealerships if either met with an untimely death – both were in their late 50s. Campbell was at the helm of Hammer Equipment Sales, Canada&rs...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925778Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMTThink “Haiti” and at least one of these media-induced images is instantly in your mind: Hundreds of thousands of hurting, hungry people; rubble, lots of rubble; relief team workers and medics; skids of supplies and food and criticism about poor distribution; long swaths of tent-covered l...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925779Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMTWhile Tectura or XAPT may not be household names, nearly everyone who uses a computer knows Microsoft as a leading provider of software solutions like Microsoft Office and Microsoft Windows, to name a few.   There’s something comfortable and familiar about the daily Microsoft serenade w...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925780Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMTWhen President Dwight D. Eisenhower first conceived the Interstate System more than 50 years ago, he envisioned a system to connect the nation and enhance national defense. The enormous economic benefits provided by the system were not fully understood for some time.   Today, however, the lin...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925781Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMTA man's eyes are the windows to his soul, says an old English proverb with biblical origins, and that being the case, the twinkle of humor and the thoughtful eye contact Denny Vander Molen makes with those around him open a glimpse into a man dedicated to his faith and family, committed to conti...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925664Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMTEditor’s note:  This article is based on the author’s presentation given at AED’s fall CEO Conference. The next is scheduled for May 19-20 in Oak Brook, Ill.   I don’t know if the current downturn accurately is classified as a “depression” rather than ...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925665Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMTThe global recession of 2008 and 2009 served to remind us of our interconnected world. Ports play a huge role in helping the U.S. participate in the global economy. More than 99 percent of U.S. overseas trade moves in and out of the country by ship.   Despite dips in the volume of goods movin...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925666Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMTGreen is everywhere these days. Green jobs, green products, green cleaners, green cars, green building materials, green, green, green! But what about the guys in the trenches, servicing, delivering and operating equipment? What does green mean to them? Off-Highway Tier 4 emissions for one, dies...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925667Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMTFebruary is the beginning of a new project that will come across my desk for the remaining months of this year: Writing for CED magazine. While these articles may not provide you with the answers to the various issues of the day, it’s my hope that as you read this page of CED each month, maybe...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925668Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMTI consider myself to be a reasonably busy individual, so I shutter to think what a typical day in the life of a distributor executive looks like. You burn both ends of the candle right down to the wick most of the time, don’t you. This hamster wheel we’re all on is the very reason that m...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925669Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMTHere we are in 2010 and we are still not sure if the light we see is a train or the end of the tunnel. What do you think?   I am seeing positive signs that management is taking hold of the reins once again and getting back control of their companies. They are:   Telling the sale...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925670Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMTOne of the absolutely essential keys to business survival and long-term success is the ability of leaders at all levels to solve problems. Sure, this seems obvious enough, but how many departments, divisions or even whole companies spend more time discussing and complaining about problems than they ...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925671Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMTIn the midst of the turmoil of the past several years there is a looming problem for all of us. As I look around the market and into dealerships and manufacturers I am amazed at what I see in the personnel employed. There are a lot of people between the ages of 50 and older on the one hand and then ...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925672Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMTYou’d think that two of the most recently-elected U.S. senators would be more in touch with what’s happening in the real world than their longer-serving peers. You’d be wrong.   That was the lesson we learned in late December when Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Al Franken ...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925674Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMTWhen you are in the heat of competition against the dealer down the road,you might forget that we are all in this together. But we are. There’s a reason why you joined AED, and it’s the same reason why you join any organization; because as a group, you can accomplish much more than you c...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925675Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMTNow is the time to give your non-financial managers the professional education they need by registering them for The AED Foundation’s Web-based Financial Management courses for non-financial managers.   “Financial Management 101: Introduction to Business Finance for Non-Financial...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925676Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMTBerry Companies Purchases Bobcat Operations from Conley Lott Nichols The acquisition, No. 5 in Berry-owned Bobcat dealerships, gives the company substantial north-Texas presence.   Berry Companies, Inc. recently completed the purchase of the Bobcat operations of Conley Lott Nichols of Texa...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925677Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT Vander Molen Inducted as AED Chairman Members of AED’s new board of directors were also sworn-in during the 2010 AED Summit in San Antonio.   AED welcomed a new set of volunteer leaders to guide the association for the coming year during the AED Summit 2010 in San Antonio. V...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925678Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT As this issue arrives, you are likely preparing for your trip to San Antonio. I hope you will be able to participate in the "Start Us Up USA Rally" that begins at noon on January 20, adjacent to the Convention Center. It is our fourth rally around the country where AED and AEM are publi...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925583Sat, 02 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT On a recent Friday afternoon, eager to pack up and head for home, I scooped up one too many papers off the office printer – the one that wasn’t mine was not the way I would have chosen to begin my weekend. At the top was the company name of an AED member, and three simple sentences re...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925584Sat, 02 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT Get Out of Your Comfort Zone and Into Politics Mark your calendar for the AED Government Affairs Conference, April 14-15   Sometimes it takes a monumental event to get us to move out of our comfort zone. For many dealers the equipment recession of 2009 was enough to do it. In the...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925585Sat, 02 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT The achievement of certificationthrough the AED and The AED Foundation signifies a commitment to superior workplace performance on the part of AED distributor companies. It is also the culmination of individual investment of time, dedication of effort, and proficiency in content. The association ...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925586Sat, 02 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT Where did 2009 go? It was an eventful year, however, in all honesty, not one that I am going to miss. We are living in interesting times and my New Year’s Toast to the AED membership is: May you find success and fortune in your future. Chairing The AED Foundation the last two years has ...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925587Sat, 02 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT Expanded Loss Carryback Option May Provide Dealers with Cash AED’s Start Us Up USA! campaign scores victories with NOL law and extension of the home purchase tax credit, both important dimensions to CE industry recovery agenda. The relief provided under the Worker, Homeownership, an...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925588Sat, 02 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT You’re probably wondering why you are reading an article on the 2010 midterm elections when it feels like Barack Obama was just elected president a short time ago. There is no doubt that 2009 flew by. It seems like it was just yesterday that we met Joe the Plumber and the country was reacqu...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925589Sat, 02 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT The scarcity of accessible credithas ranked high on the distributor's list of woes throughout 2009 and will continue to be a source of frustration for many well into 2010, yet another layer that's blocking business like a sticky film of plastic-wrap. You can see money on the other side of...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925590Sat, 02 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT Editor's Note: Industry experts say that Tier 4 interim and final equipment launch will go down in history as the most challenging period the construction equipment industry will have ever faced. Yet numerous market-altering issues for distributors are not being widely discussed – until...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925591Sat, 02 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT When you meet San Antoniodealers at the AED Summit, they won't be celebrating. But the truth of the matter is that equipment dealers in many other areas of the country would rather be in their shoes. Yes, equipment sales are down in the nation's seventh largest city, and down dramatic...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925592Sat, 02 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT At a time when the economy has encumbered many construction equipment dealers with daily struggles and difficult decisions, one software company is presenting distributor executives with a choice now that is proving to help counter the tough business environment, position their operations for tur...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925593Sat, 02 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT Hopefully you were able to take advantage of the tax benefits available to you in 2009. If you haven't, you still have time to review the 2009 results to see if there are opportunities there you may have missed. Here are a few other ‘09-related matters to contend with: Get ...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925594Sat, 02 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT Virtually every industrial sectorwas under pressure in 2009. Housing has fallen an additional 40 percent from about 900,000 starts in 2009 to somewhat over 500,000. Automotive production will likely come in between 8 and 8.5 million, down from 12.6 million in 2008, helped by the recent cash f...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925595Sat, 02 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT Time and wishful thinking are the mortal enemies of intelligence. So said George Friedman in his book from the late ’90s, “The Intelligence Edge, How to Profit in the Information Age.” I think it very apropos to the recent year and a half. The worldwide industrial sector had...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925596Sat, 02 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT One year ago, Washington, D.C., area residents watched in shock as rescue workers airlifted people from vehicles trapped in a massive rush of water caused by a water main rupture on River Road in Maryland. The source of the deluge was a single, corroded pipe that had been improperly installed mor...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925597Sat, 02 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT No one is happier to see the door closed on 2009 than construction equipment dealers, who saw their revenues plummet anywhere from 25 to 75 percent, even 100 percent in extreme-case regions such as Florida, California, Arizona and Georgia. And while, as some say, "each day you wake up is ano...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925598Sat, 02 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT Let's begin with something most people have seen Terex in the news about: Its intentions to sell certain construction equipment product lines to help the company become more profitable. What's the status of that plan? Ron DeFeo, our chairman, has on several occasions, made some pretty c...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925500Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMTOnce called "recession-proof," the heavy equipment rental market has succumbed to the economic downturn, proving that old norms and conventional wisdom do not really apply anymore. One needs to look no further than the earnings statements from a few publicly held firms for the evidence. At H&E E...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925501Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMTHoliday Greetings from all of us at AED. As you read this issue, the holidays will be upon us and 2009 will be drawing to a close. I imagine most of us will be looking forward to some time off to relax and reflect on what can only be described as "a year to remember."I will look forward to 2010 with...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925502Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMTI've been wondering about a change that has occurred with regards to how this industry's suppliers of equipment, products and services all utilize the annual AED convention (now the AED Summit) to interact with their dealer partners. I'm told that well more than a decade ago, all business representa...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925503Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMTThe word strategy usually makes the hair stand up on the necks of most dealers and distributors. But the sharply deteriorated landscape of the equipment industry demands a serious investigation of strategy that fits the dealer's market realities today, as well as the dealer's own resources – w...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925504Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMTAlbert Einstein defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.Are you doing that in your business? Are you using the same processes, policies, procedures, metrics, figures, and behaviors that worked when the economy was stable and expecting them to work...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925505Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMTFoley Equipment Acquires Martin Tractor Co.Martin was the oldest Caterpillar dealership in the country. Foley Equipment Co. acquired Martin Tractor Co., effective Nov. 2, 2009. With this acquisition, Foley has added 50 counties and 17 locations and is now the Caterpillar and Challenger dealership fo...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925506Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMTPayroll expense is like a character in a cheap horror movie – it’s frightening and just when it seems to have been vanquished, it turns up in a sequel. Well, just like in the movies, payroll expense is back. This time the sequel is due to sales challenges associated with the recession. S...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925507Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMTIf you stepped into the dealership of the future, it might look something like this: The smartly designed corporate headquarters of Henderson, Nev.-based Cashman Equipment. It is the first construction equipment dealership to receive LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925512Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMTToday's advice is called: Steps to take now. How about we change that to Things to do now, and if that still sounds like I am asking for a lot of work on your part how about Easy things to do now. That better? Good, now let's get to it.1. Sign up to receive AED's blog right now. It is titled AEDToda...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925515Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMTIn the late '70s there was a BBC show called TW3, "That Was The Week That Was." It was a very tongue-in-cheek approach to the news of the day. It was hilarious. Looking back at the year that was, however, is hardly hilarious. It has been a very difficult year for many businesses and many people. It ...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925524Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMTWhile most Americans probably see the health care reform debate as a 2009 phenomenon, AED and many other business groups have been working for health insurance reform for many years.In survey after survey, equipment distributors have identified legislation to bring down health insurance costs as a t...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925525Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMTAlthough I am not a psychic, I think I am close on this one – you recently saw the announcement for the AED convention and your first thought was ''should I send fewer employees this year?'' The answer is no, and here is my logic: It is at times such as this that the purpose of AED b...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925375Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMTRemember watching Peanuts cartoons around the holidays? For some reason when I was recently contemplating the plight of construction equipment distributors, I recalled the image of Lucy's cardboard help-desk advertising "Psychiatric Help – 5¢." Maybe it's because I recognize how crazy dea...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925376Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMTPhew, what a year. Equipment sales are off anywhere from a 25 to 65 percent; parts sales are down 10 to 25 percent; service is off 10 to 15 percent. Nationally, equipment sales are off nearly 50 percent. Dealers have had layoffs, buyouts and wage cuts, and are using furloughs to try to match the cos...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925377Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMTThe year 2020 sounds way off. However, as we’re close to launching into 2010, we need to realize that a long-range planning scenario leads us rapidly to 2020.Since we are not blessed with 20/20 foresight, and considering that our industry has clearly been in an economic trough, how should deal...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925378Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMTI know I have been discussing downturn issues the last four or five months, but I think we all know about that and what we need to do to come out on the other side of this industry depression. We are not there yet, but another 18 months or so should do the trick. So let’s assume you are one of...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925379Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMTGreat managers will help your business survive this downturn and keep it positioned to accelerate when the market comes back. So who’s teaching your managers what it takes to be great?''The AED University Managers Conference at the AED convention is truly a one-of-a-kind program,'' said Alison...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925380Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMTAttendees at the AED/QUALCOMM Executive Forum in September heard steel industry executive Don McNeeley pose the challenge in this headline. He admonished equipment dealers not to forget their role as the chief of their organizations.Despite the blows the economy has dealt to the equipment industry, ...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925381Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMTAs the deadline for a new federal transportation bill passed unfulfilled on Sept. 30, the equipment dealers and manufacturers have joined forces to send a loud message calling on President Obama and Congress to act swiftly in reauthorizing a transportation bill. Spearheaded by Associated Equipment D...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925382Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMTGE Capital Launches New Rebate LeaseFor small and medium-size companies, leasing can be a critical finance option to help improve cash flow, enhance liquidity and increase flexibility. A new Rebate Lease program from GE Capital reduces the financial risk of leasing for companies whose equipment usag...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925383Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT"It’s a miserable market," said Mark Burris, president of Rudd Equipment Co, based in Louisville, Ky. And no one will argue the point. Despite it, however, Rudd Equipment Co. and other dealers are expanding, taking advantage of market opportunities. So what are they thinking? Construction Equi...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925384Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMTThe past couple of years have been a very humbling experience for many of us. The economy is in a shambles, the equipment sales are down drastically, parts sales are off as more machines are idled and even labor sales are slipping. Dealerships have cut personnel (in some cases dramatically), and emp...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925385Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMTIn the four or five weeks since Part 1 of this article on protecting your dealership from employee termination lawsuits was published, about 8,000 more employee discrimination lawsuits will have been filed against U.S. employers.It's critical to keep up your guard during employee termination. Here i...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925386Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMTEditor's Note: Many dealers already use captive insurance programs in the form of workman's comp plans – besides answering our questions about how a captive program works on the health insurance side, it merits noting that Veritas sources also pointed out that the federal health care reform pa...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925387Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMTIf there’s one word that captures the essence of what is occurring in the world today, it’s “change.” Downsizing, reorganizing, and cutting costs, are now the norm for survival.No industry is exempt; there are no sacred cows. Even the most venerable and conservative instituti...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925388Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMTThink about it. For every minute your service trucks are running at idle to power an air compressor, generator, or hydraulic pump, you’re paying for fuel and maintenance on a vehicle that’s going nowhere. “These trucks typically idle about 50 percent of the time,” said Rick B...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925389Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMTTwo major bills are making headlines; they're leading network newscasts and dominating discussion on cable news and talk radio. Paid political advertisements about them are even interrupting football on Saturdays and prime time TV watching. Health care reform is spurring a national discussion. I've ...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925390Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMTWe missed seeing some of you at the Executive Forum this year. We recognize the attendance was a reflection of the economic conditions. For those who attended however, the frequent response was “the 2009 Forum was perhaps the best one ever!”Here is my wrap-up of the topics we debated ove...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925284Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMTWhile I was busy taking in the wealth of knowledge being dispersed throughout the loaded Executive Forum program on Thursday, Sept. 10, my friend Mark Koznarek was busy gathering his own collection of deep industry insight.Mark is a founding partner of Cleveland Research Co., who specializes in heav...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925285Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMTFor many of us, economic forecasts fall short of giving us what we really need: Instructions on how to apply the information to our business. Enter Alan Beaulieu, who wants to change all that.Beaulieu is a principal of the Institute for Trend Research (ITR), and unlike most economists, he has always...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925286Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMTForum threw attendees a few curve balls on Sept 10-11, but their feedback told AED the changes were a homerun. The mix included a brand new moderator, a dynamic and fresh lineup of speakers, the most serious subjects distributors are confronting today, plus a roundtable wrap-up session that put atte...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925287Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMTThe AED Foundation has secured the renewal of its Authorized Provider status through IACET, the premier standard-setting organization for continuing education and training providers. The AED Foundation’s Authorized Provider status ensures that The Foundation’s professional education prog...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925288Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMTDealers Join Forces with AGC Chapters to Secure Emissions Reduction GrantPersistence paid off, and it’s a win-win for dealerships and their customers.Kentucky and Western-Pennsylvania-based chapters belonging to the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) will invest nearly $3.7 millio...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925289Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMTIn these hard economic times it is important that dealers are fully aware of the effects of the tax law on their business. It is incumbent on the business owner to take full advantage of any opportunities the tax system may leverage for their business. Let’s take a look at some opportunities t...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925290Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMTSo you don’t get the social media thing. Based on a survey earlier this year, just 20 percent of AED dealers were using the social media site Facebook and only 5 percent were using Twitter, a service that lets users send short text messages from their mobile phones to a group of people. But do...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925291Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMTThere is a boom in the car dealership business, but it's not an increase in sales. The boom is in the number of lawsuits being filed against dealerships by employees who have been laid off.My business is defending car dealerships against employee labor and wage complaints, and I also serve as legal ...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10925292Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT