http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfmThe latest headlines and articles from the CEDMag.com.(c) 2012, Associated Equipment Distributors. All rights reserved.5Rental is one of the few bright spots of the equipment business. Utilization rates have reached near alltime highs and rental rates are on the rise. If you are currently in the rental business you are probably wondering how to increase your fleet, your market share and your profits. If you are not i...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927821Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMTAt an Arizona State University forum one year ago, a senior economist of JPMorgan Chase peered into 2011. He confidently predicted slow growth for the first half of 2011 and "fairly rapid growth" in the last six months of the year. Like everyone else, construction equipment dealers in the Washington...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927822Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMTBe sure to visit all the CONDEX exhibitors, each of whom is investing resources to develop business relationships with AED North American distributors. Come see which products and services will help your business thrive and grow in 2012 and beyond....http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927823Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMTBarriers to success are common among dealers. Lack of name recognition, entrenched competition, staff turnover, and a lack of financial resources are just a few potential obstacles for dealers. However, in many ways it is how a dealership confronts those barriers that define a company's culture, pro...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927824Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMTReturning from an AED Leadership Academy meeting in Chicago, it is hard for me to express the satisfaction I feel after spending time with management people from around the country who are motivated to be future leaders in our industry. These individuals understand the challenges and, more important...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927825Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMTWhat goes through your mind when you read about the Occupy Wall Street (OWS) protesters? I confess I've been largely ignoring them since they sort of hatched on Sept. 17, but the headlines have begun catching my attention, so I went in for a closer look....http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927826Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMTHard to believe we are facing another year-end in a couple of weeks; 2011 is behind us, and hopefully you were able to conserve capital to be able to carry on into 2012 without expecting much in the way of change. Mr. Bernanke kind of spelled out what 2012 will look like in his press conference in N...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927827Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMTServices Dominant marketing is a new world of business. It forces companies to show authenticity, fairness, transparency and good faith. It is no longer just about performing our jobs well. It is about the human characteristics of our employees and yes, our customers as well....http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927828Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMTA former AED Board member and I were recently talking politics. "Christian," he asked, "what's it going to take to solve this mess?" My first reaction was, "Which one?" I wasn't trying to be funny. We're facing some pretty big challenges in Washington: massive budget deficits, mounting debt, a dysfu...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927829Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMTLast year at the AED Summit in Orlando, four dealer principals shared the stage and engaged in an open panel discussion about everything from manufacturers and Tier 4 to consolidation and business planning. And one of the most memorable lines to emerge from the conversation came from Brandeis Chairm...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927830Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMTIt's that time of year again – time to pledge your support for The AED Foundation's Annual Fund Campaign. Maybe you're thinking: "Didn't I just give?" And perhaps your next thought: "How did my contribution last year benefit my company? These are important questions to ask. Actually, your investment...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927831Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMTThe North Texas Corporate Recycling Association awarded HOLT CAT first place in the association's gR3een Awards, in the gR3een Whole Circle Award category. In 2011, HOLT CAT formally embarked on an ambitious project to coordinate and quantify current recycling, reuse and reduction programs, to bench...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927832Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMTBusiness disruptions can happen at any time. Some events can be catastrophic: building fires, roof collapse, floods or severe weather depending on your geographic location. Other events could be less dramatic: an IT system crash, a medical emergency of key personnel or delay of critical machinery du...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927833Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMTMiller Electric Mfg. Co. introduces the EnPak Hydraulic Tool Control (HTC), a new advancement with the EnPak Mechanic Series that allows simultaneous use of a mechanics truck's hydraulic crane and 5- or 8-gallon-per-minute (gpm) hydraulic tools without needing to switch between crane and circuit con...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927834Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMTOEM changes to product offerings or other market decisions that can have sizeable repercussions for dealers may be relatively infrequent, but the announcement from New Holland Construction (NHC) on Sept. 15 to withdraw heavy equipment from the North American marketplace beginning in 2012 was a remin...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927835Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMTBefore the recession, capital budgets for construction equipment at government agencies were fairly stable. However, tax revenues declined throughout the recession and by 2012, 42 of 50 states reported budget shortfalls totaling $103 billion. Temporary aid to states enacted in early 2009 as part of ...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927742Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMTBe sure to visit all the CONDEX exhibitors, each of whom is investing resources to develop business relationships with AED North American distributors. Come see which products and services will help your business thrive and grow in 2012 and beyond....http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927743Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMTIf you are new to selling or you're a seasoned business owner or sales professional, then you know first-hand that selling in this new economy can be painful - if you're doing it the old way. Sales rejection, playing the numbers game and chasing prospects are still prevalent ideas handed down to us ...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927744Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMTWhat a great time I had meeting dealers and allied industry personnel at the AED Lawson Executive Summit in Chicago! It was a fantastic event. During the roundtables after the program, one area that seemed to generate questions was the correct or recommended use of social media for the construction ...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927745Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMTI think we all agree that the world around us offers many different distractions. Continued economic uncertainty, seemingly dysfunctional government actions, a highway bill tug-of-war, and election politics that never seem to end, can all quickly move our focus in many different ways. To combat thes...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927746Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMTAbout five years ago, a relative of mine came home from work one evening to find her husband on the ground outside, dead from a fall off a ladder he was using to clean gutters on the house. Yes, it's just another tragic human story about the fragile nature of life, and we all have plenty of them in ...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927747Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMTOver the past months (actually now, years!), we have focused a considerable share of AED's substantial lobbying capacity on enactment of a multiyear federal highway program. It's long been true that no other single piece of legislation drives more business for more of our member companies. We've mad...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927748Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMTDo we have it figured out yet? I think I am getting closer. I spend a lot of time reading and listening and watching what is going on in the economy and the "fixes" being offered up by the politicians and talking heads. I hate to say it but my homework leads me to believe that we will remain in this...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927749Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMTWe've all been given the inspirational exhortation at various times in our lives to "Remember the Golden Rule." However, the way people are often treated nowadays in the marketplace, it almost makes you wonder if the "whoever has the most gold rules" version of this saying is has replaced the rendit...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927750Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMTLast month I talked about Service Dominant marketing which is rooted in the relationships that have developed between your employees and your customers. I want to take this to another level and look into the new style of leadership that is necessary to succeed in the workplace today. It is quite cle...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927751Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMTIn September, President Obama visited the greater Northern Kentucky area to rally support for his bill, the American Jobs Act. The President claims his bill will get Americans back to work in part by funding critical infrastructure needs....http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927752Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMTWithout much hesitation, you can probably think of a handful of manager mistakes you’ve seen or heard about within your dealership over the last couple of months, but do you know which ones really cost your company dollars on the bottom line? And what about detrimental management behaviors you – or ...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927753Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMTAndrew Reisinger, one of The mikeroweWORKS Foundation 2011 tools scholarship recipients, was invited, along with his parents, Charlie and Bobbi, to attend the taping of the TV show "Who Wants to be a Millionaire." Mike Rowe, creator and host of the widely watched and acclaimed "Dirty Jobs" televisio...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927754Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMTNorth Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple presented the North Dakota Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award to business leader and philanthropist Ronald D. Offutt during the Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce annual meeting in Fargo. Offutt, who is founder and chairman of R.D. Offutt Company, the la...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927755Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMTBottom-line focused construction dealers don't like to spend money - unless, of course, it drives revenue and profit. Winsby founders and co-managing directors Debbie Frakes and Steve Clegg are wired in much the same way. They want to see the numbers - the return on investment. The Chicago-based bus...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927756Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMTWhile AED's Government Affairs team has fought many a policy battle on behalf of equipment dealers through the years, none so poignantly illustrates the power of members' grassroots activism as the 2004 rental preference drama and the Jack Abramoff lobbyist corruption case that spilled out in the fi...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927757Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMTVirtually anyone can bring heavy equipment product to North America – CONEXPO alone and its crowd of overseas brands is evidence of that. But remaining a competitive contender in a market environment that industry analyst Frank Manfredi classifies as an oligopoly takes much more than bringing qualit...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927758Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMTIt was the summer of 2010 when a gaping hole appeared in one of the 60-year-old bridges along the I-93 corridor near Boston. When repairing the hole, crews discovered structural damage to the bridge deck itself. An expanded investigation revealed that all of the 14 bridge superstructures – con...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927664Sun, 02 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMTEquipment distributors and manufacturers operate in a complex legal environment. Merely being successful in the business of selling, renting, and servicing equipment is no longer enough to guarantee a company’s survival. In order to protect their business, responsible owners and employees must keep ...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927665Sun, 02 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMTWhile recent market challenges have signaled the end for some dealers, these same challenges have created a great opportunity for others to expand their current operations. Many think that the economy is starting its climb out of the difficult times that dealers have recently experienced. Accordingl...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927666Sun, 02 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMTIt was perfect timing. We sent out a survey on disaster planning to AED members and Hurricane Irene hit the Eastern seaboard, playing havoc with survey response. Irene was just one more reason to delve into the topic of disaster planning – the latest on a long list of weather-related disasters in 20...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927667Sun, 02 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMTAs a leader in your business, in your family and in your own life, attitude plays an essential role in the accomplishments that you and those around you may see and feel. Good attitudes create desire and success. Poor attitudes lack passion or results. With our business year moving into the final qu...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927668Sun, 02 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMTIt was a perfect day for a pig roast, and Dennis Kruepke's company, McCann Industries, put on a super Case Rodeo competition for equipment operators one Friday last month. It was in that context of enjoying Dennis' hospitality that I had a nice chat with his product support manager, Richard Hoffmeye...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927669Sun, 02 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMTOn Sept. 9, AED formally announced the Performance Group Program (PG) beginning in 2012. Because many dealers were forced to right size, they lost valuable experienced personnel and are simultaneously faced with a long, slow recovery. Money is still tight, forcing individual education spending towar...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927670Sun, 02 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMTSignificant macro economic issues are affecting the near-term domestic and global economic outlook. Our economy has had to struggle with rising energy and commodity prices, production disruptions in Japan from the tsunami/earthquake, a flare-up of the European Sovereign debt problems, and the prolon...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927671Sun, 02 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMTFor most of us, marketing has been a rather mysterious subject. Many equate it to advertising and to promotion. Marketing is a very broad subject that is defined as follows: Marketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use ...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927672Sun, 02 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMTI resisted Twitter for a long time. Then reality set in. Twitter has become an important communications tool, especially in politics and media relations. What’s more, I teach political public relations at the University of Virginia, and there was only so much I could tell my students about something...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927673Sun, 02 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMTMost sales teams believe they are selling the right way, right? They build rapport and ask lots of needs-based questions, and this, they believe, is the quintessential definition of relationship or consultative selling. This sales method worked great in the ’80s and ’90s....http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927674Sun, 02 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMTKick off the AED Summit with laughter by attending the first-ever Comedy Night Benefit for The AED Foundation to be held on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2011, at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center. Sponsored by Sentry Insurance, the event features two comedic talents extraordinaire who will en...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927675Sun, 02 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMTThe wooden structure stands 65 feet (19.7 m) high, 60 feet (18.3 m) long, and 18 feet (5.5 m) wide, and weighs about 90 tons....http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927676Sun, 02 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMTWe've all witnessed individuals driving while distracted, even at speeds where accidents could be fatal. Whether reading the newspaper, eating, watching a movie, applying makeup or texting while riding a motorcycle (yes, it's true!), the list of activities that can and do distract drivers is endless...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927677Sun, 02 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT"This is by far the best customer service experience I have had in my life." That verbatim quote from a customer survey says a lot about the Monico, Wis., branch of Nortrax. Delivering "unimaginable customer service" is a goal for Nortrax that is executed to near perfection by this dealer facility. ...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927678Sun, 02 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMTResponding to customer demand for enhanced productivity through increased hydraulic flow and a more comfortable cab, John Deere Construction & Forestry has expanded its new Interim Tier 4-certified (IT4) G-Series hydraulic excavator line with three new models. Weighing in at 47 metric tons, the 470G...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927679Sun, 02 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMTWith growing mergers and acquisitions activity in the construction equipment services sector, many readers may at some stage be involved with the challenges of integrating two organizations into a single entity. According to a recent industry analysis by McGladdrey Capital Markets LLC (2011), in 201...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927680Sun, 02 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMTImagine standing at a family party with your newborn daughter, Sarah, in your arms. You and your wife have just lived through a whirlwind of morning sickness, mood swings and strange cravings. But as you peer into the face of your firstborn child, you are convinced that the result was well worth the...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927498Fri, 02 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMTThe 2011 ICUEE, International Construction and Utility Equipment Exposition will be held Oct. 4-6, 2011 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky. ICUEE is known as The Demo Expo, where utility and construction professionals can examine and compare the newest equipment and technologi...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927499Fri, 02 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMTIntroduction by Ian Boccaccio: Being a businessperson, you already know that you can't ignore the impact of taxes on your company's bottom line. And the one thing that's certain about taxes is that they're always changing. We are pleased to present the following short articles, prepared by our pract...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927500Fri, 02 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMTEach year, Bloomberg's Business- Week partners with J.D. Power and Associates to research and rank companies on customer service, and those that receive the J.D. Power Customer Service Champion designation are among the top 5 percent of more than 800 evaluated companies based on their performance in...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927501Fri, 02 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMTNow may be a great time to take a look at your business through your customer's eyes. Being creatures of habit, we can easily fall into the same daily routine. This can also be true when dealing with customers. To learn more about what your customers think about your business operation, you need to ...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927502Fri, 02 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMTI was packing lunches for two kids on the morning my dad phoned to ask me if my television was on. Something awful was happening in New York. You, too, remember certain details of your day on Sept. 11, 2001, like a distant bad dream....http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927503Fri, 02 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMTWhat's missing from the long, contentious, and thus far utterly unproductive debate in Washington over federal highway program reauthorization is a basic understanding of the principles of finance. What makes this so frustrating is that every equipment dealer or manufacturer owner or senior executiv...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927504Fri, 02 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMTEverybody reviews their financial statements as least monthly, or at least I hope they do. And everybody has a technique they use to review the statements and supporting schedules – let me tell you about mine. Because of the tight economic conditions dealers face, strict financial controls are a mus...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927505Fri, 02 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMTFor months, our nation collectively held its breath and watched with anguish, uncertainty, despair and hope as the debates and negotiations were held. Somewhat alarming was the manner in which each side publicly aired their case and asked for the support and understanding of their respective loyal f...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927506Fri, 02 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMTWhen we are young, we think we are bulletproof. Nothing will hurt us, we believe, and as a result we (at least the males of the species) are not too responsible when it comes to having an annual physical. In fact, many young men don't even have a relationship with a doctor. When things start breakin...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927507Fri, 02 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMTWashington's immense spending over the past few years has put enormous amounts of federal money into some areas of the U.S. economy, but infrastructure spending has continued to lag behind the nation's needs. As a member of the House Budget Committee, as well as the Transportation and Infrastructure...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927508Fri, 02 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT"There's a big difference between supervising, managing and leading," said Melissa Caldwell, the leadership development consultant who will work with dealers attending the 2011 AED Leadership Academy. But according to Caldwell, most managers spend more time supervising, than they do managing and lea...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927509Fri, 02 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMTThe knowledge that employees gain over the years can be divided into two categories: Explicit and tacit. While explicit knowledge is easily extracted, documented, and replicated, creating and transferring tacit knowledge is much more complex. Examples of tacit knowledge include: How to look at marke...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927510Fri, 02 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMTPresidential Candidate Governor Mitt Romney selected a Screen Machine Industries plant located in Ohio, as a backdrop for a speech that called for fair and competitive international trade policies and promoted Romney's major economic job creation "job-start" program....http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927511Fri, 02 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMTIt's a lot of hard work getting business, so when customers don't pay, frustration sets in. Where do you turn? What are your options? Coface Collections North America, a commercial collections agency, wants you to turn to them....http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927512Fri, 02 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMTArctic Snow and Ice Control Products' new Compact-Duty Plow is compatible with small skid-steers, compact tractors and small wheel loader. Perfect for clearing small parking lots, sidewalks and larger driveways, the CD plows are ideal for facility managers, snow and ice removal professionals, constr...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927513Fri, 02 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMTThere is positive news overall regarding construction equipment unit sales volumes through the first two quarters of 2011; however, expect a long recovery before we return to peak levels seen in 2006-2007. Small gains over the next few years will equalize new equipment financing levels, according to...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927514Fri, 02 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMTLike it or not, auctions have become an integral part of the equipment supply chain. Through the growth and success of online auctions as well as a weak U.S. dollar, auction companies have opened up new markets for used machinery around the globe. "In the past, a lot of dealers looked at auctions as...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927393Tue, 02 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMTAt first glance, the latest construction spending and employment news is pretty dark. Construction spending fell in May to an 11-year low, the Census Bureau reported on July 1. Construction employment remained in the doldrums in June, down 9,000 from the level in May and down 29 percent from the pea...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927394Tue, 02 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMTEveryone seems to be in agreement: This has been the slowest recovery since the 1930s disaster. According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, the U.S. economy has had quicker recoveries from the 1980, 1991 and 2001 economic slumps....http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927395Tue, 02 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMTA record-high 36 percent of Americans lack confidence in banks today versus 14 percent of bank skeptics in 2007, according to results of recent Gallup survey question. Unfortunately, banks might feel the same way about Americans in general, and perhaps more so about the construction industry – thoug...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927396Tue, 02 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMTRecently I had the opportunity to sit down with the AED Foundation staff to get a current actions update. Early in the conversation it became very clear that our Foundation staff is fully engaged and committed to the membership. We are fortunate to have this dedicated team of individuals working eve...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927397Tue, 02 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMTIn the face of fragile economic times in the U.S., it's comforting to know that the federal government has still found a way to bail out people who can't afford their mortgages – in fact, they found a spare $1 billion with which to do it. And ironically, HUD is dispersing this free money through a p...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927398Tue, 02 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMTSome bankers I spoke with recently painted a pretty bleak picture about the overall deteriorated conditions many dealers have experienced in their retirement funds, their real estate, and – the thing they've poured their lives into most – their companies. The consensus was: Business owners planning ...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927399Tue, 02 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMTDéjà Vu – the U.S. economy suffered through another sluggish period as the second calendar quarter of 2011 came to a close. Yes, corporate profits are strong, but most macroeconomic numbers have softened....http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927400Tue, 02 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMTLast month we discussed growing your way out of this malaise in the market. Now let's concentrate on the people who will have a large impact in making it happen – the employees in your Product Support department....http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927401Tue, 02 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMTApplying additional resources to AED's work in the nation's capital – in particular, establishing a headquarters office in Washington, D.C. – has allowed us to expand our activities into new policy areas. While continuing to play a leadership role on the core infrastructure, tax, and labor issues th...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927402Tue, 02 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMTVirtually every dealer faces limitations of time, money or other resources. So why not focus on what matters – the best practices that drive profitability. Dr. Barry Lawrence will get to the heart of what's wrong with implementing best practices when he addresses AED dealers during the AED/Lawson Ex...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927403Tue, 02 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMTYour equipment technicians are on the front lines of customer relationship development. Their ability to get the job done, and get it done right the first time, directly impacts your dealership's reputation, customer satisfaction, and overall profitability. That's why it's important to make sure the...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927404Tue, 02 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMTTerex Corporation edged one step closer in its takeover of Demag Cranes when it went beyond the minimum acceptance level of 51 percent for the voluntary public tender offer by Terex Industrial Holding AG to all shareholders of Demag Cranes AG. Demag management recommended that its shareholders accep...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927405Tue, 02 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMTAn employee is using a portable ladder to perform repairs on elevated electrical boxes used for lighting in the service area. While he is standing on the ladder approximately 10 feet in the air, the ladder shifts, causing the employee to lose balance and fall to the concrete floor below. The employe...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927406Tue, 02 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMTIf there's a line item in Kirby-Smith Machinery's budget that probably won't be cut, you can bet that it's "training." At a time when most dealers have cut back on training expenses, this dealer continues to invest, spending more than $1 million in the last 18 months. That works out to about $3,300 ...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927407Tue, 02 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMTBuilt upon a proven Tier 3 engine platform, Komatsu has designed an environmentally friendly engine that increases power while decreasing fuel consumption....http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927408Tue, 02 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMTXYZ Construction Company was happy with the way its 850K Deere dozer ripped up the old runway on the project site, but the 22-ton crawler was too much machine for fine grading the site's new roadbed. So XYZ called a local Deere dealer to rent a smaller 650J for the finish work....http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927294Sat, 02 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMTAustin Bridge & Road Equipment Manager Mike Munson is thankful for the book. The book is the Austin Way Equipment Manual, and when Munson arrived in his position from another industry in 2009, it provided a blueprint for him – answering many, if not all, of his questions about how and why Austin Bri...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927295Sat, 02 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMTCED extends a particular note of recognition to all the attachments manufacturers that supported this issue through generous advertisements. Thank you!...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927296Sat, 02 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMTWhen I took over as AED's 2011 chairman in January, one of my top priorities was to enhance the value proposition of the association's government affairs program and to continue to fight for legislation to spur economic growth and job creation in our industry....http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927297Sat, 02 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMTBy now you should have seen several articles written about the recent 2011 AED Washington Fly-In, which was attended by senior executives from equipment distributors, manufacturer representatives and industry service providers. Prior to this event, our AED Washington staff surveyed the membership, a...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927298Sat, 02 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMTOne of the fringe benefits of parenting teenagers is that you hear some of the flat-out funniest stories ever. Like the one about my son's friend who was pet-sitting for people who went on vacation. Turns out the dog got sick and died, but the girl had no car with which to transport it to – well, wh...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927299Sat, 02 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT3...3...50... What have we got here? Sounds like a quarterback calling a play. Or maybe a combination to the safe containing the mysteries of U.S. equipment markets. Or maybe it was just Eli. Take your pick....http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927300Sat, 02 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMTFor 20 years, it has been my pleasure to contribute articles geared to helping AED dealers and OEMs enhance their human resources efforts to "Hire the Best." Thanks to my friend, CED Editor Kim Phelan, for encouraging me to use my background and the timing of our firm’s transition to address this mo...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927301Sat, 02 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMTAs the economy continues to sputter along, I think it is time to get off defense and start taking a strongly aggressive position and grow our business. Let's first remember, you don't make a profit with cost cutting. You make a profit with growing sales. So get back to growing sales again....http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927302Sat, 02 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMTOn May 12, I joined with South Carolina Senators Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint, along with 31 additional Republican senators, to introduce the Job Protection Act, a bill to preserve the federal law's current protection of state right-towork laws....http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927303Sat, 02 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMTWhen times were good, AED dealers did just fine running reactive businesses. "They were taking orders, the parts counters were busy, and the service bays were full," said Brian Giamo, founder and CEO of Channel Economics. "But many got into a mode of just keep up with the business that was coming in...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927304Sat, 02 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMTAssociated Equipment Distributors (AED) recently filed a request with the Federal Reserve Board seeking policy documents on construction lending. In a Freedom of Information Act letter filed by AED’s Government Affairs Office, the association requested, "Board policy, directives, instructions, or gu...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927305Sat, 02 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMTGive Woods Equipment 10-15 days' lead-time, and your customers can have just about any attachment they want. Not just the traditional lineup of buckets, couplers, thumbs, box blades, and powered skid-steer attachments, but truly custom products. Sold under the names of well-known brands such as Alit...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927306Sat, 02 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMTThe SY215 boasts a new ergonomic environment. High strength steel construction reduces the column area and increases visibility – effectively lessening machine blind spots. All machine controls have been ergonomically placed to reduce operator fatigue. Four working modes allow the operator to choose...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927307Sat, 02 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMTNew construction starts in April were reported at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $400.2 billion, basically the same amount as March, according to McGraw-Hill Construction, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies. Nonresidential building slipped back after its elevated March pace, while nonbuil...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927308Sat, 02 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMTAs if the fast-paced evolution of social media isn't reason enough, the recent "Facebook firing" case (and others in the pipeline and sure to follow) give employers new reason to re-evaluate and revamp their social media policies. It would be wise for employers not to ignore recent cases before the ...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927309Sat, 02 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMTThe AED Foundation Live Auction for 2012 at AED's Summit will feature more golf-related items and experiences than ever before!...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927310Sat, 02 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMTThe word "loyalty" has been hijacked by a lot of different people and groups to mean a lot of different things. That's according to James Kane, president of Loyalty Consulting (Shavertown, Pa.), a consulting firm that helps companies develop and implement strategies to build and maintain customer lo...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927311Sat, 02 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMTI started in this business as a technician in 1985, and since that time I have worked both as an hourly and flat rate technician. I have been fortunate to work in every department within a dealership, as well as in fleet management for general contractors. This has given me a unique perspective into...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927202Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMTRising energy costs and a renewed vow to reduce dependence on foreign oil are driving construction spending on domestic energy-related projects in the U.S. According to Department of Commerce figures, construction spending on energy was a $14 billion market in 2009, up 60 percent from the prior year...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927203Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMTA few years ago, a new sales manager inherited an eight-person sales team that was ranked dead last out of six dealer branches. His one decent producer was an 18-year veteran with the company. Other than that, no one on the sales team had more than one year of sales experience or any formal sales tr...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927204Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMTFor some rental operations, scissor lifts, boom lifts and vertical mast products comprise a part of the business; for others, they are their business. But no matter how many you have in your rental fleet or how often you rent them, it's important for you to know what your customer is going to do wit...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927205Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMTAs a "Baby-Boomer," I have to wonder: Are we giving future generations the same opportunities we have? Make no mistake about it, baby boomers have accomplished much. We have more billionaires and more millionaires than any other generation. We are known to be hard working, goals-oriented, and are...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927206Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT"Thank God we have a government." Probably kind of difficult to imagine yourself saying those words sometimes, isn’t it. Let me tell you the story of who did say them and in what context....http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927207Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMTHere at AED, we understand there are perennial subjects about which dealers continually need to be updated. But we're vigilant, too, about keeping you well informed about new topics that crop up and bring change and opportunity to the equipment industry. Our CFO Conference is one important example o...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927208Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMTConstruction spending in the U.S. remains challenged with current data pointing to minimal growth at best in 2011. Yet purchases of construction equipment in the U.S. improved dramatically in the first quarter of 2011. Just ask anyone who was part of the nearrecord attendance at the recent highly su...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927209Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMTIf you have a choice between customer satisfaction and profitability, what is your choice? I would take customer satisfaction - without satisfied customers the ability to make profit will be short-lived. How to measure customer satisfaction becomes the challenge. Some people define it as repeat b...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927210Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMTRecent National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) actions have confirmed the business community's worst fears. Stymied on Capitol Hill, unions and their White House allies are turning to the administrative process to dramatically reshape the nation's labor laws....http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927211Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMTAED's 2011 U.S. Public Policy Survey, which was conducted in April, has yielded important insights about equipment distributor legislative priorities and new data that support the association's policy priorities on Capitol Hill....http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927212Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMTAED Foundation's technical standards continue to keep academic bar high for real-world dealer service department preparation. Des Moines Area Community College's (DMACC) diesel/equipment technology program was recently reaccredited by The AED Foundation. First accredited in 2005, the Ankeny, Iowa, s...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927213Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMTCasey Equipment Company turns 40 this year. The construction equipment rental company, with locations in Arlington Heights, Lemont and Rockford, Ill., was founded in 1971 by John Case and Don Cox. Today, Don’s son James (Jim) A. Cox, current president and two-time past president of the Illinois Equi...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927214Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMTThere wasn't one issue that motivated Wagner Equipment to take a more active role in government over the past few years. There were many. Historically, the Caterpillar dealer serving Colorado, New Mexico, and El Paso, Texas, would support local contractor groups on infrastructure spending legislatio...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927215Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMTConstruction Equipment combines the optimal mix of lifting force and traction resulting in high bucket penetration. When loading triaxle on-highway trucks, a new 9.0 cubic yard rehandling bucket quickly fills the truck in only two passes. The loader features a new engine and driveline system for imp...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927216Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMTExtended low-level stability pushes back the time when renewed expansion is likely to take hold....http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927217Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMTWith a full day devoted to scheduled meetings directly with elected officials and their staffs, AED member executives took to The Hill, many squeezing in four, five and six visits to lobby on behalf of their own businesses and the construction equipment industry as a whole....http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927218Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMTA former employee, upset about being terminated, calls OSHA to complain about alleged safety hazards at your dealership – including an overall lack of management engagement – which are leading to employee injuries. OSHA responds with an onsite inspection to investigate these reported problems, resul...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927219Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMTConstruction isn't an industry known for embracing technology and innovation. But Maryland-based Corman Construction has made it their mantra, and with great success. In 2010 they moved to 310 on ENR's Top 400 Contractors list, up from 341 in 2009. One of the largest heavy civil construction compani...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927023Sat, 02 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMTImagine spending nine months out of the year on the road working out of your car. Maybe there was a time when you did! Think of the appointments you'd have and the hundreds of people to meet, the leads to work and the deals to close. You're the salesperson, the one who has to know everything about t...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927024Sat, 02 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMTAED's relationship with Canadian equipment distributors has strengthened considerably over the past year. In early 2010, AED and CAED integrated their operations under AED management and companies that were formally members of CAED became full AED members. CAED has since closed its offices and Canad...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927025Sat, 02 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMTBuilding a dealership by buying another dealership is not a shortcut to growth, and it certainly isn't easy. It takes long-term planning, arduous amounts of administrative support and, of course, "financial wherewithal." Not an insignificant factor in successful dealership acquisition deals is the b...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927026Sat, 02 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMTMany years ago, I developed a list of guiding principles and goals that I use as a foundation to steer my day-to-day activities. This list includes both personal and business guiding principles and goals, and I look to them to help drive my behavior and actions during the best and worst times....http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927027Sat, 02 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMTWhat's your definition of old? Or, put another way, what's your idea of cool, which, let's face it, the opposite of old, right?...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927028Sat, 02 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMTBoy, this industry sure is a moving target. One day things are going great with our public company vendors flying high as market leaders, business activity seems to be gathering momentum, used equipment prices are increasing at a steady pace, and you convince yourself that the depression is behind u...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927029Sat, 02 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMTIn our home hangs a framed picture of a tired and grizzled cowboy with this message: "There were a helluva lot of things they didn't tell me when I hired on with this outfit." I have a personal story behind this gift but will save the details for another time. The point is, for companies to profitab...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927030Sat, 02 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMTFor the past three years, since the fall of 2008, the pendulum has been on the side of the employer. Now it is starting to swing. The employers have been able to keep employees not necessarily because they were good bosses but because the employee had a job in a very difficult employment period....http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927031Sat, 02 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMTUnrest in the Middle East is causing gas prices to skyrocket, with oil prices surpassing $100 per barrel. This price spike threatens any economic recovery in our own country and underscores our nation's need for a common-sense, comprehensive energy plan that moves us to sustained energy independence...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927032Sat, 02 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMTAED has recognized local groups in Ohio and Kansas City with its prestigious Founders Award, honoring their contributions to AED and the industry in 2010. "It was difficult to select a single winner this year," said Bob Henderson, executive vice president and COO of AED, "Ohio and Kansas City both s...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927033Sat, 02 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMTLike his father and grandfather before him, Timothy Kramer is a volunteer at heart. And now, this dealer principal has taken on a new role: In January he was named the Canadian representative on The AED Foundation Board of Directors. "We're thrilled to have Tim's business expertise and philanthropic...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927034Sat, 02 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMTCarter Machinery Company Inc. (Salem, Va.), its only company-owned dealership, which has operations and stores covering Virginia and nine counties in southeast West Virginia. The current senior management of Carter Machinery, which led the buy-out of Carter Machinery from Caterpillar, will remain in...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927035Sat, 02 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMTTrue story: The parts manager at a dealership allegedly misappropriated parts inventory and falsified entries in the inventory computer system to conceal his activities. An investigation showed that over time the parts manager had removed more than $225,000 worth of parts from the dealership's inven...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927036Sat, 02 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMTAdd Wacker Neuson compact construction machinery to your rental fleet for six months, pay an hourly rate to Wacker Neuson for the actual hours the machine is rented, and get credit toward the purchase of the machine - up to 100 percent of the machine’s value....http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927037Sat, 02 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927038Sat, 02 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMTThe value of new construction starts retreated 6 percent in January to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $423.4 billion, according to McGraw-Hill Construction, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies. The decline came as the result of a pullback for nonresidential building after a strong December...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927039Sat, 02 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMTAlthough Americans may not be jealous of the generally cooler temperatures endured by our Canadian neighbors, we may admire how well the Canadian economy has weathered the recent economic downturn. While the recession in Canada has certainly not been without difficulty, Canada's economy has recovere...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927040Sat, 02 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMTThis final article in the series focuses on key support activities that help institutionalize performance improvements. Every business transformation effort reaches a point where people need support and confirmation that they are on the right pathway. A structured approach can help your team acceler...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10927041Sat, 02 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMTIt's been a tough few years for the American economy, and for the cyclical business owner it has probably been even tougher. In the construction business, for example, we've seen total construction spending fall by more than 20 percent in the last three years, after having doubled over the previous ...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926922Wed, 02 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMTBefore we begin this discussion about conflicts in the service department, just think about this for a minute: The typical service manager takes a lot of calls every day from people who almost always have a problem....http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926923Wed, 02 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMTWith just a few weeks to go before dealers and their customers board their Vegas-bound planes heading for one of the greatest equipment shows on Earth, CED magazine presents a glimpse at exhibiting manufacturers that are looking for North American dealers this year....http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926924Wed, 02 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMTAdventure in travel is without a doubt one of finer things in life. Our family has been to some very interesting places over the past decade, thanks in part to my involvement with the AED board and executive committee. Traveling as the chairman of the board for our association last year was somethin...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926925Wed, 02 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMTFor many of us, it's too early to tell what kind of a year 2011 will be. Over the past few months we have heard and seen many positive and some negative indicators. Those who think with a glass-half-full attitude have indicated that we found the bottom of this cyclical market and things are beginnin...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926927Wed, 02 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMTAs much as we probably think we'd like to know the future, aren't you kind of glad, deep down, that we don't? Seems to me the present gives us quite enough to deal with, without the burden of seeing - with any real clarity - what lies ahead. And can you imagine the murderous mayhem the world would e...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926928Wed, 02 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMTAs I write this, Congress and the administration are locked in a largely but not entirely partisan battle over spending cuts and investment priorities. We at AED find ourselves in the uncomfortable and somewhat unfamiliar situation where some of our best friends on one set of AED's priority issues m...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926929Wed, 02 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMTThe Annual Summit in Orlando was spectacular! The facility was great. The food was great. The program was great. The networking was great. And hey, it wasn't snowing, so that was great, too. From what we hear, everybody enjoyed the experience while at the same time apparently feeling better about th...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926930Wed, 02 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMTThe U.S. economy is looking somewhat better in early 2011. The most recent economic data shows that the strengthening of the economy in the fourth quarter of 2010, led somewhat by consumer spending, has continued into the first part of the new year. Further, manufacturing activity has strengthened, ...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926931Wed, 02 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMTA long time ago, I started in this industry with a one-year contract to find and fix a problem with an inventory control application. It was exciting work for me as I got to learn at the feet of a very intelligent and experienced man named David Steele. We were using a forecasting model based on exp...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926932Wed, 02 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMTOver the last decade, public policy advocacy in Washington, D.C., has become a major part of the AED value proposition for our U.S. members. We've scored victories on a number of issues that affect our members' markets and costs of doing business: Infrastructure funding, capital investment incentive...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926933Wed, 02 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMTFinancial data by itself is not enough to evaluate your performance. No company operates in isolation. The performance of a company is greatly impacted by industry events. You earned a profit this year and you are happy, but how are you really doing? If your profit margin was 5 percent and the indus...http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926934Wed, 02 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMTBidding was fast and furious at The AED Foundation's 2011 Live Auction benefit co-sponsored by Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers at Summit in Orlando. And when it was over, more than $40,000 was raised for The Foundation's workforce development initiative....http://www.cedmag.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10926935Wed, 02 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT