No doubt every manager knows their local full-line OEM dealers and their “AED house” multiline, smaller equipment distributors, but what about the dealers of the Independent Equipment Dealers Association (IEDA)?
IEDA is a non-profit trade association established in 2002 that “focuses its efforts on providing discounts, marketing, advertising, education, and networking opportunities to members that will result in increased sales for member companies."
The hundreds of members of the IEDA hold they are committed to displaying leadership in the industry by making ethical decisions and sound judgement, by making accurate claims to customers, and by utilizing the products and services offered to them by associate members.
The association’s annual meeting took place recently in Kissimmee, Florida. Officials said attendance was nearly 20% higher than last year’s event, with about 200 paid attendees.
“There’s a good reason contractors want to do business with IEDA member companies: They are the most ethical, solution-minded, and truly customer-centric independent equipment dealers in the channel,” said executive director Dave Gordon.
“One of their highest priorities is learning best practices and staying informed about industry trends and customer needs. IEDA is an important vessel delivering the content that helps them continue to grow and excel in the equipment marketplace” Gordon said.
Attendees at the annual meeting in Florida saw a business program that opened with an economic overview and strategic business advice with CPA Gene Marks, a former New York Times and The Washington Post and frequent commentator on Fox News, MSNBC, and other news outlets. The day’s presentation topics included insights for mergers and acquisitions and a proven system for coaching the dealer’s sales team.
IEDA invites contractor input at annual meeting
A contractor/customer panel discussed perspectives on a range of issues related to buying, renting, and repairing construction equipment. The panel comprised two members of the Association of Equipment Management Professionals (AEMP)––Dan Maitland, CEM, of Ajax Paving, an AEMP board member, and Chris Fontana, CEM––as well as Tommy MacDonald, owner of Top Tier Site Prep, and was moderated by distribution expert Mike Marks, co-founder of Indian River Consulting Group.
Finally, the IEDA’s Second Annual Live and Online Auction raised over $32,000 for the IEDA Foundation’s technician scholarship fund, more than triple the proceeds from donated prizes at the first auction last year, the group said in a statement.
Bryan Auction, owned by IEDA Board Member Doug Bryan, conducted the equipment auction featuring over 400 individual lots of all IEDA-member-consigned equipment, trucks, attachments, vehicles, and tools. More than 13,000 registered online bidders participated, and over 200 people attended the event in person.
The auction was launched in 2023 to raise money for the IEDA Foundation, which, since 2022, has awarded 10 merit scholarships of $5,000 each to students enrolled in post-secondary heavy equipment programs to become qualified diesel technicians.
