AEM Elects 2009 Officers, Names Hall of Fame Inductees

November 12, 2008 – Martin Richenhagen, president and CEO of AGCO Corporation in Duluth, Ga., has been elected 2009 chairman of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), the North American-based international trade group representing the off-road equipment manufacturing industry.

Also elected as 2009 AEM officers were First Vice Chairman Tiffany Sewell-Howard, CEO of Charles Machine Works in ­­Perry, Okla.; Second Vice Chairman Chuck Martz, president and CEO of Link-Belt Construction Equipment in Lexington, Ky.; Treasurer Robert Kluver, president and CEO of Angus-Palm in Watertown, S.D.; and Secretary Dennis Slater, AEM’s full-time president.

 

The AEM officers, with the association's board, set the guidelines and operating policies of the association on behalf of its members in areas including technical and product safety support, equipment statistics and market information, public policy representation, trade shows, global business development services, education and training, workforce development and worksite safety/educational materials.

 

The AEM also announced five new inductees for the AEM Hall of Fame, which recognizes, celebrates and preserves the history of outstanding leaders in the off-road equipment industry. The induction took place during the AEM Annual Conference Nov. 11, 2008, in Scottsdale, Ariz.

 

Candidates were judged by an independent panel of industry experts and supporters on how well they exemplified five guiding principles: innovation, industry contributions, leadership, corporate citizenship/social responsibility and sustainability.

 

The five inductees for 2008 are Sir Anthony Bamford, chairman of JCB; Jerome Increase Case, founder of the J.I. Case Machinery Company; Ronald DeFeo, chairman and CEO of Terex Corporation; Donald Fites, chairman and former CEO of Caterpillar Inc.; and LeRoy Hagenbuch, P.E, co-founder and president of Philippi-Hagenbuch Inc.

 

The Hall of Fame was originally created in 1993 to honor the pioneering individuals who invented, managed, built and led the construction equipment industry. AEM reintroduced the recognition effort this year as the AEM Hall of Fame.

 

“We are pleased to continue the tradition of recognizing individuals whose vision and leadership have contributed greatly to the growth and strength of our industry and of our quality of life,” said AEM President Dennis Slater. “Our inductees this year represent some of the most influential minds in the history of construction and equipment manufacturing.”