AEM board chair Rod Schrader, chairman and CEO of Komatsu America Corp., led the meeting and began by welcoming two new members to the AEM Board: Kris Flitcroft, vice chairwoman of AC Business Media, and Melvin Porter, president and CEO Link-Belt Cranes.
Schrader also provided his chair's report, highlighting the association's 2023 strategic priorities and the work already underway to support them. AEM president Megan Tanel provided her president's report and discussed the timing for the strategic planning process. She also shared the internal work being done to support an AEM culture rooted in staff development and training, which ultimately helps drive innovation and greater value for the membership. As the Board worked through the meeting's agenda, there was good discussion and interaction on the following:
The Board welcomed deputy secretary of Commerce Don Graves as a guest speaker. The deputy secretary provided an overview of the priorities of the U.S. Department of Commerce, including the work being done to support manufacturing and innovation, address workforce challenges and strengthen collaboration related to standards. He shared an overview of CHIPS and Science Acts and how they drive innovation and sustainability to revitalise the U.S. manufacturing economy. He also focused on the Department of Commerce's international work to strengthen relations and support infrastructure in other markets, making it easier for AEM members to manufacture and sell products internationally.
Pat Weiler, chair of AEM's Government & Public Affairs Committee (GPAC) and president & CEO of Weiler, provided the Board with a recap of the GPAC meeting that was held the previous day. He shared that guest speaker assistant secretary of Commerce Grant Harris presented on the Mining, Agriculture, and Construction (MAC) Protocol of the Cape Town Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment.
AEM senior vice president of Exhibitions and Marketing Nicole Hallada provided the Board with an overview of the status of CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2023 compared to previous shows. She shared the positive pacing reports, highlighting that the show is set to be the largest show in North America of any industry with a nearly 3 million net square foot footprint as a combined total with IFPE, as well as the positive registration numbers currently outpacing the 2020 show.
