AEM’s CE Sector Board of Directors met last month in Toronto to discuss a number of key sector initiatives. The agenda also featured updates from AEM staff regarding the association’s service areas, including advocacy, regulatory, and trade shows.
CE Sector Board Chair Eric Sauvage, President & CEO, LBX Company LLC, called the meeting to order and welcomed Directors to the 2025 summer meeting, highlighting the progress made to achieve the CE Sector Board priorities, the success of recent and upcoming trade shows, and the continued strength of the AEM membership.
Engine Emissions Update
Directors welcomed Beth Hinchee, director of emissions global regulatory affairs from Caterpillar and Chair of AEM’s Engine Emissions Technical Council who provided an update on current engine emissions regulations. She went on to explain the work already completed towards an industry Non-Road Equipment Advanced Powertrain Technology Evaluation, and the need to move the project forward. As a key stakeholder and project sponsor, the AEM CE Sector Board agreed to financially support the initiative to help ensure that this important work was completed.
Contractor Trends and Innovations
Directors were joined by Matt Abeles, vice president of construction technology and innovation with the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) for a presentation on the most significant contractor trends that will impact construction companies of all types and sizes today and in the immediate future. Abeles discussed how new AI technology and innovation initiatives help construction companies be safer, more profitable, win more work, and attract the future workforce.
Trade Shows
AEM Vice President of Exhibitions Data & Technology Integration and CONEXPO-CON/AGG Show Director Dana Wuesthoff discussed progress with ongoing strategic programs for the 2026 event, including the Ground Breakers Stage, Small Business Conference, EmpowerHER Program, and POLITICO Focus partnership.
Nicole Hallada, AEM senior vice president, exhibitions and marketing, shared performance metrics from The Utility Expo, to be held Oct. 7-9, 2025, in Louisville, Kentucky. The show is poised to break square footage, exhibitor count, and revenue records, and is pacing well ahead of past shows in terms of registration. Nicole also announced a new partnership between AEM trade shows with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention supported by many large construction contractors. This new partnership will provide funding and drive awareness to this critical industry issue.
Business Intelligence
AEM’s Senior Vice President, Industry Sectors & Product Leadership Curt Blades updated Directors on changes within AEM’s Business Intelligence product offerings, including the Quarterly Global Trade Report, new Qualitative Research Review, and a new Construction Equipment Market Report.
These changes include building a multi-source data pipeline to import relevant data in order to carry AEM’s advanced analysis more efficiently, expanding scope of current offerings and enriching a portfolio of future offerings for the benefit of the whole industry.
Celebration of Construction on the National Mall
John Rozum, AEM’s Senior Director of Industry Sectors provided a recap on the success of the recent Celebration of Construction on the National Mall in Washington, DC. The event featured 26 AEM members and 14 industry partner organizations bringing equipment and technology to the National Mall. The event served to educate policymakers, elected officials, and the general public on how the construction equipment industry is “Building a Stronger America.”
Advocacy
Alex Russ, AEM senior advisor for global public policy, shared with Directors the latest on the state of U.S. trade and tariffs, including AEM’s efforts to advocate and educate policymakers on behalf of the industry. This was then followed up with an overview of AEM’s efforts to continue to support ratification of the MAC Protocol, which will increase access to emerging markets worldwide.
The Board then received a federal advocacy update from AEM Vice President of Federal Affairs Kate Fox Wood. This included a discussion on some of the latest language related to Right to Repair.
AEM Senior Vice President of Government and Public Affairs Kip Eideberg then joined to highlight AEM’s efforts at the state level including work happening within California to address Cal/OSHA and PFAS, Wisconsin to establish a Dairy Innovation Fund, and Texas to support R&D and Workforce Legislation.
The next meetings of the AEM Board of Directors, CE Sector Board, and Ag Sector Board are scheduled for Nov. 20-21 in Aventura, Florida. For more information on AEM CE Sector activities and initiatives, contact AEM’s John Somers at jsomers@aem.org.
