AEM’s CE Sector Board of Directors met on July 31 in Chicago, Illinois, 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 Affairs, and Trade Shows.
CE Sector Board Chair Eric Sauvage, president & CEO, LBX Company LLC, called the meeting to order and welcomed Directors to the second meeting of 2024.
Directors engaged in a discussion focused on a recent customer survey related to purchase behavior, aftermarket parts and repair services, connected services, zero emission equipment, and autonomy. The results of the survey may help further define tactics to achieve the following CE Sector Board priorities:
- Advocate for the construction industry and proactively engage with policymakers and regulators
- Support the transformation of the construction industry, recognizing the central role played by technology
- Define the changing experience and address the evolving needs of construction industry end users and stakeholders
Safety & Product Leadership
AEM Senior Director of Safety & Product Leadership Jason Malcore provided an update on the current global regulatory environment and the work AEM has done to monitor and engage with a growing number of regulations around the world focused on not only short-term concerns like safety and engine emissions, but also long-term concerns like chemicals, decarbonization, and lifecycle assessments.
Malcore also discussed a proposal for a governance structure to help prioritize and make recommendations for funding support for special project work to address the challenges of the global regulatory and compliance environment. The CE Sector Board recommended the proposal for AEM Board approval.
Regulatory
AEM Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs Nick Tindall provided an overview of AEM’s recent regulatory accomplishments, focusing on proactive engagement with policymakers and regulators, including the recently held Above Ground Worker Safety Demonstration Day.
Tindall also provided an update on the Moving Forward with Alternative Power: Understanding Opportunities and Risks for the Non-road Equipment Industry paper, which has been successfully shared with the Department of Energy (DOE), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the California Air Resources Board (CARB), and the Environmental and Climate Council of Canada (ECCC).
Advocacy
AEM Senior Vice President of Government and Industry Relations Kip Eideberg and AEM Vice President of Federal Affairs Kate Fox Wood reviewed recent legislative accomplishments and discussed potential federal challenges and opportunities as the AEM team continues to build relationships and momentum for the industry.
Trade Shows
AEM Senior Vice President of Exhibitions and Marketing Nicole Hallada and AEM Vice President of Exhibitions and Event Services and CONEXPO-CON/AGG Show Director Dana Wuesthoff provided an update on CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026.
CE Technology Leadership Group
AEM Senior Director of Construction Sara Feuling provided an update from AEM's CE Technology Leadership Group (CETLG), which, along with the Ag Technology Leadership Group, recently defined shared AEM priorities related to technology, including autonomy, interoperability, and cybersecurity. The CETLG will meet in early fall to define and approve actionable priorities, while also reviewing and updating their committee roster. For more information on AEM's CE Sector, contact John Somers at jsomers@aem.org.
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