AEM President Megan Tanel and Linda Hasenfratz, Chair of the AEM Board of Directors and Executive Chair of AEM member company Linamar Corporation, recently took some time out of their busy schedules to discuss some of the pressing challenges and notable opportunities facing AEM and its members in the weeks and months ahead.
Tanel asked Hasenfratz about what is top of mind for her as AEM Chair and for Linamar Corporation, why it’s so important to join and participate in an association like AEM, as well as what she wants her fellow member leaders to know and think about as they continue to lead their organizations.
Tanel: As we look ahead to the remainder of 2025, what are some of the most critical issues impacting AEM, its members, and the industry this year?
Hasenfratz: One of the most critical issues everyone is dealing with right now is tariffs. There’s simply no overstating how significant it is right now, and I’m certain it will be an issue that will remain at the forefront of the minds of AEM members for the foreseeable future. Then, along with that, both the agriculture and construction markets are in a difficult place right now. So, with all that said, it is a challenging time for us as an industry.
Tanel: I agree that 2025 has, in fact, brought with it some notable challenges for our industry. The question, then, is what will be the key to addressing them?
Hasenfratz: Information flow is so important. Circumstances are changing very quickly, and new information is becoming available all the time. And I’m so glad to see AEM continuing to provide timely and relevant data to our member companies, which is so important and appreciated.
It is critical for us as an association to understand the biggest issues facing our members, what their most pressing concerns are, and what AEM can do to advocate on their behalf. AEM continues to demonstrate its leadership in terms of speaking with one strong, collective voice to the White House and Congress regarding some of the policy changes we’re seeing right now. And I’m very excited to see AEM expand this effort in Ottawa as well in support of our Canadian members. That has, and will continue to be, critically important to the membership.
Tanel: Your year as AEM Board Chair is timed perfectly with the launch of AEM’s 2025-2027 Strategic Plan. How is that plan, along with its goals and objectives, helping to address challenges like the tariff issue?
Hasenfratz: Our situation as an industry, I feel, is perfectly aligned with what we’re attempting to accomplish as an association. If you consider the three key elements of AEM’s Strategic Plan – Voice, Value, and Vision – the need for our voice to be heard has never been more important. It’s why we’ve prioritized gathering perspectives, insights, and knowledge from our members, sharing their concerns, identifying areas of opportunity, and funneling all of it through to policymakers and decisionmakers to help us navigate some of the uncertainty we’re facing today.
Tanel: What opportunities do you see coming out of the challenges our industry faces today?
Hasenfratz: There is no shortage of exciting things we’re doing together as an industry. Also, some of the challenges we’re facing right now offer a chance for us to articulate the value of equipment manufacturing, bring our needs, wants, and perspectives to the table, and advocate for ourselves.
Also, I’m a big believer in the idea that opportunity can be had in times of change and turbulence. I know Linamar, as an organization, certainly looks at things that way. So, overall, I’m advocating for a positive outlook right now. It’s so easy to get dragged down by the risks and the downside that present themselves, but there’s an upside as well. We just need to find it and leverage it together.
There’s no better time than right now to shine a light on all the fantastic happenings in our industry, why it’s a wonderful place to work, and how important it is to the economy. It’s also an opportunity to show how integrated the United States, Canada, and Mexico are today, and how important the tri-lateral agreement between those countries is in terms of how we all built our businesses over the last several years.
Borders are irrelevant. We don’t even think about them when we are building our supply chains. It’s about proximity and capability, as well as about the teams that can do the work. I think people understanding the integrated nature of the supply chain and how things are traveling back and forth across borders is so important.
Yes, these are challenging times. However, if we allow it, they can serve to teach us about not only how important we are to one another as industry peers, but also the unintended consequences of putting policies in place that fail to acknowledge that interdependence.
Tanel: Why is it so important for your organization to be a member of AEM?
Hasenfratz: I value our membership in AEM for a couple of key reasons. First, an AEM membership offers a tremendous opportunity to gain knowledge about key issues, challenges, and opportunities associated with our industry. For Linamar in particular, we have a business in the construction space with Skyjack, and we have several in the agriculture space with MacDon, Salford, and Bourgault.
In addition, I’ve found the AEM Annual Conference, in particular, really challenges my thinking as a member leader and helps me bring new ideas back to my organization. Then there’s the data side, which helps us to understand our markets and what opportunities we have in that sense.
Also, talking with AEM and industry leaders at our Board meetings is so valuable, as it gives us a chance to find ways to collaborate with one another for the betterment of everyone. Simply for what it does to help us grow our businesses, that networking opportunity is so important.
Tanel: Despite some challenges, this is still an exciting time in our industry. Technology continues to evolve, sustainability is more prevalent than ever before, and workforce development remains a priority. Now that you’re at the midpoint of your time as AEM Board Chair, what is one message or takeaway that you’d like to share with AEM members?
Hasenfratz: Look for opportunity. There’s an ancient Chinese proverb that says, “Water which is too pure has no fish.” A little cloudiness is not a terrible thing, because it means you can find in it a chance to learn, improve, or contribute. It’s certainly what we’re trying to do at Linamar Corporation in terms of taking new products and processes to new levels.
The second thing I would say is to stay flexible. To me, when you’re in a time of uncertainty, you must be as flexible as possible (especially as it relates to your strategy, your talents, and your balance sheet).
Lastly, focus on the long term. I know it’s difficult to do when there’s a ton of noise around you. You have to deal with short-term issues as best you can, but it’s so incredibly important to not lose focus and instead lock in on the long term. It’s far too easy to make strategic decisions based on short-term tactical pressures because your instinct is telling you that’s what’s necessary. However, by maintaining a rational thought process and focusing on what makes sense for your future, you will undoubtedly see greater levels of stability and success within your organization.
