AHS Named to "Fast 55" (Cincinnati, OH) • The Cincinnati Business Courier recently recognized Advanced Handling Systems as one of the 55 fastest-growing private companies in Greater Cincinnati. More than 100 companies were nominated for the program and the 55 selected attended a recognition event in December. "We are honored to be selected," says President and CEO Chuck Frank. "We recently added 14 new employees and acquired a second facility to provide better service to our clients."

Folding Guard's Bedford Park facility

Folding Guard Corporation Relocates (Bedford Park, IL) • Folding Guard Corporation moved its operations and manufacturing plant from Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood to Bedford Park, IL. The new facility nearly doubles the previous space, totaling 168,000 sq. ft., and includes the addition of two new mesh welders and four new pick-and-place robots to the manufacturing plant. The facility also will feature a new powder coating system.

SMH VP of Sales and Marketing Dirk von Holt (l) and John Gaughan (r) present a plaque to Bob Wickman.

Wickman Receives Lifetime Achievement Award (Olathe, KS) • Systems Material Handling honored longtime LPM employee Bob Wickman, 79, with a lifetime achievement award during a Texas Hold ‘Em poker tournament held in his honor during ProMat. Known to colleagues as “Mr. LPM,” Wickman has worked with the company for 36 years, serving 24 years as VP of Sales for LPM and currently working as a consultant for SMH. “He’s a genuine guy. He knows everybody and he remembers everybody,” says SMH Director of Business Development John Gaughan. “People would just be starting out their companies and Bob would give them access to the product line and build them into empires.”

Forklift Damage Controlled by Shoppa's

A company based in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex was having excessive problems with operator abuse to its fleet of more than 20 Toyota forklifts, as well as damage to products and racking systems. Unfortunately, they could not identify who was causing the damage.

This company was an existing customer for Shoppa's Material Handling (Fort Worth, TX), and when Jeff Carrothers, aftermarket territory manager, stopped by to review their application, he proposed a simple solution: installing the lifts with the Shockwatch ImpactManager RF system with computer reporting capability. “This product solved the issue of identifying operators who are causing abuse to lifts and products from impact with the forklift,” says Shoppa's Corporate Aftermarket Manager Scott Witt. “Plus, it locks unauthorized drivers off the lifts to help prevent mishaps.”

Carrothers and Witt made a visit to the customer site along with Shockwatch Regional Sales Manager Terry Young to demonstrate the ImpactManager RF system, which detects impacts and records the event details. The data is then transmitted wirelessly or downloaded through a user interface. The device also ensures that only authorized drivers may operate the equipment. “When we showed the customer and described the reporting functions, it showed how they could resolve the issues they were having,” says Witt.

All new forklifts the customer orders now come equipped with the ImpactManager RF software.

Building a Highly Effective & Motivated Team
February 22, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. CT
Jeff Wolf, Wolf Management Consultants, Inc.
This 60-minute teleconference will teach you how to motivate and lead your team more effectively. Learn how to increase your management skills and effectively move your team toward breakthrough results and approaches to maximize success as a leader or member of a team. Registration is only $99 per company for unlimited participants. For details, view this page.

Creating an Energized Work Environment
March 15, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. CT
Jeff Wolf, Wolf Management Consultants, Inc.
In this teleconference, you will learn how to increase the productivity of your entire organization. Wolf will provide insights that you can use to improve profitability and effectiveness within your business. Learn how to apply strategic techniques to company-wide problems and increase value to customers, employees and partners. Registration is only $99 per company for unlimited participants. Visit this page for more information.

The Habit of Selling
March 20-22, Doubletree Guest Suites – Dayton Mall, Dayton, OH
Don Buttrey, Sales Professional Training
Join MHEDA and the Association Education Alliance (AEA) for this live seminar, a cost-effective way to train and develop new and veteran sales professionals. Designed for salespeople and sales managers to attend together, this program will teach how to document value-added services, sell them to customers, build relationships, develop communication and people skills, and sell benefits and value. Learn the "5 A's Selling Process" and work on a target account of your choice to gain practical, hands-on tools for better face-to-face selling. Registration is $895 per person, including 2 1/2 days of training, take-home material and most meals. For complete details or to register online, view this page.

Benchmarking Survey Submissions Due February 19 • The deadline for participating in MHEDA's 2007 Distributor Performance Benchmarking Survey is February 19. It is imperative that you submit your data by this date in order to have more current data to analyze during your annual planning process. In return for your participation, you will receive, free of charge: a profile of the entire industry, a confidential report comparing your firm with similar businesses, and an Excel-based tutorial designed to assist your financial planning.

This financial survey compares your firm with similar firms and provides suggestions for improving your firm's profitability. It is a member benefit and costs nothing to participate. Your information is completely confidential and is never seen by MHEDA staff or leadership. To obtain a questionnaire, login to MHEDA's Members Only Section and download a copy, or call the MHEDA office at 847-680-3500 and we'll send it to you electronically.

Winners of Annual Survey Drawing Announced • Thank you to all the MHEDA members who completed the annual membership survey! The MHEDA leadership uses this information to bring you targeted programs and services based on your needs and challenges. We greatly appreciate your input! Congratulations to Brian Boals of Unarco Material Handling and Jack Huth of Parkway Systems, winners of the $100 survey drawings!

New MHEDA-NET Group for Fork Truck Rental Equipment Managers • MHEDA-NET is starting a new networking group for people working in the fork truck rental equipment sector. Now is the perfect opportunity to join a peer group and network in a confidential teleconference setting. It might give you the insight to surmount challenges that are keeping you from reaching your full potential. During these teleconferences you will discuss virtually any question common to rental equipment managers.

MHEDA-NET is a free networking service for all company associates, and there are groups for all segments of the industry. Meetings follow a structured format, sticking to defined topics relevant to the group. Each group sets its own agenda, with rules and guidelines determined by group members. To learn more about MHEDA-NET, follow this link and then fill out the application. It's a great way to advance your career.