Although it was cold in Chicago, AED’s 89th Annual Meeting and CONDEX Jan. 10 to 12, sent the industry mercury soaring.

Distributors, manufacturers and service firms alike said Chicago was the place to do business — and this annual meeting was no exception. Attendees from the United States, Canada and abroad met to discuss the issues and opportunities facing the industry. The CONDEX trade show was again a highlight of the show.

“The 2008 annual meeting is where we expected it to be for a ConExpo year,” said Toby Mack, AED’s president and CEO. “Registrations did very well, our CONDEX booth space sold out and Hospitality Suites were booked in record numbers.”

Just a few of the many high points of this year’s event were the keynote delivered by best-selling author and reporter Bernard Goldberg, an enthusiastic presentation from “dynamic duo” John Powers and Christine Corelli and riveting accounts from Army Ranger Keni Thomas. Distributors also heard economist Dr. Lawrence Chimerine speak on what distributors could expect from the year ahead.

The AED University Managers Conference was again concurrent with AED’s annual meeting. This two-day event provided specialized education for sales, rental, parts and service managers. Industry experts Ron Slee, Don Buttrey, Marilyn Moats Kennedy, Larry Kaye, George Wacaser and Steve Uible presented the most up-to-date industry information to standing-room-only sessions. Managers who attended the AED University Manager’s Conference also earned an AED Management Essentials Certificate and are eligible to earn Continuing Education Units, which are applicable toward the AED Certification Programs.

Plans are already under way for AED’s 2009 Annual Meeting & CONDEX in San Diego, Jan. 15 to 17, 2009.

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