MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin — After nearly 40 years of leadership, Dennis J. Slater has announced his retirement from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) at the end of the year. The AEM Board of Directors has selected Megan Tanel, AEM’s senior vice president, construction and utilities, who pioneered the association’s many exhibits, to succeed Slater as president.
Slater joined AEM’s predecessor, the Construction Industry Manufacturers Association (CIMA), in 1982, becoming president of CIMA in 1998 and president of the new AEM in 2002. Under his leadership, the association grew its membership by 50 percent to more than 1,000 member companies and increased its revenues by 700 percent to $60 million annually.
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Tanel began her career at AEM in 1995 as an intern, becoming a full-time employee later that year. She has led AEM’s various global trade shows and events, ranging from the Commodity Classic for food and beverage decision-makers to bauma CONEXPO, an international construction machinery show in India. She helped launch World of Asphalt in 2001 and served as show director for The Utility Expo (formerly ICUEE) and CONEXPO-CON/AGG, the largest construction trade show in North America. Under her leadership, AEM has grown its trade show revenue by 80 percent over the past 12 years. Earlier this year, she was named vice president of the newly formed Exhibitions and Conferences Alliance (ECA) advocacy group.
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“I am honored to have the confidence of the AEM Board of Directors and grateful for Dennis and what he has done for our association and the industry,” said Tanel. “Our association is financially healthy, our industry is relevant and essential to our global economy, and we have the unwavering support of our members. Now is the time to build on our momentum, and with our strong team in place, I know we will.”
Contact Megan Tanel at (414) 298-4117 or mtanel@aem.org