Associated Equipment Distributors (AED) held their 2026 AED Summit January 19-21 at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, Texas, bringing together over 2,500 equipment distributors, manufacturers, and industry partners from across North America for three days of education, networking, and strategic insight.

The event featured more than 300 exhibitors showcasing the latest products, technologies, and services, with Congressmen Jake Ellzey (R-Texas) and Lance Gooden (R-Texas) joining AED leadership to commemorate the opening of the 2026 Conference Dealer Expo (CONDEX).

Attendees also took part in more than 40 educational sessions covering leadership, sales, rental operations, technology, management, and product support, gaining practical insights and actionable strategies for businesses across the industry.

“This Summit is an incredible opportunity to learn from industry leaders and connect with peers facing the same challenges,” said AED member Keith Kreps, President of 21st Century Equipment in Nebraska. “Every session I attended gave me ideas I can take back and implement in our business.”

Keynote speakers at this year’s Summit included:

• Ambassador Nikki Haley shared insights on global leadership and public policy during “Dinner and a Conversation” with AED President and CEO Brian P. McGuire
• First Sergeant Matt Eversmann (Ret.), whose story was portrayed in Black Hawk Down, spoke on resilience, leadership under pressure, and decision-making in high-stakes environments.
• An OEM Leadership Panel, moderated by Marc Johnson of Pinion Global, brought together top executives to discuss the future of the equipment industry. Panelists included Rod Bull, Chief Executive Officer, Komatsu North America Corp.; Scott Young, President and Head of Region North America, Volvo Construction Equipment; Michael Ballweber, President, Doosan Bobcat North America;Andrew Ryan, President, LiuGong North America; Alex Woods, President, Kubota Tractor Corporation; and Kurt Coffey, Vice President of Case IH North America, CNH Industrial America LLC
• Taylor St. Germain of ITR Economics delivered an economic analysis, equipping attendees with data-driven insights to support strategic planning for 2026 and beyond.

“The AED Summit continues to be the industry’s most important gathering for education, collaboration, and forward-thinking leadership,” McGuire said. “The strong member participation, robust exhibitor presence, and high-caliber content at this year’s Summit reflect the strength, resilience, and innovation of the equipment industry.”

The 2026 event also hosted the annual meeting of the Deep Southern Equipment Dealers Association, which co-located its gathering at the Summit. The 2027 AED Summit will be held January 25-27, 2027, in Orlando, Florida, at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel.

At the January gathering in Texas, ROKBAK, the Scottish hauler manufacturer placed a strong focus on celebrating the partnerships that continue to drive success for the brand across North America. Part of that was recognizing Houston-based heavy equipment specialist Easton Sales & Rentals, as the company’s Dealer of the Year for 2025.

“The award highlights Easton’s outstanding sales performance on both truck and factory-approved parts, strong alignment with the Rokbak brand and unwavering commitment to customer support,” says Robert Franklin, Rokbak director of sales – Americas.

“Our dealers are central to everything we do. Easton exemplifies what a strong, engaged Rokbak partner looks like, and it was a real pleasure to recognize their achievements during AED 2026.”

“AED always delivers a great mix of meaningful conversations and positive energy,” says Franklin. “It’s where we reconnect with our dealers, share ideas and build on what we’ve achieved together. Dealer feedback was excellent. Customers are pleased with the performance of the trucks and dealers are happy with the support they get from the Rokbak team. AED 2026 has reaffirmed real confidence in our products, our people and our partnerships.”