The AED Foundation recently surpassed $10 million in pledges for its Vision Fundraising Campaign, an industrywide initiative launched in 2020 to address the technician shortage and strengthen the long-term future of the equipment distribution industry.
After an original goal of raising $5 million, the campaign gained momentum when Tim Watters, AED Foundation Chairman at the time, challenged dealers, manufacturers, and service providers to think bigger and rally behind a new $10 million target.
Vision reflects the AED Foundation’s commitment to building a sustainable pipeline of skilled talent by connecting students, schools, and technical programs with AED members. Through strategic collaboration, career pathway events, student field trips, and industry roundtables, students gain first-hand exposure to equipment careers, meet industry professionals, and explore a wide range of opportunities, ensuring the next generation is prepared and inspired to join the workforce.
To date, the Vision Campaign has achieved:
- 103 accredited college programs
- 136 recognized high school programs
- 6,791 AED Foundation-certified technicians
- $10.1 million in pledges
“These results show what is possible when an industry comes together,” said Diane Benck, former AED Foundation Chairwoman and President of West Side Tractor. “While surpassing $10 million is a major achievement, the work is far from finished. We still have a goal of adding 10,000 skilled technicians to the industry, and we will continue building pathways to meaningful careers.”
| Your local Trimble Construction Division dealer |
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| SITECH Northeast |
Brian P. McGuire, President of the AED Foundation, emphasized the critical role of industry in reaching this level of support and the importance of sustaining that momentum.
“This success would not be possible without the commitment of AED dealers, manufacturers, and service provider partners who believe in Vision and have invested in its growth,” he said. “The workforce shortage remains one of the most pressing challenges facing our industry, and continued support is essential. Every contribution helps us expand programs, reach more students, and deliver the skilled technicians our members need today and in the future.”
Nicholas Testa, Department Chair of Applied Career and Digital Technologies at the State University of New York College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill, New York, an AED Foundation accredited college, added, “Being part of the Vision program has been transformative for our students and our program. We’ve seen tremendous growth in enrollment and student engagement as more young people discover career opportunities in the equipment industry. The support from AED members has been invaluable, and we’re excited to continue building a strong pipeline of skilled technicians for the future.”
“Thanks to the leadership of our dealer, manufacturer, and service provider partners, Vision has achieved important progress. But the workforce shortage continues. We must keep investing in technical education to grow our next generation of skilled technicians, and I encourage everyone to join us in this vital work.”
| Your local Case Construction Equipment Inc dealer |
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| Beauregard Equipment |
| Monroe Tractor |
Vision’s long-term benchmarks include supporting a minimum of 100 accredited college programs and 150 recognized high school programs, growing to 120 colleges and 200 high schools by 2027. By meeting these targets, Vision is projected to help deliver an estimated 10,000 additional skilled technicians and 5,000 AED Foundation-certified technicians to the workforce.
