The slate of 2025 officers and directors elected to the Assn of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) Board of Directors and Agriculture and Construction Equipment Sector Boards has been announced, after their election at the Nov. 13-15 Annual Conference.

The officers of the organization include: Chair: Linda Hasenfratz, Executive Chair, Linamar; Vice Chair: Phil Kelliher, Senior Vice President, Caterpillar; Treasurer: Melvin Porter, President and Chief Executive Officer, Link-Belt Cranes; Ag Chair: Greg Petras, President, Kuhn North America; CE Chair: Eric Sauvage, President and Chief Executive Officer, LBX Company; and Secretary: Megan Tanel, President, AEM.

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The Assn. of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) has announced its 2025 Board of Directors, who were elected during its Annual Conference. Shown here, Board Chair Linda Hasenfratz, Executive Chair, Linamar.

“We are thrilled to welcome our officers and both new and returning directors for 2025, and we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to them and their companies for their steadfast support of AEM’s mission,” said Megan Tanel, president of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. In a Nov. 25 news release announcing the officers, she added, “The success and progress of AEM relies on the unwavering dedication of our volunteer leaders and the strong participation of our members. Their commitment and contributions drive the industry forward, empowering us to deliver exceptional service and programs that truly benefit our members and the equipment manufacturing industry.”

Ag Sector Board Members for 2025 include:

  • Chair: Greg Petras, President, Kuhn North America
  • Vice Chair: Kurt Coffey, Vice President, Case IH, North America, CNH Industrial 
  • Grant Adolph, Chairman of the Board and Chief Operations Officer, Buhler Industries
  • Kurt Buehler, Group President, MacDon Industries
  • Shane Coates, Executive Vice President, North America Dealer CE & AG Sales, JCB
  • Eric Raby, Senior Vice President, Americas, CLAAS of America 
  • Mark Core, Executive Vice President, Forage and Lifecycle, CMO, Vermeer
  • Fernando Cuccioli, Executive Vice President, Cluster Americas, DeLaval
  • Charlene Finck, President, Farm Journal
  • Luke Gakstatter, Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing for Ag & Turf Division, Deere and Co.
  • Mike Gomes, Vice President, Sustainability and Global CSR, Topcon Positioning Systems
  • Doug Griffin, Partner, Context Network
  • Bill Hurley, Vice President of Global Government Affairs, AGCO
  • Keith Johnson, President, Kondex
  • Todd Kniffen, Senior Vice President of Engineering & Global Product Management, Kinze Manufacturing
  • Dietz Lankhorst, President and Chief Executive Officer, Krone NA
  • Yannick Montagano, President, Kubota Canada Ltd.
  • Brian Nelson, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, HCC 
  • Gustavo Oberto, President, Global Irrigation, Lindsay
  • Viren Popli, President and Chief Executive Officer, Mahindra USA

The organization reports that AEM’s Officers and Directors provide strategic direction and guidance for Association initiatives that help member companies, and the industry succeed. Key action areas include advocacy and public affairs, market information, exhibitions and events, and safety, regulatory and technical issues.

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