Diane Benck – known for her strong advocacy for the equipment industry and for enhancing technician training – has been named chairwoman of Associated Equipment Distributors (AED).
Benck, of Illinois, is the first woman to lead the international organization, and she received rousing applause during her appointment at the recent AED Summit in Las Vegas.
She replaces outdoing Chairman Wes Stowers, president of Stowers Machinery in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Benck and her two brothers own West Side Tractor Sales in Naperville, Illinois. The dealership has 10 locations serving more than 80 counties in Illinois, Indiana and Michigan.
About 1,600 people attended the Summit January 15-19, and hundreds of them looked on during the historic moment when Benck was named the first chairwoman of the association.
“I am honored my colleagues in the industry have put their faith in me, and I am up to the task,” Benck told them.
AED represents companies involved in distribution, rental and support of equipment for construction, mining, agriculture and several other industries.
