About MHEDA

MHEDA is the Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association, a 501(c)6 non-profit trade association, dedicated to serving all segments of the material handling business community.

For 70 years, MHEDA has provided material handling companies and their employees with business resources, leadership training, networking opportunities, benchmarking data, career development tools and insights on the latest industry trends.


EXPAND YOUR NETWORK.  EDUCATE YOUR ASSOCIATES.  ELEVATE YOUR BOTTOM LINE.

Learn more about MHEDA’s Member Services

Nearly 600 distributor and manufacturing companies across the world representing several thousand employees utilize our resources each day to help their business stay competitive and employees stay connected. Join the MHEDA community.

MHEDA is your direct connection to the Material Handling Industry’s hottest trends, newest products, best management training workshops and represents a wealth of resources for all material handling businesses.

Our Members represent the nation’s major material handling distributors, as well as the leading manufacturers of storage and handling, lift trucks, conveyor equipment and technology.

Vision Statement

Our vision is to be recognized among our members and peers as the premier trade association in North America.

Mission Statement

Our mission is to enhance each member’s success through superior programming in the area of benchmarking, networking and education.

The MHEDA Way
Serve Members. Serve Each Other. Have Fun.

These core values represent our unique culture. But what do they mean in practice? These 19 fundamentals outline the behaviors that are the foundation of our culture. The MHEDA Way describes who we are, how we relate to each other, and how we relate to our members. It’s what drives our extraordinary success.

Assume Positive Intent
Prioritize the Team
Cultivate Curiosity 
Practice Blameless Problem-Solving
Fulfill Commitments
Set Clear Expectations
Listen to Understand
Speak Openly
Collaborate
Take Ownership
Celebrate Success
Have Fun
Deliver an Effortless Experience
Invest in Relationships
Deliver Legendary Experiences
Find Energy in Every Day
Embrace Change and Growth
Be a Lifelong Learner
Be Kind

History of the Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association

Seventy years ago, a small group of material handling equipment distributors recognized the need for a national organization to help distributors conduct business more professionally, offer opportunities to learn from each other, provide information relevant to business and ensure a voice for your business. Hence, the Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association was established on October 10, 1954 at the Morrison Hotel in Chicago.

Since 1954, the Association has been led by hundreds of volunteer directors, all working to make MHEDA a solid, growing national trade association with a mission to be the best resource for services and information for all material handling companies.

Today, MHEDA is a thriving association of nearly 600 members representing the finest distributors, manufacturers, and factory-owned branches in the material handling industry. MHEDA continues to carry on the tradition of the founding fathers with a dedication to promoting material handling industry excellence. After 70 years, MHEDA remains at the forefront of the material handling industry, fulfilling its mission to further improve the proficiency of material handling distributors in order that they continue to be the most effective and efficient conduit to the marketplace.

We are your direct connection to the Material Handling Industry’s hottest trends, newest products, best management training workshops and represent a wealth of resources for all material handling businesses.

MHEDA Past Presidents

1955 – Robert H. Braun, Sr.
1956 – William W. Oliver
1957 – Clifford C. Haddrell
1958 – Clifford C. Haddrell
1959 – Arthur R. Canfield

1960 – Robert G. Arnold
1961 – Don S. Ferguson
1962 – J. Preston Wrenn
1963 – Jack D. Patten
1964 – C. C. Brumleve
1965 – Howard Bernstein
1966 – Joseph  McEwen
1967 – Hugh Ayers
1968 – Louis W. Linsley
1969 – Richard S. Stockwell

1970 – G. C. Achtenhagen
1971 – Clare F. Falkner
1972 – George L. Wrenn
1973 – Stephen C. Lobdell
1974 – Warren E. Deuber
1975 – Walter Geisenhainer
1976 – Mark E. Rivard
1977 – Jay P. Hamerslag, Jr.
1978 – James R. Wingate
1979 – John W. Morrison

1980 – Emil A. Graeser
1981 – John J. Boyle, Jr.
1982 – Gary D. Thompson
1983 – Daniel J. MacDonald
1984 – Wilson A. Tayloe
1985 – Mitchell Milovich
1986 – Charles R. Hugg
1987 – Paul H. Landau
1988 – Allen C. McCully
1989 – William K. Slife
1989 – Les H. Nielsen

1990 – Richard J. Head
1991 – William J. Medley
1992 – H. Blane Bowen
1993 – Karl S. Miller
1994 – William J. Whitcroft
1995 – William G. Billard
1996 – George S. Wilkinson
1997 – Joseph Verzino
1998 – Gary T. Moore
1999 – Samuel W. Grooms

2000 – Tim Hilton
2001 – Kenneth MacDonald
2002 – Michael B. Romano
2003 – James R. Bowes
2004 – Loren Swakow
2005 – David E. Griffith
2006 – John Maybury
2007 – John Cosgrove
2008 – Jack Phelan
2009 – Duncan Murphy

2010 – Gregory Morrison
2011 – Chuck Frank
2012 – Richard Donnelly
2013 – Jerry Weidmann
2014 – Scott Hennie
2015 – Mark Milovich
2016 – Scott Lee
2017 – Buddy Smith
2018 – Doug Carson 
2019 – Mike Vaughan

2020 – Mike Wall
2021 – Ted Springer
2022 – Tom Albero
2023 – John Gelsimino