Jennifer Edney, Vice President, Edney Distributing Co., Inc., Lakeville, Minnesota, and Dennis Kerber, Marketing and Customer Relations Leader – Weasler Engineering and Elliott Manufacturing, West Bend, Wisconsin, have been nominated for election to the EMDA Board of Directors. The election will take place at the Association’s Corporate Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada, November 5, 2014.
Edney and Kerber were selected by the Nominations Committee chaired by John D. Fonda, President & CEO, John Day Company, Omaha, Nebraska, and committee members L. R. Sights, President, Southwest Distributing Co., Inc., Clinton, Oklahoma, and Marcus Kimball, Vice President, Kimball Sales Company, Lake St. Louis, Missouri.
Edney earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of Minnesota, a Professional in Human Resources designation from the HR Certification Institute, and a Wholesale Distribution Management Certificate through The Ohio State University’s Executive Education Program. She participates in national and regional gatherings of The Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) Association and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). Jennifer joined Edney Distributing Company, Inc. in 2008 to support the Company in a time of change. Prior to working in the family business, she held sales, operations, and management roles at companies including Target and The Hartford.
Founded in 1951, Edney Distributing Company, Inc. serves its thriving dealer network from four warehouses in the Upper-Midwest using state of the art technology and systems. They proudly supply innovative attachments, specialized equipment, and parts from manufacturers around the world. Experienced Edney Team Members offer value-added services including marketing, logistics, warranty support, and training.
Jennifer is married to John Schrieber and has two teenage children: Alex and Ellen. They live in Woodbury, Minnesota where she volunteers with her church’s youth program and serves on the Woodbury High School Tennis Booster Club Board. Edney Distributing Company, Inc. is proud of their longtime membership and active participation in EMDA. The Company joined FEWA in 1963, led by her grandfather Milton Edney. Jennifer’s father, Doug Edney, is the President of Edney Distributing Company, Inc. and is a FEWA Past President.
EMDA Board members are elected for a three-year term, and are eligible to serve two terms. The EMDA Nominations Committee also proposed the re-election to the Board of Wayne Barber, President, DFK Equipment Sales, Inc., St. Marys, Ontario Canada, to serve as 1st Vice President.
Current Board members serving terms through 2015 include: Ted Traeder, CPMR, Vice President, Traeder Enterprises, Inc., Hillsboro, Wisconsin, who will serve as Treasurer; and Ron Chandler, Partner, Becknell Wholesale Co., Inc., Lubbock, Texas, who will serve as 2nd Vice President.
Board members serving terms through 2016 include: Kevin Wolters, Vice President, Southwest Distributing Co., Inc., Clinton, Oklahoma, who will serve as President and then Treasurer; and Jerry Nettles, Short Line Sales, Memphis, Tennessee, who will serve as Secretary and then 2nd Vice President.
EMDA Treasurer, John Fonda, President, John Day Co., Omaha, Nebraska, will have completed his term of service on the EMDA Board and will not be eligible for re-election.
The EMDA Bylaws were amended in fall, 2010, to add an Associate Delegate to the Board of Directors. Associate Delegates to the Board serve a two-year term. Dennis Kerber has been nomnated to replace Rob Ziola, Senior Director, Trade Development-Mfg, Saskatchewan Trade & Export Partnership (STEP), Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, who has served his final term as Associate Delegate.
Dennis Kerber was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico and raised in Chicago Heights, Illinois, a suburb south of Chicago. He received B.S. degree in Business Management in 1975 from St. Joseph’s Calumet College in East Chicago, Indiana, and has spent his entire working career engaged in the Agricultural Industry.
Upon graduation, Kerber joined Ingersoll Products, Division of Borg Warner…primary supplier of tillage & seeding blades in North America. During his tenure at Ingersoll he assumed both inside sales and territory sales roles. He was appointed Sales Manager in 1980 and Vice President Sales & Marketing in 1985.
Kerber joined Weasler Engineering in 1992 as General Manager – Aftermarket Division and then appointed Vice President – Aftermarket Division in 1996. Weasler Engineering, founded in 1951, is one of the world’s leading manufacturers and distributors of mechanical power transmission products (which include drivelines) for Agricultural and Lawn & Turf machinery.
In 2011, Weasler Engineering was acquired by Actuant Corporation, which is a diversified industrial company serving customers from operations in more than 30 countries. Within Actuant, Weasler operates as a part of SPT (Specialty Power Transmission) which is comprised of Weasler Engineering and Elliott Manufacturing. Elliott provides power transmission products to a variety of industries – including the Agricultural Industry. Elliott‘s FlexSeeder™ shafts are engineered for planter manufacturer’s worldwide, which provide more efficient solutions for today’s demanding precision planting requirements.
Kerber is the Marketing and Customer Relations Leader – Weasler Engineering and Elliott Manufacturing.
Weasler Engineering became an Associate member of FEWA in 1989. The company is also a member of AEM (Association of Equipment Manufacturers); a member of FEMA (Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association), where Kerber was elected President of Associate, Board of Governors – 1989. He is also a member of Saint Joseph’s Calumet College Alumni Club.
Kerber and his wife, Debbie, have been married for 36 years (1978). They have three children: Son, Justin and 2 daughters, Carissa and Erin; as well as three grandchildren: 5 year old grandson, James – 2 year old grandson, Hudson – 2 year old granddaughter, Gemma.
Kerber notes additional interests: “I am half “Irish” – comes in “handy” on the golf course! And, Family time…..fortunately, the grandchildren are nearby!
Under the provisions of EMDA’s Bylaws, nominations for election to the Board are from the Nominations Committee or by any 10 or more member firms who prepare and file a written nomination signed by all nominators (and accompanied by the written consent of the nominee or nominees to serve if elected) with the EMDA Board of Directors or EMDA’s Executive Vice President at least 30 days prior to the Association’s Annual Meeting.
The EMDA Board of Directors meets during the Fall Convention and once during the Spring. The Board also participates in several conference calls over the course of the membership year. ###