MHEDA History
For over 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.
Leading the Material Handling Industry Since 1954
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. Since 1954, 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
Since 1954, MHEDA has been led by industry experts dedicated to strengthening the community and promoting the Association’s role as a national trade organization. We recognize and thank MHEDA’s past presidents for their leadership and unwavering commitment.
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 L. Gelsimino