Equipment dealers associations merge

COLUMBUS — The members of the Ohio-Michigan Equipment Dealers Association (OMEDA) and Mid-America Equipment Retailers Association (MAERA) have voted to merge, effective Jan. 1, 2016. The newly formed association will be called the United Equipment Dealers Association. Implementing the complete merger will be a process over the next few months, but will be overseen by a unified board of directors.

The new association will represent 747 members in four states — Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio — and will be led by 12 board members from these four states.

Last fall, the OMEDA and MAERA boards of directors approved a merger plan and submitted it to the members for a ratification vote. The members approved the merger by an overwhelming margin.

“This merger is another step in the process that began in 2007 when OMEDA and MAERA formed an association management company, AMG, LLC, with joint ownership by both associations,” said Kim Rominger, CEO and executive vice president for the merged association. “With the continued consolidation of dealerships operating in multiple states, this merger strengthens the unified voice for all dealers in our region. This will also give us increased strength of numbers when speaking with manufacturers on issues and concerns going forward.”

History

The Ohio-Michigan Equipment Dealers Association was formed in 1996 with the merger of Ohio Farm & Power Equipment Dealers Association and the Michigan Equipment Dealers Association. The association sponsors Power Show Ohio. Formed in 1893, Ohio is the older of the two associations and has been in continual operation for over 123 years.

The Mid-America Equipment Retailers Association was formed in 1992 with the merger of the Indiana Implement Dealers Association and the Kentucky Farm and Power Equipment Dealers Association. It represents 266 farm, industrial, construction, outdoor power and automotive wholesalers in Indiana and Kentucky. The older of the two associations, Indiana was formed in 1916 and has been serving members for 100 years.