A Record Room in Nashville: AED’s Women in Equipment Conference Keeps Growing
AED's 2026 Women in Equipment Conference in Nashville drew a record 137 industry professionals. The 2027 edition moves to San Diego. A Record Room in Nashville: AED’s Women in Equipment Conference Keeps Growing published on The HeavyQuip Magazine.
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137 professionals from dealerships and suppliers gathered to build leadership skills, and the 2027 edition is already booked for San Diego
The equipment industry says it needs more people, and more diverse ones. One indicator of whether that message is landing is attendance at events like AED’s Women in Equipment Conference, which this year set a new record.
The 2026 edition drew 137 equipment industry professionals to the Kimpton Aertson Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee, from 16 to 18 September. The programme focused on leadership skills, professional networks and the real challenges women face in the workplace.
Songs, finance and personal brands
The keynote came from Grammy Award-winning songwriter Jimmy Yeary, who presented “5 Strategies to Songwriting, AKA Building Valuable Relationships” and wrote a song live with the audience’s help. Other sessions included a panel on personal journeys and challenges in the industry, a financial security session with Megan Stern of Forvis Mazars and Paulina Matel of Morgan Stanley, and a talk by Rachel Kennedy on building a personal brand as a leader.
“I look forward to bringing a team of women from my company to the conference every year,” said Kerri Courrier, regional aftermarket manager at RDO Equipment Co. “Seeing the conference celebrate record attendance shows its value for women in the equipment industry throughout North America.”
“The growth AED experienced during the 2026 Women in Equipment Conference is a testament to the value it brings to our members and the women who help keep the equipment industry going strong,” said Brian P. McGuire, President and CEO of AED.
The 2027 conference will take place from 15 to 17 September 2027 at the Hard Rock Hotel San Diego. By then, it will be organised by an association that, after the planned merger with NAEDA, also represents agricultural and outdoor power dealers.
A Record Room in Nashville: AED’s Women in Equipment Conference Keeps Growing published on The HeavyQuip Magazine.
