AED Seals New Partnerships with Technical Colleges

May 23, 2008
The AED Foundation officially accredited Dakota County Technical College, Rosemont, Minn., on April 16, raising the total number of AED-accredited colleges across the nation to 20. To qualify for accreditation, post-secondary diesel and heavy-equipment technology programs meet rigorous curriculum standards created by an AED technical committee comprised of dealer, manufacturer and academic experts. The AED Foundation is the nonprofit educational and workforce development arm of Associated Equipment Distributors.

The AED Foundation officially accredited Dakota County Technical College, Rosemont, Minn., on April 16, raising the total number of AED-accredited colleges across the nation to 20. To qualify for accreditation, post-secondary diesel and heavy-equipment technology programs meet rigorous curriculum standards created by an AED technical committee comprised of dealer, manufacturer and academic experts. The AED Foundation is the nonprofit educational and workforce development arm of Associated Equipment Distributors.

“Working with dealers in our community and with The AED Foundation to reach these technical goals has been a rewarding process,” said Michael Long, instructor for Dakota County’s Heavy Construction Equipment Technology program. “Going forward, with the support of dealer companies and the relationships their people are forming with our students, we anticipate that our graduates will be very prepared to make immediate contributions to this industry as skilled equipment technicians.”

In addition, the Foundation acknowledged Central Lakes College on April 9 as the first AED-recognized education alliance school. The status was conferred by the North Dakota AED local group dealers who have established a working relationship with the school. A pilot initiative launched this year, the Alliance program was introduced as a means to recognize colleges with whom nearby dealers have begun to partner.

“We are privileged to be affiliated with these colleges,” said Robert Henderson, executive director of the AED Foundation. “We’re grateful to Dakota County Technical College for the commitment to excellence and high standards their faculty and administrators have demonstrated to achieve AED accreditation. It’s also our pleasure to welcome Central Lakes College as our first AED Alliance school — we appreciate their partnership with local AED dealers to build a strong workforce development group in their community.”

Through a strategic program called “Vision 2012,” the Foundation is on course to further its community-based, school-to-work program through partnerships with dozens of post-secondary heavy diesel/technical schools across the country — by the year 2012 they intend to see about 1,200 ready-to-work graduates per year launching into technical careers at dealer service departments.

Oak Brook, Ill.-based AED is an association of independent distributors, manufacturers and other organizations involved in the distribution of construction equipment and related products and services in North America and throughout the world. AED members sell, service and rent equipment to markets that include heavy and light construction, mining, agriculture, forestry, aggregates, engines and industrial.