AEM Vice President, Construction & Utility Sector, John Somers joined the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) in 2007 and has held various positions with increasing responsibility over his 15 years with the organization and was promoted to his current position in 2021. As Vice President of the Construction & Utility Sector, Somers is responsible for the strategic direction of construction and utility programs and services for AEM membership, and he will serve as the primary liaison to AEM’s CE Sector Board and with CE-specific industry organizations, customer groups and government agencies, both in North America and worldwide. In addition to driving value to both the exhibitors and attendees at the association’s trade shows, CONEXPO-CON/AGG and The Utility Expo, Somers strives to help equipment manufacturers improve their businesses. Somers sits on the Associated Equipment Distributors (AED) Foundation Board, which is tasked with encouraging continuous learning, by providing educational opportunities for today’s employees, and by improving the availability and quality of equipment industry employees in the future. He also serves on the Next Practices Advisory Committee with the Common Ground Alliance (CGA) to encourage innovation and new practices to address the most critical challenges facing the damage prevention industry. Somers also helped lead the development of the industry’s telematics standard and currently manages AEM’s Engine Emissions Strategy Task Force, which is addressing potential regulation impacts on manufacturers and end users.