(L-R) are Dan Stracener, CEO, Tractor & Equipment Company; Ed Kirby, chairman, Kirby-Smith Machinery; Michael Brennan, president and COO, Bramco; Rod Bull, EVP North America Region, Komatsu; and Brian McGuire, president and CEO, AED.

The current skills gap and workforce shortage issues facing OEMs and equipment distributors are daunting. To address these problems, the AED Foundation created Vision 2025, a project aimed at helping to increase the number of qualified technicians entering the equipment distribution industry.

Komatsu has contributed $250,000 toward this initiative.

"We recognize the imperative to build a talent pipeline for our distributors and the heavy equipment industry at large," said Komatsu's Rod Bull, executive vice president, North America Region.

"Komatsu supports Vision 2025 and its focus on helping schools promote careers in the technical field to young people, who often aren't aware of the great family-supporting jobs available in this industry. We're excited to do our part to share this story of opportunity to join an industry that keeps our world growing and sustains our way of life."

Research by the AED Foundation has found that the industry needs to fill an anticipated 73,500 heavy equipment technician positions over the next five years, and that the technician shortage is compounded by a gap in required skills and available training.

Vision 2025 aims to address these issues by growing the foundation's impact to include a minimum of 120 accredited college programs (currently 71), and a minimum of 200 recognized high school programs (currently 36). If the project is successful, it has the potential to create a talent pipeline that includes an additional 10,000 skilled technicians entering the workforce, 5,000 AED Foundation-certified technicians and 500 AED Foundation-certified managers.

With a fundraising goal of $10 million over the next five years, Vision 2025 funds will be directed toward:

• New college accreditation programs targeting underserved areas where an existing heavy equipment/diesel technology program is already in place
• High school recognition programs that will prioritize locations that can serve as a feeder system into current and anticipated accredited college programs
• Expanding the AED Foundation's endowment to ensure Vision 2025 efforts are sustainable over the long term

"The AED Foundation is grateful for Komatsu's leadership and investment in our Vision 2025 campaign," said AED Foundation President Brian McGuire. "Komatsu's support, in conjunction with nearly 75 other investors, brings our Vision 2025 campaign to over $6 million. These investments provide the Foundation the sustainability needed to continue to be the heavy equipment industry's leader in workforce development."

Including Komatsu's donation, a total of $1.45 million has been pledged to the Vision 2025 campaign by Komatsu and its dealer network. Among dealers that have donated:

• Anderson Equipment Company
• Berry Tractor & Equipment Company
• Brandeis Machinery & Supply Company
• C.N. Wood Inc.
• Continental Equipment Company
• Equipment Sales & Service Ltd.
• General Equipment & Supplies Inc.
• Kirby-Smith Machinery Inc.
• Modern Machinery Inc.
• Power Equipment Company
• Road Machinery & Supplies Company
• Roland Machinery Company
• Waukesha-Pearce Industries LLC

For more information, visit www.komatsu.com.

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