First Quarter 2008

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“Added Value is Key”
PRESIDENT'S PERSPECTIVE
Jack Phelan
2008 MHEDA President

“Build On Last Year”
FROM THE DESK OF. . .
LIZ RICHARDS
Executive Vice President MHEDA
   
 
Asked & Answered
An archive of questions asked of the MHEDA Board, All Answered!
Need an Answer?
Check out the
Asked & Answered index.

FIRST QUARTER 2008

COVER STORY
2008 Industry Forecast
Industry experts analyze trends that will impact material handling throughout 2008.

Distributor Sales Ready To Accelerate In '08
Predictions of a flat market will not deter MHEDA distributors.

Manufacturers And Suppliers Say It's All About Value
Suppliers are well-positioned for growth.

Employee Benefits In 2008
Eight trends employers can look forward to
By David A. Proctor

Think Big And Take Bold Action
The state of the business cycle in 2008 and beyond
By Brian Beaulieu

2008 Will Look A Lot Like 2007
Industrial Truck Association predicts flat year.
By Stan Simpson

Recovery Seen For Storage Equipment Sector
Cycle will return to growth during 2008.
By John Nofsinger

Conveyor Industry Clouded For 2008
Minimal growth expected during year ahead.
By Fred Thimmel



MHEDA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MHEDA's All-Star Team
2008 Board of Directors is a winning combination.

PRESIDENTIAL SPOTLIGHT
Picture This
Get to know 2008 MHEDA President Jack Phelan

CONVENTION PREVIEW
Accelerate in 2008

MHEDA MEMBER PROFILE
MHEDA President Takes A New View Of
Customer Service

TriFactor, formerly Advanced Handling Systems, looks to the future.

YOUNG LEADER PROFILE
Not Your Typical IT Guy
Riekes Equipment Company's Todd Gillespie mixes technical savvy with people skills.

TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY
The Next New Thing
Distributors speculate on the future technologies that will impact their businesses.

The Next Big Technology Forum
Tell us what you think the next big technology will be to hit the material handling industry.

INTERNATIONAL
The Great Wail of “China”
Importing material handling products and components from overseas is on the rise.

GREEN INITIATIVES
Suppliers Speak Out
Industrial truck manufacturers predict a future of hybrids and fuel cells.

STORAGE & HANDLING
Wooden Pallets
New innovations to help material handlers
By Bruce Scholnick

SALES & MARKETING
Does Your Sales Team Sell Products Or Solutions? Ways to brainstorm and generate creative, profitable sales ideas
By John Sweeney

MONEY MATTERS
Business Income Insurance
Protect your company's income stream following a catastrophe.
By R. Scott Wolff

SUCCESSION PLANNING
When Executives Leave, Who Will Take Over?
Development strategies for tomorrow's leaders
By Patrick Sweeney

Cashing Out
Be aware of your hidden business assets.
By Rhona Sacks

BEHIND THE SCENES
Two Generations, One Mission
Meet Cindy Thoren and Natalie Cobb

 
  •  Distributor Predictions for 2008 •  TriFactor Makes Its Mark
  •  Material Handling Imports •  Meet Your 2008 Board

The MHEDA Journal is published quarterly: Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall. Subscription rate is $40.00 annually.
Not-for-profit and charitable organization rate is $40 annually. MHEDA members receive this magazine as part of their dues.

• Managing Editor Liz Richards    • Senior Editor Carole Jesiolowski     • Editor Christopher Powers
• Contributing Editors  Susan Freibrun  •  Chad Harris   •  AnnaMaria Kendall   •  Joanne Piacenza
 • Creative Director Paul Brunell     • Production Editors  Maureen Paige  •  Laura Pavese
• Online Designer Clyde Wolford     • Relationship Manager Russ Hearton

Editorial correspondence should be sent to Liz Richards, Managing Editor, Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association, 201 U.S. Highway 45, Vernon Hills, IL 60061-2398; telephone 847-680-3500; fax 847-362-6989. Advertising correspondence and materials should be sent to Judy Flanagan, Data Key Communications, Inc., 5794 Widewaters Parkway, Dewitt, NY 13214; telephone 315-445-2347; fax 315-445-9336.

As the official magazine of the Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association (MHEDA), a non-profit organization, this publication carries authoritative notices and articles in regard to the activities of the Association. In all other respects, neither the Association nor the publisher of The MHEDA Journal, Data Key Communications, Inc. is responsible for the contents thereof or the opinions of the contributors.

Entire contents are Copyright © 2008 by Data Key Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. Nothing may be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission of the publishers. Data Key Communications, Inc. reserves the right to print portions of or all of any correspondence mailed to the editors without liability on its part and no such correspondence will be returned.

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