The Association of Equipment Manufacturers, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is now accepting nominations for its 2026 Hall of Fame.
This program celebrates visionary leaders and innovators who have invented, managed, built and led the non-road equipment industry. Their contributions have shaped the equipment manufacturing industry and advanced its growth. Nominations are open until June 5 and can be submitted on the AEM website.
Since its inception, the program has honored 75 pioneers whose legacies continue to inspire future generations, reinforcing the industry’s role as a driver of progress and economic development. In 2025, the AEM Hall of Fame inducted Billy Robert “B.R.” Lee (LeeBoy), Art and Panny McElroy (McElroy Manufacturing) and Nicolaus August Otto (Deutz).
“The AEM Hall of Fame is a testament to the creativity, passion and perseverance that define our industry,” said Megan Tanel, AEM president and CEO. “We invite everyone to help us recognize those who make a difference, inspire progress and shape the future of equipment manufacturing.”
How to submit
Nominations can be submitted through the AEM website. Nominees for the AEM Hall of Fame are judged by a panel of industry experts on four key guiding principles:
- Innovation
- Industry contribution
- Leadership
- Corporate citizenship/social responsibility
Nominators are encouraged to submit supporting documents and materials to help illustrate the nominee’s full impact on the industry. The deadline to submit is June 5.
Questions on the program can be sent to Mary Stratton at [email protected].
The Association of Equipment Manufacturers is the North America-based international trade group representing non-road equipment manufacturers and suppliers with more than 1,100 companies and more than 200 product lines in the agriculture and construction-related industry sectors worldwide. The equipment manufacturing industry in the United States supports 2.3 million jobs and contributes $316 billion to the economy every year.
