ASSOCIATION STAFF
All staff can be reached by phone at 314.878.2304 or by email using first name @FarmEquip.org
Vernon Schmidt, Executive Vice President - Vernon@Vernon started with the Association as Director of Membership Services in 1995. He has also served as Convention Manager and Director of State Legislative Affairs and has worked with lobbyists to insure our member's voice is heard in state capitals.
In early 2009 the Board of Directors announced that Vernon would become Executive Vice President upon Bob Schnell's retirement in late 2009. On November 9, 2009 the office opened with it's first new leader in over a quarter of a century and only the third Executive Vice President in the Association's near 60 year history.
In addition to managing the Association, Vernon has served as President of the Association's Services Corporation since his election by the Board of Directors on November 6, 2009.
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Hannah Hamontree, Communications Director - Hannah@
Hannah joined the Association as Director of Membership Services in 2000 and for over 10 years she was the association's primary contact with our new and prospective members. Her membership duties also put her in the position to coordinate the many services we offer our members. Hannah also worked closely with the chairs of our Product Councils providing staff assistance.
Our two major publications, the Shortliner newsletter and our Annual Membership and Product Directory are edited and compiled by Hannah. In July of 2011, Hannah added the position of Editor of our newly launched magazine, Ag Innovator, to her list of titles.
As of July 15, 2011 Hannah became the first in the history of this Association to hold the title of Communications Director, overseeing all of the Association's publications and news releases.
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Elaina Jackson, Director of Membership Services - Elaina@
Elaina joined the Association as the Director of Membership Services in August 2012. Her main priorities will be recruiting new members and member retention. She will also be working with the chairs of the Product Councils to provide staff assistance. Elaina has her Bachelors degree in Public Relations from Northwest Missouri State University.
Tricia Kidd, Accounting and Meeting Services Manager - Tricia@
When members contact the association office by phone, chances are Tricia's pleasant greeting will be the voice you hear. Some of Tricia's daily duties include all of our accounting functions, maintaining membership records and being ready to direct members to any and all of the many services the association offers.
If you have attended one of our conventions since 1999 the smiling face behind the registration desk was Tricia. Even more important, Tricia deals directly with the hotels to be sure you have a sleeping room for the nights you request and that all of our meeting rooms are set and ready for the many speakers and committee meetings that make up our Fall Convention and Spring Clinic.
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Legal Resources
In addition to our professional staff, the Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association offers expert legal advice on Human Resource and Dealer Contract issues through attorneys who specialize in these important areas at no charge.
That's right, the association will pay for a half-hour call per issue to one of our attorneys on either of these topics.
Of course there are limits, just give us a call in the association office and we will be glad to go over the details with you. These calls are totally confidential between you and the attorney. The only information provided to the association is the number of members who called and in the case of dealer contracts, which state's laws were discussed.
Our members often get all the advice they need in the first half-hour.
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