Cashman Equipment Company of Nevada has donated $2,500 to the Associated Equipment Distributors Foundation (AEDF). Established in 1992, the AEDF is a charitable foundation created to increase industry education and work force development within the heavy equipment distribution industry.

“Cashman Equipment’s donation will be directed toward our work force development effort where it will have a major impact,” said Kathryn A. Cotter, director of marketing and development for AEDF. “Our industry is having difficulty attracting new employees, with the appropriate skills, at the service level because, although these jobs are relatively high-tech, there is an image that they are low-tech. In some aspects, that’s true, but today’s technicians must also have the computer, math and language skills needed to communicate with people and problem-solve.”

AEDF is initiating an image-building campaign that will educate other industries, associations, schools, government agencies and ultimately, the general public. “Creating a better understanding among these groups about technicians’ overall skills is a critical step toward raising the image of our industry as a whole,” said Cotter.

Mary Kaye Cashman, CEO of Cashman Equipment, noted that Cashman has a continuing commitment to providing training opportunities to its own employees. “We are equally dedicated to supporting educational programs that raise awareness and reflect an accurate image of a work force that is evolving,” Cashman said. “The AEDF’s educational outreach efforts help ensure that our industry will meet the challenges of the new millennium by continuing to attract highly-skilled individuals.”