KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Western Equipment Dealers Association (WEDA) announces the launch of expanded training and educational programs for equipment dealerships in North America.  The board of directors recently approved the plan to develop the industry’s first Association owned and managed training and consulting firm focused on increasing dealership profitability and efficiencies.

 “As our dealer members have grown and expanded their businesses, they are ensuring their key staff members have the skills, knowledge, and tools to make their departments and dealerships successful,” says John Schmeiser, WEDA chief executive officer. “We are pleased that dealers have asked our association to be the trusted solution for these training needs.”

In the next few weeks, WEDA will make a full-scale launch, providing a comprehensive line of dealership training and consulting services. These services are designed to help dealers and their employees to become better at what they do and to help them prosper in the future.

According to Cory Hayes, vice president of training and education for WEDA, “The top priority of the new firm is to provide the industry with fresh perspectives from well-experienced specialists who have operations experience within our industry. Additional new services will have a dealer-centric focus; and we will deliver world-class training and consulting services at affordable rates.”

As a 126-year-old non-profit organization, WEDA’s mission is to be the most efficient and innovative provider of value-added services and solutions to successful dealers.  In addition, the organization’s focus is to continue on a path to ensure dealer success in an ever-changing business environment.  More important, all revenues earned from the initiative will be reinvested into additional programs and services dedicated to a better business environment for dealers.

WEDA was formed in 2014 after the merger of the Canada West Equipment Dealers Association and the SouthWestern Association. The largest equipment dealer association of its type, WEDA represents more than 1,000 equipment dealers in the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, and the states of Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico, and is affiliated with the North American Equipment Dealers Association (NAEDA).