The members of the Ohio-Michigan Equipment Dealers Assn. (OMEDA) and Mid-America Equipment Retailers Assn. (MAERA) have voted to merge effective Jan. 1, 2016. Implementing the complete merger will be a process over the next few months, but will be overseen by a unified board of directors.

The newly formed association will be called the United Equipment Dealers Assn. (UEDA) and will represent 747 members in 4 states including: Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio. UEDA will be overseen by 12 board members comprised of members from these 4 states.

Last fall, the OMEDA and MAERA board of directors approved a merger plan and submitted it to the members for a ratification vote. The members approved the merger by an overwhelming margin.

“This merger is another step in the process that began in 2007 when OMEDA and MAERA formed an association management company, AMG LLC, with joint ownership by both associations.” said Kim Rominger, CEO and Executive Vice President for UEDA. “With the continued consolidation of dealerships operating in multiple states this merger strengthens the unified voice for all dealers in our region. The Association will be able to react quicker and represent all of our members’ interests in a more effective manner. This will also give us increased strength of numbers when speaking with manufacturers on issues and concerns going forward.”

The Ohio-Michigan Equipment Dealers Assn. was formed in 1996 with the merger of Ohio Farm & Power Equipment Dealers Assn. and the Michigan Equipment Dealers Assn. The Association represents 481 farm, industrial, construction and outdoor power equipment dealers in Ohio and Michigan and sponsors Power Show Ohio. Formed in 1893, Ohio is the older of the two associations and has been in continual operation for over 123 years.

The Mid-America Equipment Retailers Assn. was formed in 1992 with the merger of the Indiana Implement Dealers Assn. and the Kentucky Farm and Power Equipment Dealers Assn. It represents 266 farm, industrial, construction, outdoor power and automotive wholesalers in Indiana and Kentucky. The older of the two associations, Indiana was formed in 1916 and has been serving members for 100 years.