AEM mourns loss of longtime staffer

Sanford

Michelle Sanford, senior director of contract and vendor management at the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), died April 19 after a battle with cancer.

According to AEM, Sanford began her career in 1994 as a secretary in the association’s exhibitions department. She grew to become an integral leader of the AEM exhibitions and operations team.

Sanford oversaw operations for AEM’s many trade shows, including ConExpo-Con/Agg, The Utility Expo, AG Connect and World of Asphalt. Through her leadership, AEM says it was able to advance the association’s mission of creating successful and effective opportunities to connect equipment manufacturers with agriculture and construction equipment end users.

“For more than 20 years, Michelle was a bright asset to the AEM team, and her infectious laugh and smile are profoundly missed,” says Dennis Slater, AEM president. “A large part of AEM’s success in producing some of the largest trade shows in the world [is] due to Michelle’s tremendous management skills and leadership. We all have a heavy heart as we move forward without Michelle. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family during this difficult time.”