Some John Deere employees in eastern Iowa are preparing for a massive construction equipment trade show next week. CON-Expo CON-AGG is taking place in Las Vegas and about 280 Deere workers will be there to show off nearly three dozen machines.
Dave Althaus, Manager of Events and Promotions for Deere’s Construction and Forestry division, is coordinating the delivery and set up of the company’s 38,000 square foot display. “This year, we’re going to have 35 machines in our exhibit and they’re coming from all over the country,” Althaus says.
The Association of Equipment Manufacturers holds CON-Expo every three years and this year’s event will feature 2,400 exhibitors showcasing new products and technologies. Althaus says his team’s exhibit will highlight John Deere’s customer service. “It’s one thing to sell a machine, but it’s another thing to keep them running,” Althaus says. “It’s really about how can we support the customer better and help him manage his business better?”
About half of the Deere employees who will work at CON-Expo are from the Quad Cities and Dubuque areas. Althaus says the group includes engineers who can answer detailed questions about the dump trucks, motor graders, skid steers, and other machines on display.