CONEXPO-CON/AGG

And I met a bunch of other ladies out there who were working in the construction industry in some way, shape or form, and we started to chat with each other.

We met up at a huge expo, which was ConExpo for construction.

And together we formed a nonprofit that exists mainly on social media to encourage the next generation to get into the trades.

Right.

No.

I would say right after Con Expo, so spring of this year, I bought a Sani 155, which is a 15-ton excavator.

And then I bought a Cat 255 skid steer about a month after that.

So I've got those two machines, and they've served me quite well.

Um, You know, if you're digging a hole for a water line, trench for a sewer line, drainage, anything like that, and you're four or five feet deep, you need to put some sort of box like the one I have or some form of approved engineered shoring to protect your guys from a cave-in because that would suck.

You can die.

If you don't die and you're fortunate enough to get out, your life could potentially be altered, right? I did my talk at Con Expo and I had Alex Parker and Gary from CM Labs come talk and share their stories of you know, getting buried and what life's been like with all the injuries and lingering effects from that.

So, I mean, there's just, there's a whole, there's a whole ball of wax around it and it's, it should be pretty self-explanatory and pretty non issue.

For our listeners who may not be familiar with the whole inside joke that we just did, you all have a collaboration.

And we saw this at Con Expo.

Kyler and I were there and saw the product and this incredible demonstration that you all had put on about a collaboration and equipment that is designed to mine helium, among other things, from the moon and and transport it back.

And it's at first glance, certainly walking by, we were like, why are there moon rocks in the Vermeer booth? But the story really is so cool.

But to quickly, a couple of credits.

Certainly in a trade show world, Steve has worked for the biggest and the best, the International Home and Houseware Show, which is huge, Con Expo, which is huge, some big, what I call big dumb companies, B&G, Caterpillar, Starbucks, Coca-Cola, has given a TED Talk.

Been in just about every business publication there is, including Fast Company and the Wall Street Journal.

I have not been in Highlights for Children yet, which is a goal

You know, yeah.

What are you learning? So when I went to ConExpo, not this year, but three years ago, and I was, you know, looking at like AI technology to drive machines, right? This machine can grade by itself.

You know, that's one aspect of it.

And there's definitely a place where machines can work autonomously and not, you know, not be powered robotically, you know, just from a distance.

I'm impressed with the number of people that are here.

Yeah, I mean, I wasn't really sure how it was going to go with ConExpo earlier this year, but there's been a great turnout, a lot of traffic, so it's been a good time.

What are some of the new products and innovations you've seen, things that our listeners should be knowing about?

Yeah, I can't get over the number, I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but how everything is electrified now.

He has been documenting it.

Now, I've actually had the pleasure of properly meeting Murray earlier this year at ConExpo in Las Vegas, although I've been captivated by their work at IRN for many years, with International Rental News becoming one of those publications that genuinely broadens your thinking.

So I'd like to personally thank Murray and International Rental News for the opportunity on us recently collaborating on an article that we titled Experience Inflation.

Getting to work alongside Murray was a pleasure.

How are they going to manage that transition? What technologies are going to work? What technologies are not going to work? How do you manage the infrastructure? All of that stuff is just always gets good engagement with our readers.

Well, Murray, you're usually on the side of hosting these conversations.

Obviously, you're in the hot seat today, but what makes a good story to you? You're sitting with a CEO, you're walking the aisles of Bauma, ConExpo, ARA show.

What catches Murray's attention? The difference between something that's merely news or something that genuinely you think will advance our industry's thinking going forwards?