Charlie O'Brien

Vice President of Agricultural Services

Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM)
Milwaukee, Wisconsin (USA)

Charlie O'Brien is Vice President of Agricultural Services for the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), where he oversees AEM's programs and activities for its agriculture-related members. His responsibilities include directing AEM's ag-specific member work groups, and acting as chief staff liaison to the AEM Board of Directors for ag-related issues. He also serves as primary liaison with ag-specific industry organizations, customer groups and government agencies. And, he leads AEM initiatives related to the forestry sector as well as renewable energy.

O'Brien has more than 20 years of experience in the ag industry. Before joining AEM, he served as President and CEO of FPC Financial, as well as Farm Plan & AgLine (Canada) Product Manager and Sales Manager for John Deere Credit, part of Deere & Company's Worldwide Credit Operations. He has also served as Branch Manager and Director of Strategic Initiatives for Deere Credit's England operations and held Deere Credit management positions in sales, market and business development and risk management.

O'Brien holds a bachelor's degree in agriculture from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an MBA from Drake University. He grew up on a family-operated farm in Fitchburg, Wisconsin.

AEM is the North American-based international trade group for the off-road equipment manufacturing industry, and its members manufacture equipment, products and services used worldwide in the agriculture, construction, forestry, mining and utility sectors. AEM has an ownership stake in and/or manages several world-class trade exhibitions, both in the United States and internationally. These include two which are among the largest of any industry in North America, CONEXPO-CON/AGG (construction focus) and ICUEE-The Demo Expo (utility/construction).