Liz Richards, MHEDA - United States

Industry Profile
- 8 Mar 2007 ( #300 ) - VERNON HILLS, IL, United States
2 min read
Liz Richards (centre) with her colleagues at MHEDA.
Liz Richards (centre) with her colleagues at MHEDA.
The Material Handling Equipment Distributors' Association (MHEDA), which represents mostly male forklift distributors is, ironically, staffed mainly by women. Liz Richards is MHEDA executive vice president, having taken over from Tony Colletti in 1994.

"Traditionally this has been a very male-dominated industry, but I see that changing. I would recommend the industry to anyone. It is full of great opportunities for men and women," Richards said.

At the MHEDA office, six full-time and three part-time staff members serve 650 member companies, representing several thousand individual members.

Richards said the primarily female team juggled many projects simultaneously and "handle numerous details".

"In general I feel women are able to multi-task extremely well.

"I happen to work with the best."

Richards attended a women's leadership conference several months ago that focused on differences between male and female leaders.

"One key finding cited was that women tend to work by committee and consensus while men typically decide independently. We are definitely consensus driven at MHEDA."

As executive vice president of a national trade association, Richards oversees management of the association headquarters, working closely with the MHEDA board of directors to guide the association's direction.

Richards said one of MHEDA's initiatives through its Industry Advocacy Committee was to increase the industry's visibility.

"Materials handling is generally hidden to the public yet everything we consume has been touched by the industry.

"[The] industry represents the equipment, services and technologies that enable the supply chain. It is a most vital part of our existence yet invisible to so many people."

The task is not on Richards's shoulders alone.

"I am part of the MHEDA team. We work alongside one another in the office. There is no task I consider below me and there never will be."

The MHEDA HQ seems an ideal workplace.

"MHEDA is extremely family friendly. We don't punch time clocks and our work always gets done. We have a lot of fun working here, which just makes life more enjoyable.

"I have been able to achieve a work-life balance because of an outstanding team environment, at home and at work."

Richards said she enjoyed reading about MHEDA members in Forkliftaction.com News, especially the industry profiles section. Forkliftaction.com News has previously featured MHEDA 2006 president John Maybury in the profiles section (Forkliftaction.com News #255).
Getting to know Allan Leibowitz
Getting to know Allan Leibowitz 12 Nov 2020 - 4 min read
Getting to know Elisabeth Ausimour
Getting to know Elisabeth Ausimour 20 Feb 2020 - Ancenis, France - 2 min read
Interview highlights TVH plans
Interview highlights TVH plans 16 Jan 2020 - Waregem, Belgium - 2 min read
Do you have materials handling news? Submit your news here
Inside The News
While innovation and new technology are evolving at what seems to be an ever-increasing pace, the need to capture the data (telemetry) from this tech, and the ability to utilise it (telematics) for efficiency and cost savings, is one area attracting more and more attention ... Continue reading

PREMIUM business

Lift Tek Elecar
Global leader in the design and manufacture of masts, carriages, integral sideshifters & fork positioners.

We’re excited to launch a major upgrade to the Forkliftaction forums, packed with new features and improvements. Here’s what’s new:

  • You can now add up to two photos to your posts
  • New search & navigation - find what you need easier
  • Smart brand/model tagging across all forums
  • Top contributors recognised for their efforts!

 Head over to the forums to check it out!

Words of support …

These releases in Forkliftaction are a nice experience for SNDC... We got seven inquiries coming from Canada, USA, Mexico, Israel and Australia (five from retailers, two from machines manufacturers) and we are still in contact with them. I can state that's a success story!

David Massat, Sales Director OEM and Export

Are you recruiting? Find your ideal candidate among a diverse range of materials handling professionals:

Forkliftaction's JOB MARKET

We’re excited to launch a major upgrade to the Forkliftaction forums, packed with new features and improvements. Here’s what’s new:

  • You can now add up to two photos to your posts
  • New search & navigation - find what you need easier
  • Smart brand/model tagging across all forums
  • Top contributors recognised for their efforts!

 Head over to the forums to check it out!

PREMIUM business

Cascade Corporation (World HQ)
Leading manufacturers of attachments, forks and related technologies for forklifts and AGVs.

Are you recruiting? Find your ideal candidate among a diverse range of materials handling professionals:

Forkliftaction's JOB MARKET

PREMIUM business

VETTER Forks, Inc.
The world's most comprehensive product range as well as the most intelligent sensor fork for more safety and efficiency.

Are you recruiting? Find your ideal candidate among a diverse range of materials handling professionals:

Forkliftaction's JOB MARKET

Even the heaviest lifts must be easy to handle. That’s why N.C. Nielsen raises the bar in lifting capacity, maneuverability, operator comfort, flexibility and technical capabilities.
Heavy duty reach stackers – lifting capacity from 85 to 180 tons.
VIEW ALL OUR CUSTOM-BUILT HEAVY DUTY REACH STACKERS

Contact us now: +45 99 83 83 83 - www.nc-nielsen.com