Outdoor Power Equipment Council

Outdoor Power Equipment (OPE) dealers enjoy all of the benefits of membership in a NAEDA-affiliated association, plus OPE members are represented by the OPE Dealer Council, an official council of NAEDA. The council works on behalf of OPE dealers to improve manufacturer relations, government relations, legislative outcomes and regulatory concerns at the federal level.

The OPE Dealer Council is made up of dealers who advise NAEDA and its board on issues related to the outdoor power equipment industry. The council is also a sponsor of dealer educational seminars at the annual GIE+EXPO in Louisville, Ky.

OPE Service Technician Skills/Knowledge Test
NAEDA offers the OPE Service Technician Skills/Knowledge Test to members under a licensing agreement with Ohio State University. This test can help OPE dealers identify qualified individuals who have applied for jobs as service technicians. It is available to association members free of charge. To request it, send an e-mail stating your request to naeda@naeda.com.

NAEDA OPE Dealer Council

OPE Dealer Council Chairman
J.P. Bliss

Bliss is vice president and store manager of German-Bliss Equipment in East Peoria, Princeville and Springfield, Ill. In his capacity as OPE Dealer Council chairman, Bliss will represent OPE dealers on NAEDA’s board of directors and help develop strategies to address the needs of OPE dealers in the U.S. and Canada.

Chairman J.P. Bliss German-Bliss Equipment 215 Fairlane Drive East Peoria, IL 61611 Business: 309/694-3700 Fax: 309/694-3754 Email: jbliss@germanbliss.com	Vice Chairman Scott Muehlhauser Scott's Power Equipment 10602 Trenton Ave St. Louis, MO 63132 Business: 314/429-3600 Fax: 314/429-3602 Email: scott@scottspower.com
Council Members:
Josh Ahearn Ahearn Equipment Inc 450 Main St Spencer, MA 01562-1906 Business: 508/885-7085 Fax: 508/885-7261 Email: joshahearn@ahearnequipment.com	Mark Saulter Saulco Enterprises 1954 Manitoba Street Bracebridge, Ontario P1L 1X4 Business: 705/646-1053 Fax: 705/646-8750 Email: mark@saulco.com

Tim Lanthrum Cutters Equipment PO Box 8167 Tyler, TX 75711 Business: 903/939-9200 Fax: 903/939-9199 Email: Tim_lanthrum@sbcglobal.net	Kim Rominger Mid-America Equipment Retailers Association 6124 Avery Road, PO Box 68 Dublin, OH 43017-0068 Business: 614/889-1309 Fax: 614/899-0463 Email: krominger@amgllcusa.com

Staff Contact:

Joe Dykes
NAEDA
1195 Smizer Mill Road
Fenton, MO 63026-3480
Business: 636/349-6205
Fax: 636/349-5443
Email: dykesj@naeda.com

Power Pro Accreditation Program

The OPE Dealer Council oversees the respected Power Pro OPE dealer accreditation program. Power Pro is an accreditation program for dealers who sell and service outdoor power equipment. Under the program, dealers who adhere to a universal set of performance standards earn accreditation and use the designation to promote their dealership and build consumer confidence and loyalty.

This program and its standards are designed to identify a full-service dealer who has made a significant investment in facilities, wholegoods, parts, employees, training, tools, business systems, and advertising. The standards in this self-evaluation are used to affirm to consumers that a dealership meets and operates under measurable standards of recognized performance. The program includes guidelines and a self-evaluation form that participating dealers can use to score their dealerships so that they can gauge whether they qualify as a Power Pro dealer.

Download the Power Pro Evaluation form.

For more information, contact:

Joe Dykes, Director OPE & Power Pro

Phone: 636/349-6205

Email: dykesj@naeda.com