Associations: The ‘Behind the Scenes’ Work Nobody Sees

Former dealer association exec John Schmeiser provides a ‘behind-the-curtain’ look at manufacturer relations, warranty wars & meetings that saved the industry from hundreds of lawsuits.

Editor’s Note: After reading John Schmeiser’s candid new memoir, If Boardrooms Could Talk: The Pivotal Work No One Sees in just two sittings, Farm Equipment requested permission to share an excerpt of the book’s content with its subscribers. What follows is Chapter 17 from Schmeiser’s newly released book in its entirety and in his own words. The 428-page book is available for sale for Kindle, hardcover or paperback via Amazon.

The first time I sat across the table from senior OEM executives in their boardroom in 2004, I remember thinking one thing very clearly: this feels a lot like politics.

Not because there were cameras or reporters outside the door. There weren’t. Not because anyone was running for office. They weren’t.