Every once in a while, life throws you an opportunity that allows you to not only give back but also to recognize one of your friends for their outstanding contributions to the world. One such opportunity presented itself this year during one of my annual cancer benefit auctions when I was asked to help present Dan Wheeler, CEA, of Wheeler Machinery Sales, Inc. and MDNA’s First Vice President, as this year’s recipient of the Gavers Community Cancer Foundation’s “Never Be Defeated” award on Saturday July 15th, 2023, during their annual Barndance in Woodstock, IL. This award is earned by demonstrating an incredibly positive outlook under extreme circumstances and by greatly inspiring others to help them survive cancer.
 
Travelling to be in attendance to help Dan celebrate this award, which was a surprise to him was Dan’s wife Gina, daughter Sara, my wife Kimmy, and MDNA & AMEA’s Bob Yeoman, Michael Ackerman, and his friends from the Testicular Cancer Foundation.
 
The Barndance is a 7-hour volunteer run party that draws crowds in excess of 2,000 people to Woodstock, IL, for great BBQ, a ton of raffles, a live auction & awesome bands. The goal being to raise money to help raise cancer awareness through education & screenings, improving cancer care for local residents, & raising funds for cancer research. It really is the area’s best 7-hours of summer every year.
 
When the call came, I was honored and humbled to help present such a major award to one of the best humans I know. I called a lot of Dan’s friends in the MDNA, as well as his family for help in giving the presentation a fun roast-type presentation rather than a typical dry formal presentation, and yes, big Dan cried…. The question then becomes, what kind of award do you present to your friend upon such a huge honor? I’m not a trophy plague-giving guy, I prefer more personalized tokens so for Dan, I quietly presented him with a 5-pound brass nut that I engraved myself.
 
Anyone that knows Dan understands his passion for life, his willingness to help anyone, and his total dedication to his family. If you don’t know Dan, make it a point to meet him at a chapter meeting or convention, his fire for life is energizing & motivating, I am happy to call him my friend.
 
This year’s Barndance raised $524,532 dollars for the fight!!

Jake Josko, C.E.A.
Vice President of Global Sales
Direct:  312.841.9600
Cell:      224.230.5922
 




 
 
 

You can chart a company’s growth in many ways: sales volume, market share, units shipped, web traffic, year-over-year, month-over-month, etc. 
 
But at Machine Tool Emporium, LLC, the preferred unit of measurement is square feet.
 
In January of this year, Machine Tool Emporium moved into new, purpose-built quarters in LaGrange, Ky., northwest of Louisville. The structure encloses 18,000 square feet — all air-conditioned and heated, and more than six times the area of the company’s original, rented quarters near the Louisville airport.
 
“This is not some little warehouse,” said Mark Coxon, Machine Tool Emporium’s managing partner, and the MDNA’s Ohio Valley Chapter chairman and national Board representative. “This is a very professional atmosphere, where we can have machines of all sizes on display.”
 
Machine Tool Emporium opened for business five years ago and, while Coxon said it still specializes in  CNC chip cutting units, now handles an array of used machinery from lathes to punches and presses, saws and shears.
 
"We dabble in pretty much everything,” he summarized.
 
From the outset, his business has enjoyed what Coxon calls “quite a growth curve.” It soon became obvious that to continue on that trajectory would require more space.  When he located a six-acre tract for sale in LaGrange, he didn’t hesitate.
 
“We decided if we’re going to do it we’d better do it now, before we see 7- or 8-percent interest rates,” he recalls. The business offices, warehouse, and showroom were mapped out in a building that features foot-thick reinforced concrete floors to handle the  weight of the wares. Ground was broken in August 2022 and the Emporium opened its new doors five months later.
 
The additional square-footage is quickly being put to good use. Just a few months into its new surroundings, Machine Tool Emporium has shipped machinery throughout North America and as far away as India.  And the prospect future growth doesn’t concern Coxon like it did a couple of years ago.
 
"We have room on our land now for another 18,000 square feet,” he notes, with a smile.

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