Blog

Sometimes, a chapter event reminds you of what makes MDNA such a special organization. My recent visit to the Southern Regional Chapter event in the Ozarks was one of those experiences.

It's a common misconception that the machines are what make machinery sales when really, it's the people that make this the great industry that it is. We are here to work with and serve one another; the machines are just part of the means to that end.

We get some wild calls here at Wheeler Machinery Sales, and this one, for the oil tanker, was one of them. Could we match them with the right mill in the next six days, the only days they would be docked at the Port of Long Beach when they could get the mill aboard? Yes, yes, we could.

The story goes that Dan Wheeler (a cancer survivor) bought this old wooden brake then gave it to a fellow dealer who persistently told Dan he wanted it. After many years, the gentleman sadly passed away from cancer and his family returned the brake to Dan. This project began to hold a lot of meaning to us.

Honestly, I couldn’t be prouder of what our chapter leaders are doing across the country. They’re creating opportunities for members to connect, build relationships, and have a great time doing it

One of the fun things about a trip to our warehouse is the antique pieces of Americana that we have collected and restored. We live and work along what was once the iconic US Route 66, the highway built to take Americans across the country from Chicago to Santa Monica, CA.

We look forward to building on the momentum of this successful WWTP and seeing you again at future MDNA events. Together, we continue to advance our association, support one another, and strengthen the used machinery industry.

Thank you to everyone who made this weekend so special. Weekend with the Pros is about strengthening connections within the machinery industry and sharing strategies for success. We are here to lift each other up and see each other thrive – one machine deal, bull ride, or taco at a time.

Weekend with The Pros is right around the corner! On behalf of our incredible West Coast members, I can tell you—we are absolutely thrilled to open up our town to you. The energy is high, the plans are bold, and we’re ready to make this an experience you won’t forget.

Our repairman, Rick, has a creative, in-depth knowledge of not only fixing machines, but using them to make fun creations for his backyard. He tried out a few of our smaller machines here at Wheeler Machinery Sales which would sure be of interest to fellow machine hobbyists.

We often say that Dan’s Machine Tool was meant to be a part of Wheeler Machinery Sales because it already came with ‘Dan’ in the name. Could you ask for a better fit? And one year in, we can confidently say no, you could not ask for a better fit – or a brighter future for both companies.

In May, I am proud to announce that the Weekend With The Pros will be held in Los Angeles, California, May 6 – 9. As a born-and-raised Angeleno, I am very grateful to be part of the planning for this fantastic event. As your President, I couldn’t be more excited to showcase the city I grew up in.

As the summer rolls in to fall, marking a new school year, we at Wheeler Machinery Sales say "see you later" to Garrett Wheeler, third generation machine salesman, as he heads back to college.

This month marks a new milestone for Dan Wheeler in his 20+ years in machinery sales as he becomes the 48th President of the Machinery Dealers National Association (MDNA), an organization of over 400 dealers, auctioneers, and appraisers worldwide dedicated to shared ethics within the industry.

Wheeler Machinery Sales is proud to announce the acquisition of Dan’s Machine Tool, a respected name in machinery service and repair in southern California. This move represents a continuation of legacy.

When I first met Craig Ward in the early 2000s, I had no idea how much impact he would have on my life. In fact, our first encounter had quite the opposite effect on me. We were like two guys who get into a fist fight.

“He would call me up and say, ‘This guy’s got a machine. Go take a look. We can buy it together and split the profit.’ We found a lot of machines that way,” said Dan. “He was one of my favorite partners. He was always positive and didn’t have bad things to say about people.”

Gina Wheeler is hardly a new face here at Wheeler Machinery Sales, Inc. Wife of Dan Wheeler, third-generation owner and current president of the company, Gina has been part of Wheeler Machinery by association for decades…ever since the couple started dating back in college.

It’s one thing to sell an industrial machine. It’s quite another to know which machines are right for the customer and their needs. Richard Smith is the go-to person at Wheeler Machinery Sales for any and all questions related to used metalworking equipment.

When Rick Chilcoat first met Dan Wheeler of Wheeler Machinery in 2007, he wasn’t really looking for a new job. But that chance encounter opened doors for innovation, ingenuity, and trust—everything we need to make our used metal working machine business work.