EMDA Announces Matt Budde as Board of Directors Nominee
The Equipment Marketing & Distribution Association (EMDA) is pleased to announce that Matt Budde, Owner of Hayward Distributing Co., has been nominated to serve on the EMDA Board of Directors. Members will vote on the Board nominees during the 2026 EMDA Fall Convention, taking place October 27–29 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Matt brings more than two decades of experience in the agricultural equipment distribution industry. He joined Hayward Distributing in 2005 as a Territory Manager and has worked in nearly every facet of the family-owned business. In 2016, he and Arin Monroe were named Co-CEOs, leading the company through significant growth, strategic acquisitions, and expansion into the shoreline agricultural distribution market.
Today, Hayward Distributing serves customers across 27 states, supplying agricultural equipment, engines, lawn and garden equipment, and replacement parts through its network of branches and field staff. Matt's leadership has been instrumental in positioning the company for continued success while maintaining the values of a family-owned business.
Before joining Hayward, Matt worked as an internal consultant and financial analyst at Bankers Life and Casualty and as an investment banking analyst at Robert W. Baird & Co. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accountancy from the University of Notre Dame in 2001, where he also completed an international internship with Honeywell in Moscow, Russia.
In addition to his professional accomplishments, Matt has demonstrated a strong commitment to industry leadership. He is an active member of Young Presidents' Organization (YPO), previously participated in Vistage, and has served on several manufacturer-distributor advisory boards. His experience collaborating across the agricultural equipment industry makes him well-positioned to contribute to EMDA's mission of strengthening relationships between manufacturers, distributors, and industry partners.
Outside of work, Matt lives in Columbus, Ohio, with his wife, Kari, and their twins, Van and Klara. Whether coaching youth sports or cheering on his children in their many activities, he enjoys investing in his family and community.
EMDA is grateful for Matt's willingness to serve and contribute his leadership and industry expertise. We look forward to the membership vote during the EMDA Fall Convention in New Orleans this October and appreciate members' participation in shaping the future leadership of the association.
We invite all EMDA members to join us in New Orleans as we connect, learn, and elect the next leaders who will help guide our association into the future.
