MDNA’s 2026 Weekend with the Pros Brings Big Energy, Big Attendance, and Big Connections

Southern California delivered the sunshine, but MDNA members brought the energy.

MDNA’s 2026 Weekend with the Pros welcomed members to California for four unforgettable days of connection, learning, facility tours, and industry fellowship. With higher-than-average registration and a packed schedule of standout experiences, this year’s event was a powerful reminder of what makes MDNA so valuable: relationships, access, shared expertise, and the chance to see the machinery business in action.

From the first handshake to the final breakfast conversation, the weekend captured the best of the association.

A Hollywood Welcome

The event opened Wednesday evening at the iconic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, where attendees gathered for a welcome reception at Teddy’s. Surrounded by classic Hollywood atmosphere, members reconnected with longtime friends, met new colleagues, and kicked off the weekend with the kind of camaraderie that makes MDNA feel less like a network and more like a community.

It was the perfect start to a high-energy California gathering.

Learning From Seasoned Professionals
Thursday began with breakfast at the hotel before attendees boarded buses for a full day of tours and exploration. The first stop was Bender CCP in Vernon, where members had the opportunity to see a respected operation up close and gain firsthand insight into the people, processes, and expertise that help drive the industry forward.

The tour offered exactly what Weekend with the Pros is designed to provide: real-world learning, practical perspective, and meaningful access to leaders and operations across the machinery world.

The next stop was TRAK Machine Tools.  This tour took attendees for deep dive into their machine tool offering and it came with some Jersey Mikes for lunch.

And let’s not forget the amazing tour of Lions Automobilia Museum, where members got up close and personal with one-of-a-kind vehicles, viewing everything from street racers to movie replicas. Special shout-out to premier vendor Fort Wayne Marketing, who was on hand during the tour to capture member interviews. (Look for video clips coming soon!)

A Friday Packed with Tours, Meetings, and Momentum
Friday brought another full day of activity. B.O.S.S. attendees began the morning with a breakfast meeting and seminar, while general attendees departed for MDNA Member  American Auctioneers Group. Harry and his team rolled out the red carpet for attendees, including bringing in an Iron Chef to cater the event.  The groups then came together for additional tours and lunch at Dunkel Brothers before continuing to Amada America, Inc.

Each stop added something distinct to the weekend, from operational insights and business conversations to the chance to see impressive facilities, equipment, and teams in action. The day concluded with one of the most memorable stops of the event: a reception, tour, dinner and meeting at Wheeler Machinery Sales in Pomona.

Special thanks go to Dan Wheeler, MDNA president and host of the event, for welcoming attendees to his home state and opening the doors of Wheeler Machinery Sales. His hospitality helped make the California setting feel personal, meaningful, and especially memorable.

“Weekend With the Pros is one of the best examples of what MDNA does so well,” Wheeler said. “We bring people together, we learn from one another, and we strengthen the relationships that make this industry better. It was an honor to host our members here in Southern California and share a part of our story with them.”

A Strong Finish to an Outstanding Weekend
The weekend wrapped up Saturday morning with a final networking breakfast at the hotel hosted by Alan Gotlieb, owner of Machinery Resources Internation, Inc.  He spared no expense in bringing the group together one last time.  After several busy days of tours, meetings and conversations, the breakfast gave members one more chance to compare notes, exchange ideas, and strengthen connections before heading home.

Weekend Winners
Congratulations to Drake Denham of The Equipment Hub on winning the MDNA Rodeo at Saddle Ranch. His expert riding snagged a custom rodeo belt buckle crafted in Dallas and tons of bragging rights!

And a huge shoutout to the winners of the Austin D. Lucas Scholarship raffle: Troy Clark, Ron Shuster, Jeff Wood, Brad Johnson. Additionally, kudos to Ed Krause for winning the Charity raffle for some very nice Bourbon, with the ADLSF benefiting from the Auction.  And the final thrill of the night came when Kory “Can’t Let My Brother Win” Yoder helped us raise $10,000 for cancer research! We’re so honored to be part of this amazing charitable work.

The 2026 event delivered professional development, industry access, memorable facility tours, and the kind of peer-to-peer interaction that continues to make MDNA strong. With outstanding registration, generous hosts, valuable sponsors, and an engaged group of attendees, this year’s gathering was a true celebration of the people and relationships that power the MDNA community.

Thank you to everyone who attended, sponsored, hosted and helped make MDNA’s 2026 Weekend with the Pros such a successful, valuable, and energizing experience.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

MDNA is grateful to the generous sponsors who helped make the 2026 Weekend with the Pros possible. Their support plays an important role in creating opportunities for members to gather, learn, build relationships, and strengthen the association.