BREAKING NEWS

An Invitation from President Ames

GAWDA's 63rd Annual Convention in San Francisco will offer attendees "A Golden Opportunity to Bridge New Partnerships." In an exclusive video, GAWDA President Bob Ames explains the timeless allure of San Francisco and the exciting educational offerings at the Annual Convention. Follow this link to view the video.

Malfitano Named Industry Keynote Speaker

Ricardo Malfitano will be the Industry Keynote Speaker at GAWDA's 63rd Annual Convention, taking place September 15-19 in San Francisco. Malfitano has served as Praxair's executive vice president since 2006. His career with Praxair spans almost 30 years, including positions as director of the company's global semiconductor materials business; president of North American Industrial Gases, Praxair's largest business unit; and senior vice president of Praxair. Malfitano will address members during the Opening General Business Session on Sunday, September 16.

Other acclaimed speakers at GAWDA's Annual Convention include Dick Morris, one of America's most prominent political consultants; race car driver Robby Gordon; and Brian Deveaux, managing director of mergers and acquisitions advisory firm Leaders LLC's Boston practice. For more information, including a downloadable brochure, visit www.gawda.org.

Register Online for Convention

It's faster, easier and much more convenient! Just go to www.gawda.org and click on the Register Online link. Enter your own GAWDA username and password to register quickly and easily online for the meeting, golf and Contact Booth Program. You can also make your individual donation to the GAWDA Gives Back program. For corporate donations, please complete the donation form on the Current Events page.

Time to Join Young Executives

Why wait? Now is the right time to join GAWDA's Young Executives. If you are 45 or younger, you need to be a part of this exciting new initiative that will help shape the future of GAWDA and our industry. Please follow this link to read a message from GAWDA Executive Director Kent Van Amburg about the special activities planned for the Young Executives at GAWDA's Annual Convention, and how you can get in on the action!

Moving Up in the World?

Let GAWDA Edge help get you where you want to be! Check out the July issue of GAWDA Edge, the e-magazine for young professionals in the gases and welding industry, to learn about the management skills industry leaders demand, how to turn fear into focus, and why GAWDA's Annual Convention is the place to go for professional development. Plus, read Part 2 in the "Gases & Welding Vacation Destinations" series to discover another venue where you can deepen your knowledge of the welding and gases industry, even while away from the office! GAWDA Edge is also available in mobile and dial-up versions. Don't forget to visit the GAWDA Edge Forums to network with other Young Executives.

INDUSTRY BEAT
(what people are talking about)

Valley Names CEO (Washington, PA) • Valley National Gases named Michael J. Ziegler chief executive officer and a director of the company, effective July 16. Ziegler, formerly president of Airgas Great Lakes, succeeds William A. Indelicato, who retired as chief executive officer as of that date. Indelicato will remain a member of the company's board of directors.

Praxair Acquires Mills (Buffalo, NY) • Praxair Distribution, Inc. acquired Mills Welding & Specialty Gases, which employs 42 people and operates a filling plant, acetylene plant, warehouse and two stores in Buffalo, NY, with branches in Niagara Falls and Hamburg, NY. Mills will join Praxair Distribution's division based in Brampton, ON, Canada.

National Standard Celebrates 100 Years (Niles, MI) • National Standard is celebrating its centennial year in the industrial, weld and tire bead wire industries. The company began in 1907 as the National Cable and Manufacturing Company. "What began 100 years ago continues today," says Kevin Walsh, vice president and general manager of National Standard's Niles operations, "We have a company built on great employee support, strong brands and innovations desired by our customer base." National Standard also announced that Jim Harbaugh, national sales manager for weld wire sales, retired from the company on July 11 after 41 years of service. Says Dave Eckert, director of weld wire sales & marketing, "Jim is a true leader, well respected by our customer base, and leaves a solid legacy at National Standard that has touched the lives of many." Doug Cowan was promoted to strategic accounts manager representing product lines to both distributor and end-user accounts across North America.

Lehner & Martin Acquired (Radnor, PA) • Airgas, Inc. acquired Lehner & Martin, a Santa Ana, CA-based industrial gas and welding supply distributor with branches in Placentia, Gardena and Chino, CA. The company's operations have been integrated into Airgas West. Manager Mark Lehner joined Airgas West as an area vice president.

Superior Products Restructures Staff (Cleveland, OH) • Superior Products restructured its senior staff. Iain Hodgekins was named VP of operations, responsible for all three of Superior's manufacturing and assembly plants, as well as all MIS operations. Robert E. Ranc Sr. was named VP of sales, responsible for all of Superior's sales in the industrial, homecare and hospital markets. Tim Austin was named managing director of marketing and development, responsible for all of Superior's marketing programs and new product development. Gregory K. Gens was named executive VP of finance, responsible for all of Superior's accounting and administrative functions, as well as any new company acquisitions.

Iain Hodgekins Robert E. Ranc Sr. Tim Austin Gregory K. Gens

AWS Appoints Director (Miami, FL) • The American Welding Society (AWS) appointed Dr. Priti Jain as director of international business and certification programs. In this role, Dr. Jain will lead AWS's global expansion strategy with a primary mission to increase the society's program and certification base in the international market. She will be responsible for overseeing the society's international agencies and partners that conduct business, including certification programs, on behalf of AWS.

NAW SmartBriefs   Top Stories from around the industry.
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