BREAKING NEWS

Reminder To All GAWDA Young Executives

If you plan to be at the GAWDA SMC in Chicago and you are a Young Executive, get your bowling ball out and head over to the Lucky Strikes Lanes on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. for an afternoon of networking, bowling and good fun with your GAWDA friends. Hope to see you there!

Miami SMC Hotel Sold Out

The official GAWDA room block at the Intercontinental Miami is sold out. The Intercontinental has limited availability over the dates of the Miami SMC and the GAWDA room rate is not guaranteed. As we get closer to the conference dates, please check with the Intercontinental Miami for availability. Rooms may open up due to cancellations. GAWDA group rates will be subject to availability.

The Hyatt Regency Miami, GAWDA's overflow hotel, has availability at GAWDA's group rate of $249/night. The hotel is approximately 2 blocks away from the Intercontinental. To make reservations at the Hyatt Regency, please call the hotel directly at 800-223-1234 or 305-358-1234.

The Dr. Is In: Free Help for Dealing With Uncertain Times

As you well know, the economy has gotten very soft very fast. As a result, some GAWDA members may be struggling a little at this point in time. Given the uncertain economic times, many firms could probably benefit from some outside financial advice. Dr. Al Bates of the Profit Planning Group has agreed to chat with any GAWDA members FREE OF CHARGE. The session can be for up to 15 minutes, on any topic of concern.

SAFETY & COMPLIANCE NEWS

March Safety & Technology Organizer Online • The December Safety & Technology Organizer is now available at www.gawda.org. Topics include OSHA Issues Enforcement Procedures Directive for New Hexavalent Chromium Standards, Electrical Cords, Cables & Extension Cords, SP-14175, the 10 Year Retest on Clusters and Part 11, Electronic Records: Electronic Signatures (A series of Articles)/Part 4: Section-by-Section Review of the Part 11 Regulations.

NEW MEMBERS

GAWDA welcomes new Distributor Member Tap Resources of Orefield, PA; new Supplier Member Industrial System Engineering LLC, of Amherst, WI; and new Canadian Member Fiba Canning Inc., of Scarborough, ON, Canada.

Showroom Shots Have you just remodeled your showroom? Opened a new showroom? We want to hear from you. Please fill out this form.

INDUSTRY BEAT
(what people are talking about)

AOC Acquires Bailey Oxygen (Harlingen, TX) • Acetylene Oxygen Corporation (AOC) acquired Bailey Oxygen and Tool Company (Bryan, TX). Bailey Oxygen is a 50-year-old family owned company with 22 employees and annual sales of more than $4 million. The newly acquired location in Bryan will operate under the name AOC Welding Supply.

Matheson Tri-Gas Changes Organizational Structure (Basking Ridge, NJ) • Matheson Tri-Gas named company chairman William Kroll president and chief executive officer in addition to his current duties. The company also appointed Daniel Lambert senior vice president, packaged division, and Butch Miller senior vice president, bulk division.

Phoenix Welding Celebrates 55 and Opens New Store (Phoenix, AZ) • Phoenix Welding Supply Company will celebrate its 55th anniversary with an open house celebration on March 19 and 20. The two days have been described by L. Michael Dye, president, as a “thank you celebration for allowing us the opportunity to grow and prosper along with the state of Arizona.” With anticipated attendance between 1,500 to 2,000, Phoenix Welding Supply will be able to showcase the latest in technology from Miller Electric with their 2008 Road Show as well as other major manufacturers.

Phoenix Welding Supply recently opened its 9th store and warehouse in Globe, AZ. Globe is in the heart of the largest copper mining district in the United States. Greg Marin is the manager of the new facility.

LifeGas Acquires Sky Oxygen Medical Gas Operations (Atlanta, GA) • LifeGas, a company of The Linde Group, acquired the medical-gas business of Sky Oxygen (Carnegie, PA). LifeGas gained two of Sky Oxygen's locations in Akron, OH, and Erie, PA, and is operating from Sky Oxygen's Carnegie location. Seventeen Sky Oxygen sales and operations associates will be joining LifeGas. "The addition of Sky Oxygen's medical gas business significantly strengthens our supply chain in the eastern U.S.," says LifeGas President Mike Walsh. "Both companies bring a strong customer service focus and dedication to quality."

Air Liquide Canada Makes Executive Appointments (Montreal, QC, Canada) • Air Liquide named Michael J. Graff as chairman of the board of Air Liquide Canada. Graff will continue to serve as president and CEO of Air Liquide USA LLC and as director of its U.S. subsidiary businesses. Luc Doyon, currently Air Liquide Canada’s president and COO, was appointed its chief executive officer.

Top Five Daytona 500 Finishers are Lincoln Cars (Cleveland, OH) • The 50th running of the Daytona 500 on February 17 was one of the most anticipated sporting events of the year. The NASCAR season got off to an exciting start with Ryan Newman taking 1st place, Kurt Busch in 2nd, Tony Stewart in 3rd, Kyle Busch in 4th and Reed Soreson in 5th. The Lincoln Electric Company helped put them there, as the company is the exclusive provider of welding equipment and products to each of the top five finishers. Each of the top five drivers and their teams use Lincoln Electric welding fabrication equipment in their shops. In its role as an exclusive NASCAR performance partner, Lincoln regularly provides welding equipment, training and application solutions to a number of NASCAR teams. The company's involvement in racing extends not only to NASCAR, but also to IRL, ARCA and NHRA.

Steve Iffland

Western International’s Iffland Promoted (Bellville, TX) • Western International Gas & Cylinders has promoted Steve Iffland to executive vice president sales, marketing & business development. Iffland's continued focus and expertise while aligning Western's initiatives and strategy with BTU Gases has helped Western to expand its market throughout the United States.

Praxair Names Sustainability Chief (Danbury, CT) • Praxair has named Riva Krut to the newly created position of director of sustainability. Krut will chair the company's Sustainability Council and be responsible for identifying priorities and setting corporate sustainability goals, targets and action plans. She comes to the position with 25 years of experience as a sustainability and management consultant.

Air Liquide Announces Price Increases for U.S. Bulk Gases (Houston, TX) • The prices of bulk industrial gases from Air Liquide U.S. LP have increased, according to the company. Price increases are between 10 and 15 percent for oxygen and nitrogen; between 15 and 25 percent for carbon dioxide and dry ice; and 15 and 25 percent, respectively, for argon and helium.

Airgas Acquires Northeast Gas Technologies (Radnor, PA) • Airgas, Inc. acquired the assets and operations of Northeast Gas Technologies Ltd., an Albany, NY-based distributor of industrial, medical and specialty gases and related supplies. The acquired business, with five locations in upstate New York and Vermont, generated $10 million in revenues in 2007. Effective March 1, operations were integrated into Airgas East. The operations include a headquarters and industrial fill plant in Albany, NY, with branches in Vestal, Ithaca, and Hyde Park, NY, as well as Rutland, VT. Northeast Gas Technologies traces its roots back a half-century. In 1976, Donald Baker purchased the business and his son, Ross "Rusty" Baker, took over the business in 1996, expanding its scope dramatically. In 2001, it opened a modern cylinder fill plant showroom, and corporate offices.

ESAB, MegaStir Pair To Create Friction Stir Welding Systems (Florence, SC) • ESAB Welding & Cutting Products has signed an agreement with MegaStir giving ESAB exclusive worldwide license to manufacture and distribute friction stir welding machines using MegaStir's technology for ferrous alloys, non-ferrous alloys, metal matrix composites and superalloys. This agreement also gives ESAB worldwide distribution rights, except in certain countries, to distribute MegaStir branded tools. MegaStir is a strategic alliance between SII MEGADIAMOND, Inc., a business unit of Smith International, Inc., and Advanced Metal Products, Inc.

Chart Promotes Two Executives (Cleveland, OH) • Chart Industries, Inc. named James H. Hoppel, Jr. to the newly created position of vice president-corporate development. Hoppel joined Chart in 2004, and most recently served as chief accounting officer and controller. In addition, Kenneth J. Webster was promoted to chief accounting officer and controller. Webster previously served as director-internal audit.

Five Most Popular Articles in Welding & Gases Today Online During the Last Month 40 Under 40 Interviews with the next generation of leaders Success Stories Distributors and suppliers team up for customer solutions. Scaling New Heights Distributors explore new avenues for growth in 2008. Tools Of The Trade A look back at the history of welding equipment Buzzwords for 2008 Suppliers increase Efficiencies and Communication. Click on the titles above or here to view other articles in Welding & Gases Today Online

GAWDA NEWS

Human Resources Volunteers Needed
     Are you in charge of Human Resources for your company?
     Do you have ideas about how GAWDA and the Human Resources Committee
         might be able to assist GAWDA members in this area?

If you answered yes to either of those questions, please contact Kent Van Amburg (kvanamburg@fernley.com) to find out how you can contribute to the restructuring of GAWDA's Human Resources Committee. Your commitment will include several conference calls and one committee meeting in Philadelphia, PA.

HR Report Available • The March 2008 HR Manager's Legal Reporter is now available for download at www.gawda.org.

The GAWDA Clearinghouse has been updated for the month.

Young Executive Partnership Program

All of GAWDA's Young Executives wish to thank the following Member Companies for their generous support of the Young Executive educational programs and networking opportunities in 2008.

2008 REGIONAL MEETINGS It’s that time of year! Regional Meetings are off to a great start and offer attendees a chance to see Industry Leaders speak about the industry, meet with GAWDA Consultants, Board Members and other association volunteers. Meet with customers, suppliers, network with your peers and get some insight on the industry. It’s an unbeatable value! Please click here for details The regional calendar will be updated as new meeting dates become available!                2008 Regional Meeting Dates                ZONE DATE LOCATION REGIONAL CHAIR PHONE SE April 13-14 Birmingham, AL Gregg Waltman Airgas South 205-873-1211 C June 3-4 East Lansing, MI John Dehoust/Bob Ranc 313-383-5690 SE June 8-9 Hattiesburg, MS Sam Thompson 678-776-0023 EA June 18-19 Atlantic City, NJ Lloyd Robinson AWISCO 718-786-7788 or 917-560-5405    SE June 22-23 Lexington, KY Ken Tidwell WDPG/The Horton Group 800-598-9099 W July 23-25 Stevenson, WA Rick Henson Oxarc, Inc. 509-535-7794 or 509-370-1201    SW August 18-19 (tentative) Kansas City, MO David Hanchette Kirk Welding Supply 816-221-3040 C August 21 Ft. Wayne, IN Ken Flora 260-423-4468

WORKSHOPS, WEB CONFERENCES & SEMINARS

The GAWDA Connection is distributed on the 8th and 23rd of each month to all GAWDA members as a membership service of GAWDA, the Gases and Welding Distributors Association, 100 N. 20th Street, 4th Floor, Philadelphia, PA, 19103-1443. Neither GAWDA nor Data Key Communications, LLC, their officers, directors, members and staff are responsible for contents or opinions other than those concerning Association activities.

If you no longer wish to receive the GAWDA Connection, please respond here.
Privacy Statement

GAWDA HEADQUARTERS
100 North 20th Street, 4th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103-1443
phone 215.564.3484 - fax 213.963.9784
gawda@fernley.com

Copyright © 2008 Data Key Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved. No portion of this newsletter may be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher.