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Global Gases Group Signs Matheson Tri-Gas Agreement (Parsippany, NJ) • Matheson Tri-Gas has added Global Gases Group, a distributor in Dubai, as its first International Global Enable Process Approved Distributor. The agreement forms an exclusive specialty gas marketing alliance in Middle Eastern countries, including the planning of a state-of-the-art specialty gas producing facility in Dubai. Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer and General Manager of Matheson Tri Gas' Global Specialty Gas Group Rick Kowey says, "Our partnership with Global Gases Group will greatly enhance the value of both companies." Thermadyne Advisory Council Meets (St. Louis, MO) • The Thermadyne Advisory Council recently met in New Orleans. The meeting included a challenge where Thermadyne matched money raised by distributors for the New Orleans chapter of Habitat for Humanity, resulting in $10,000 for the charity. Music for the meeting was provided by the Jaywalkers, whose band leader recently moved into a Habitat for Humanity home after losing hers during Hurricane Katrina.
Panasonic Picks Phoenix Welding (Phoenix, AZ) • Phoenix Welding Supply Company has been named a servicing distributor for Panasonic’s line of automated welding equipment.
Michael Ostaffe Joins ESAB (Florence, SC) • ESAB hired Michael Ostaffe as vice president of product management and development for the Filler Metals division. Having worked at Honeywell, General Electric, Philips and A.T. Kearney, Ostaffe will be in charge of marketing communications in addition to leading ESAB’s programs in product management, product research and development of filler metals. Chart Industries Price Changes (Garfield Heights, OH) • Chart Industries is raising its base pricing for atmospheric and CO2 bulk tanks by 4% for all orders made on or after July 15. It also will be assessing its surcharge schedule on a monthly basis. President Tom Carey cites increased costs for carbon steel plates as the main reason for the pricing changes in addition to other materials and freight costs. Hypertherm Named "Best Place to Work" (Hanover, NH) • The Great Place to Work Institute named Hypertherm as the one of the "Best Places to Work in America." Hypertherm ranked 22nd in a list of over 300 companies. The ranking was based on a survey completed by employees and the Institute's evaluation of Hypertherm's credibility, respect, fairness, pride and camaraderie. In other news, Hypertherm acquired ESSE A Srl., an Italy-based supplier and manufacturer of laser products. No significant changes are planned in the operations of 20-year-old ESSE A.
GAWDA NEWS Registration Open for Annual Convention • Members can now register to attend GAWDA's 64th Annual Convention, taking place at the Atlantis on Paradise Island, in the Bahamas, on September 21-25. Visit the Current Events page at www.gawda.org to register online for Convention, Contact Booth Program and Golf Tournaments. You can make an individual donation to the Gives Back Program online. It's faster, easier and much more convenient! You can also download the Convention Registration Form, as well as the Exhibitor Application, Golf Tournament and Gives Back donation forms at the same link. Corporate donations, as well as individual donations to GAWDA Gives Back, can also be made by filling out the donation form and faxing it to GAWDA Headquarters.
Travel Tips: Don’t Leave Home Without Them • If you are going to the annual convention, you will want to read this. GAWDA Dues Survey 2008-09 • The GAWDA Board of Directors created a Dues Task Force to revise and implement a new dues schedule for the upcoming fiscal year. As part of this process, we need accurate financial information from each of our members. Please fill out the dues survey that was e-mailed to all Key Contacts on May 28. If you did not receive this survey, please contact Kate Cole at kcole@fernley.com. HR Report Available • The July 2008 HR Manager's Legal Reporter is now available for download at www.gawda.org. GAWDA Clearinghouse • The GAWDA Clearinghouse has been updated for the month and is available here. Young Distribution Professionals Scholarship Recipients • GAWDA randomly selected the names of five young professionals to receive a scholarship to attend the Young Distribution Professionals Conference on August 3-6. The conference is targeted at professionals with less than 10 years of experience looking to develop their career skills. The five scholarship recipients were nominated by their respective companies and include: Ryan Boyd, CryoVation; Dani Epstein, AWISCO; Jesse Mayne, Earlbeck Gases and Technologies; Eswin Solares, Complete Welding & Cutting Supplies; and Aaron Wolfe, Mississippi Welders Supply Company.
Central Zone Meets in East Lansing, MI. • On June 3-4, Bob Ranc, director of sales, Superior Products (Cleveland, OH), and John DeHoust, vice president of sales, Baker’s Gas & Welding Supplies (Lincoln Park, MI), hosted a Regional Meeting and golf outing at the Timber Ridge Golf Club in East Lansing, MI. The event opened with a cocktail and networking reception. The meeting was a great success—64 distributor and supplier members registered for the meeting, and heard GAWDA President Gary Stoneback and Weldcoa's Hector Villarreal. Miller Welding Supply's (Buchanan, MI) Patrick Clay and Michael Clay, along with Lincoln Electric's Kerry Bodnovich and Phil Fulgenzi won the golf game.
Eastern Zone Holds Successful Regional Meeting in Atlantic City, NJ • On June 18-19, Lloyd Robinson, president of AWISCO (Maspeth, NY), hosted a Regional Meeting at the Trump Marina in Atlantic City, NJ. Eighty-nine people attended, including GAWDA Executive Director Kent Van Amburg and First Past President Bob Ames of Commonwealth Supply Company (York, PA). Linde's Jim Lisiecki spoke about the distributor-supplier relationship in bulk gases; Joe Slezak of Miller Electric discussed learning strategies that invest in people to grow business results; and General Air Service and Supply's Art Waskey presented on qualifying customers. Following the presentations, 64 attendees enjoyed a game of golf at The Links at Brigantine Beach.
Take Advantage of GAWDA University Online GAWDA U is an easy-to-use and inexpensive online training tool for your employees. The educational content of GAWDA U was developed to support GAWDA's primary mission of providing information to assist you in improving your company's safety and compliance. GAWDA U Online will be an ever-changing and growing program. The initial course offerings will concentrate on training for new employees during their first 90 days. The second generation of content will focus on more advanced training that will build upon the earlier basic/elementary courses. This summer, we will be seeking training material from our members that can be adapted to the GAWDA U platform and will expand the program to include supplier-based training on company-specific products and services. We are conducting weekly Webinars to introduce members to the functions and content of GAWDA U and to answer any questions. Please contact GAWDA Membership Director Kate Cole (kcole@fernley.com) to sign up for the introductory webinars or to find out more about this exciting opportunity!
WORKSHOPS, WEB CONFERENCES & SEMINARS Young Distribution Professionals Conference (Live) Developing an Inventory State of Mind (Webinar)
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