BREAKING NEWS

10 Innovations to Revitalize Your Business

In an age when distributors are fighting for market share, GAWDA members are finding that creativity is the key. In the Spring 2007 issue of GAWDA's magazine, Welding & Gases Today, GAWDA distributors share 10 innovations that have brought them sales success. For example:

1. Portable workstations facilitate a coffee producer's nitrogen MAP experiment.
2. Custom-built unit allows safe operation of hydrogen fuel cells.
3. Mobile training facility brings welding training to the customer.

To read about all 10 innovations—and learn how to facilitate innovation at your own company—check out the latest issue of Welding & Gases Today, in print and online at www.gawda.org.

Register Now to Save $100

Not yet registered for GAWDA University's 2007 Spring Management Conference? Register now and save $100! Don't wait until the deadline. The registration fee will increase after April 27. The 2007 SMC will take place on May 20-22 at the Pointe South Mountain Resort in Phoenix, AZ. Visit www.gawda.org to register online and for program details. You can also download the registration forms at the above link.

GAWDA March Madness!

The March issue of GAWDA Edge, the e-magazine for young professionals in the gases and welding industry, is filled with information to help guide your career from tip-off to championship. Practice the skills need to transition from "salesperson" to "sales professional." Meet the GAWDA Consultants, who provide indispensable advice to help distributors hone their competitive edge. And learn how to choose a retirement plan so you can enjoy financial success for many seasons to come. GAWDA Edge is also available in mobile and dial-up versions. Plus, visit the GAWDA Edge Forums to network with other high-scoring Young Executives.

SAFETY & COMPLIANCE NEWS

Final Rule Issued on Electrical Installation Standard • OSHA issued its final rule for an updated electrical installation standard for general industry. The changes focus on safety in the design and installation of electric equipment in the workplace. Details appear in the February 14 Federal Register and the new rule becomes effective August 13, 2007.

OSHA Compliance Manual Updated: Respirator Program (Tab 32) • Subscribers to the Online Compliance Manuals can view or download the document at www.gawda.org. For assistance, please call Malvenia Avery at 215-564-3484 ext. 2233.

NEW MEMBERS

GAWDA welcomes new Associate Member TECSYS Inc. of Montreal, QC, Canada.

INDUSTRY BEAT
(what people are talking about)

Campbell Named VP (West Allis, WI) • Joseph E. Campbell joined Machinery & Welder Corporation as vice president in January. Campbell, son of Machinery & Welder Corporation President Joseph F. Campbell, is responsible for overseeing the operation of the company. He brings 15 years of experience in the industry and is an AWS Senior Certified Welding Inspector, Certified Welding Educator and Certified Robotic Technician.

Air Liquide Names ALNET Personnel (Houston, TX) • Air Liquide America L.P. announced the addition of new personnel to its ALNET Distributor Network. Joe Cherneski was named distributor sales manager for the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic area. Cherneski is located in Richmond, VA, and brings 30 years of experience at Air Liquide, including 10 years working with distributors. Kevin Herbert joined the ALNET team as distributor sales and support representative, located in Tualatin, OR. Herbert joined Air Liquide in 1998 and was most recently part of the customer service team.

Matheson Tri-Gas to Add Air Separation Capacity (Basking Ridge, NJ) • Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation, the parent company of Matheson Tri-Gas, announced plans to increase its capacity for atmospheric gas products in the United States by building three air separation plants. The new air separation plants will be in southern California, the Midwest and central Texas. According to Matheson Tri-Gas President and COO James Samples, the expanded bulk gas capacity in the Midwest is in support of Matheson Tri-Gas' growth drive through its Linweld subsidiary, and the new plants in central Texas and southern California will enable Matheson's Industrial Gas Group to satisfy increased demand in those markets.

The Tregaskiss Welding Products staff

Tregaskiss Honored (Windsor, ON, Canada) • Tregaskiss Welding Products requalified as a winner of Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies Program for 2006. Tregaskiss was a winner of the program in 2005. The national award is sponsored by Deloitte, CIBC Commercial Banking, National Post and Queen's School of Business. The company was recognized for its passion for change, innovation in applying leading business practices, and ability to motivate employees.

Allcryo's new facility

Allcryo Opens New Facility (Conroe, TX) • Allcryo moved to a new facility on February 1 after outgrowing its previous shop. The new facility is located on 10 acres to hold all of the company's inventory of cryogenic and CO2 tanks, and features a 76,000 sq. ft. fabrication shop and 1,500 sq. ft. of office space.

Russ Shurtz

Richard Smith

New Instructors at Hobart Institute (Troy, OH) • The Hobart Institute of Welding Technology named two new instructors. Russ Shurtz is teaching courses in the Technical Training Department. Shurtz has five years of experience in welding and inspection of cryogenic tanks and boiler pressure vessels and tubes, and has worked in the chemical, pharmaceutical and utility industries. Richard Smith will provide skill welding training. Smith gained military welding experience aboard the USS Thomas S. Gates – CG51 as a hull maintenance technician and 2nd Class Petty Officer in the U.S. Navy and completed the Combination Structural and Pipe Welding Program at Hobart Institute.

Shawn Hall ELCo Names Marketing Coordinator (Jackson, MI) • ELCo Enterprises hired Shawn Hall as marketing coordinator. He is responsible for marketing and promotion of ELCo's line of weld wire dispensing and weld cell support equipment.

In Sympathy A.G. Pond Co. Owner John Havens John Havens, 83, a longtime member of GAWDA/NWSA, passed away on March 4. Mr. Havens was born in Springfield, IL, and later became the owner of A.G. Pond Co., a welding supply distributorship in San Jose, CA. He was an active member of NWSA (later GAWDA) until he sold A.G. Pond Co. in the 1980s, and he served the association in many capacities, including Western Zone Vice President. Mr. Havens will be remembered for his many years of dutiful service to the industry and for his wonderful sense of humor. Tucker Murray Liberty Industrial Gases Founder Tucker Murray Thomas L. (Tucker) Murray, 64, founder of Liberty Industrial Gases and Welding Supply, died on March 9. Mr. Murray got his start in the welding supply industry through his father-in-law at Wilson and Stokes in Trenton, NJ. In 1986, he started Liberty Industrial Gases and Welding Supply in Brooklyn, NY. A longtime member of GAWDA, Mr. Murray was known for his keen business sense and marketing abilities. His strong work ethic was passed on to his four children. The youngest, Ashley Murray, will continue to run the business. GAWDA members are welcome to attend a memorial service for Mr. Murray at the Friends Meeting House in Crosswicks, NJ, on March 31.

GAWDA NEWS

Reserve Your Room Now • Don't have a room yet at GAWDA's headquarters hotel for the SMC, the Pointe South Mountain Resort? The GAWDA room block is filling up fast. If you plan on attending the SMC on May 20-22, we encourage you to book your room ASAP. You can either call 1-877-800-4888 to make your reservation or download the hotel reservation form at www.gawda.org. Don't forget to mention GAWDA for the special rate of $199 for single or double occupancy.

2007 Profit Survey • GAWDA Distributor Members are encouraged to participate in the GAWDA 2007 Profit Survey. Download the survey at www.gawda.org. Having problems completing the survey? Contact the Profit Planning Group at 303-444-6212 or GAWDA Headquarters at 215-564-3484.

Profit Improvement Report • Most GAWDA members are acutely aware of the need for improved gross margin performance. The challenge is how to produce higher margins in a highly price-competitive world. Very high on almost everybody's list is to change the sales mix to sell more of the high-margin items. This would seem to have the potential to increase margins without any reduction in price competitiveness. Read more of "Improving Margin With Product Mix: Mission Impossible," prepared for GAWDA by Al Bates of Profit Planning Group, on GAWDA's Web site.

2007 Regional Meetings GAWDA is looking forward to a successful year of Regional Meetings! Planning is underway and you will be updated as new meeting dates become available. Do you live in the Central Zone and would like to receive Regional Meeting announcements for meetings in the Eastern Zone? To fill out the form to receive additional announcements to meetings outside your zone, visit www.gawda.org.                2007 Regional Meeting Dates                ZONE DATE LOCATION REGIONAL CHAIR PHONE SE June 3-4 Hattiesburg, MS Sam Thompson Airgas South 678-776-0023 CE June 4-5 East Lansing, MI John DeHoust Baker's Gas 313-383-5690 EA June 20 Boylston, MA Robert E. O'Brien Gas and Air Systems, Inc. 610-838-9625 or 610-462-7979   SE August 12-13 Birmingham, AL Gregg Waltman Linde Gas 205-322-9990

WORKSHOPS, WEB CONFERENCES & SEMINARS

2007 GAWDA University Compliance Update Seminar
March 27-30, Indianapolis, IN
Seats for this seminar are filling up quickly, with over 60 attendees already signed up! Don't miss out on your only opportunity this year to attend this vital training event. This year's session features a new seminar on crisis management and emergency planning, as well as our industry-leading compliance update training. Online registration is available at this link. Program details and the registration form can also be found at www.gawda.org.

Demonstrating Total Cost Savings
March 28, 1:00 p.m. ET
In this webinar, Tim Underhill of Strategic Business Solutions LLC will show you why customers need suppliers that can reduce their total operating costs, why you need to show your value, and how you can document your value quickly and easily. Registration is $149 per site. Online registration is also available. For more details, visit www.gawda.org.

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. 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.

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