BREAKING NEWS

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Spring Management Conference May 20-22, 2007 Pointe South Mountain Resort Phoenix, Arizona

Not yet registered for GAWDA University's 2007 Spring Management Conference? Register this week and save $100! The registration fee will increase after Friday, 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.

Although GAWDA's initial room block at the Pointe South Mountain Resort is sold out, additional hotel rooms are available at the Legacy Golf Resort, which is approximately 2 miles from the SMC hotel. More information is available at www.gawda.org. Please check with the Pointe South Mountain Resort for availability as the conference dates approach, as rooms may open up due to cancellations.

Why Attend the 2007 SMC? The GAWDA University Spring Management Conference is a perfect opportunity for you to advance your career and learn more about the industry. In an exclusive video clip, 2007 GAWDA President Bob Ames explains the many benefits of the SMC, especially for up-and-coming young professionals. Watch the Video

Scope Out the SMC Crowd Early

Who will be at the SMC? Get a sneak peek! Visit the Current Events page at www.gawda.org to view a list of exhibitors who will be at the Contact Booth Program on Sunday, April 20, as well as an advance registration list.

Clean Up Your Act!

Spring cleaning time has arrived, and the April issue of GAWDA Edge, the e-magazine for young professionals in the gases and welding industry, is here to help! Read tips to help you polish up your leadership skills for future success. Discover how to fix problems the first time so you can avoid clean-up duty later. And learn how to get your house in order for DOT audits. GAWDA Edge is also available in mobile and dial-up versions. Plus, visit the GAWDA Edge Forums to network with other Young Executives.

NEW MEMBERS

GAWDA welcomes new Associate Members Arcos Alloys of Mt. Carmel, PA, and Master Weld Products of Coplay, PA.

INDUSTRY BEAT
(what people are talking about)

Joe Barney

Chris Owen

Glenn Skirvin

WestAir Names Personnel (San Diego, CA) • WestAir Gases & Equipment announced the following personnel changes. Joe Barney was promoted from industrial sales manager to regional manager for the Imperial County/Arizona market areas. Chris Owen, formerly of Parsons Airgas, was appointed industrial sales manager for San Diego County, and Glenn Skirvin, also formerly of Parsons Airgas, was appointed accounting analyst for WestAir. "The addition of these experienced and quality people will assure WestAir's continued strong growth in our respective marketing areas," says WestAir General Manager Ron Savage.

GTS Acquires Mercer Oxygen & Supply Co. (Allentown, PA) • GTS, Inc. acquired the assets and operations of Mercer Oxygen & Supply Company, an industrial gas and welding supply distributor with locations in Trenton and Flemington, NJ. "The Mercer operations will add to our service capabilities and strengthen our presence in the Trenton and central New Jersey markets," says Wayne Feret, region manager for GTS's Eastern Region.

Manley Named Airgas East President (Radnor, PA) • Frederick E. Manley was named president of Airgas East, one of the 13 regional companies that make up Airgas' distribution business. Manley, who had been area VP and GM for Northern New England for the past 3 years, brings more than 20 years of business and sales management experience, including the last 6 years with Airgas East, based in Salem, NH. Manley replaces Jim Muller, who recently accepted a new role as senior VP – specialty gases and life sciences for Airgas, Inc.

The staff of SafTCart display their Governor's Communities of Excellence Award.

SafTCart Receives Governor's Award (Clarksdale, MS) • SafTCart received the "Best Overall Community Impact for a County" award in the Mississippi Governor's Communities of Excellence Award Ceremony, held at the Mississippi State Capitol in March. Gray Swoope, executive director of the Mississippi Development Authority, and Dr. Eugene McLemore, director of the Community Services Division, presented the award to SafTCart CEO Jimmy Walker Sr.

Washington Alloy Expands (Rancho Cucamonga, CA) • Washington Alloy Company opened a new warehouse and sales office in Stafford, TX, to service the Houston area and the surrounding markets in TX, LA, OK and NM. The warehouse and office are located at 4855 Alpine Drive, Stafford.

Matheson Tri-Gas Acquires Polar Cryogenics (Basking Ridge, NJ) • Matheson Tri-Gas completed the purchase of Polar Cryogenics of Portland, OR. The purchase will add three new operations to the Matheson Tri-Gas network, and the acquired company will become a part of the Matheson Tri-Gas Global Specialty Gases strategic business unit. Jack Federico will continue to head the business as VP and GM.

Acme Cryogenics Honored (Allentown, PA) • Acme Cryogenics' Mitchell Avenue facility in Allentown, PA, received the Compressed Gas Association's 2006 Environmental Award in the categories of Pollution Prevention and Conservation of Resources. Awards are presented to facilities that have conducted activities and/or projects meeting identified "environmental excellence" criteria. Acme reevaluated its entire oxygen cleaning process and the associated generated waste stream to reduce water consumption and discharge by more than a million gallons per year, eliminate the use of 2,915 gallons of hazardous substances/chemicals per year and reduce hazardous waste generation by over 2 tons per year.

Harsco Divisions Raise Prices (Mechanicsburg, PA) • The Taylor-Wharton business unit of Harsco GasServ issued increased surcharge schedules effective April 16. Base prices will increase on May 1. Affected product lines include acetylene and high pressure cylinders, bulk and micro-bulk cryogenic storage tanks, cryogenic liquid cylinders, beverage carbonation equipment and stainless steel freezers. Sherwood, a business unit of Harsco GasServ, announced price increases effective May 14 for all product lines. New price schedules will reflect increases averaging 11%.

GAWDA NEWS

Webinar Audio Recording Available • If you missed the April 10 GAWDA webinar "Best Practices for Physical Inventory," presented by David Schaer of Computers Unlimited, you can now download the recording onto your iPod or MP3 player by visiting the Podcast page on www.gawda.org. To subscribe to the GAWDA Podcast Feed, visit http://www.gawda.org/GAWDAfeed.xml.

Profit Survey Deadline Extended • The deadline for the GAWDA 2007 Profit Survey has been extended through May 15. Please complete the survey today if you have not yet done so, and send it directly to the Profit Planning Group. If you have problems completing the survey, contact the Profit Planning Group at 303-444-6212 or GAWDA Headquarters at 215-564-3484. Thank you for your participation. You can download the survey under GAWDA News at www.gawda.org.

2007 Regional Meetings Last year, GAWDA held 13 Regional Meetings all over the country. This year we have more opportunities for you to network in your own backyard. Regional Meetings are held within driving distance of many of our members throughout the spring and summer. They are affordable, informative and fun! Regional Meetings offer attendees a chance to hear industry leaders speak about the industry and to meet with GAWDA Consultants, Board Members and other association volunteers. Meet with customers and suppliers, network with your peers, and get insight on the industry. It's an unbeatable value! 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. The regional calendar will be updated as new meeting dates become available!                2007 Regional Meeting Dates                ZONE DATE LOCATION REGIONAL CHAIR PHONE EA May 30-31 Atlantic City, NJ Lloyd Robinson AWISCO 718-786-7788 or 917-560-5405   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 12 Beaver, PA Heather Ferrand Butler Gas 412-771-7660 EA June 21 Boylston, MA Robert E. O'Brien Gas and Air Systems, Inc. 610-838-9625 or 610-462-7979   CE July 12 Indianapolis, IN Gary Halter BOC 317-562-9060 CE July 20 Naperville, IL Hector Villarreal Weldcoa 630-806-2000 W July 25-27 Union, WA Dan Enz Gordon Sales Co. 360-705-2391 SE August 12-13 Birmingham, AL Gregg Waltman Linde Gas 205-322-9990 CE August 21 Merrimac, WI Brad Peterson Mississippi Welders Supply Company 507-454-5231 EA August 28 Gettysburg, PA Doug Morton Harsco GasServ 717-731-7923 W October 5 Lodi, CA Rob Kinney Airgas 916-759-6445

WORKSHOPS, WEB CONFERENCES & SEMINARS

Advanced Cylinder Management and Mobile Delivery
Tuesday, May 15, 11:00 a.m. ET
This webinar, presented by David Schaer of Computers Unlimited, is designed for distributor personnel responsible for fill plant operations, dispatching and delivery, cylinder tracking, management and analysis. The webinar is free to GAWDA members. Get details on how to participate at www.gawda.org.

Liquid Cylinders
Tuesday, May 29, 11:00 a.m. ET
This educational webinar, presented by Jeff Clay and Troy Stukey of Harsco GasServe, is intended for distributor personnel responsible for liquid cylinder applications (filling, distribution, installation, operation, sales and safety). The webinar is free to GAWDA members. Get details on how to participate at www.gawda.org.

Young Distribution Professionals Conference
August 5-8, Itasca, IL
This conference, designed specifically for young professionals targeted for future increased responsibilities, will expose your "up and comers" to the full range of key distribution issues and give them the tools to be more effective in their current position. It will also give them networking opportunities with other young professionals and increase their enthusiasm for distribution as a career. A complete brochure is available at 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