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| A Semi-Monthly Newsletter for the Gases and Welding Distributors Association |
October 8, 2007
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BREAKING NEWS President Stoneback on the Year Ahead for GAWDA Gary Stoneback was inaugurated on September 19 as GAWDA’s 62nd President. With his theme, "Teamwork," he is looking forward to working in tandem with GAWDA's Board of Directors on a number of important goals for the association.
President Stoneback’s number one priority this year will be to take a look at the association’s revenues and expenses. "It’s our fiduciary responsibility to the membership to make sure we're spending their money wisely and that we're giving members the best bang for their buck," he says. Another priority—and one that Stoneback is very excited about—is the new GAWDA University online training tool, which he predicts will be up and running in time for the Chicago Spring Management Conference in March. He also stresses his commitment to providing excellent meetings that provide both educational and networking opportunities. "This year we have two SMCs, in Chicago and Miami, and the Annual Convention is at the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas," he says. "I also want to continue the emphasis on regional meetings that 2007 President Bob Ames started." The coming year will see the continued growth of GAWDA'’s Young Executives program, of which Stoneback served as chair in the group's inaugural year. However, he says, "I also want to emphasize to the older generations of executives that we’re relying on them and their values and experience. This association is built on executives of all ages, and we’re all going to be working hand-in-hand to help GAWDA move forward." Growth of Health Insurance Premiums Slows Health insurance premiums grew at a lower rate for the fourth straight year, according to an annual survey conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research and Educational Trust. Premiums increased an average of 6.1% between spring 2006 and spring 2007, compared to a 7.7% increase the previous year. Annual employer contributions to premiums averaged $4,479 for single coverage and $12,106 for family coverage. Sixty percent of firms offer health coverage, though the percentage of firms offering coverage increases as the size of the firm increases. The full report is available on the Kaiser Family Foundation Web site.
SAFETY & COMPLIANCE NEWS October Safety & Technology Organizer Online •The October 2007 Safety & Technology Organizer is now available at www.gawda.org. Topics include Contractor Safety, Preventing Welding & Cutting Fires, DOT Compliance Review and Assessing FDA Compliance.
NEW MEMBERS GAWDA welcomes new new Distributor Member All Safe, Inc. of Minneapolis, MN.
INDUSTRY
BEAT
Sutton-Garten Receives AWS Award (Indianapolis, IN) • Sutton-Garten Company won the AWS 2007 Image of Welding Award for the distributor category. The company was recognized for working closely with local Indianapolis high schools and providing supplies and equipment at a reduced price. Sutton-Garten donated money for trophies and materials to the Mid-West Team Welding Tournament. In addition, the company holds welding certification classes at its facility, which includes a 2,000 sq. ft. showroom and demonstration area and an 8,000 sq. ft. warehouse and customer training facility. Central Welding Purchases D & B Welding Supply (North Lakeland, WA) • Central Welding Supply expanded its operations in the Puget Sound area by purchasing D & B Welding Supply (Renton, WA). D & B's building and property will operate as the Central Welding Supply Renton Branch. This acquisition is expected to add between $1.2M and $1.5M annually in additional revenues.
Harsco GasServ Names Sales Director, Adds Strategic Account Executive (Mechanicsburg, PA) • Harsco GasServ promoted Mark Fleischer to the position of director-sales, Pan Pacific. In his new position, Fleischer will represent the Taylor-Wharton and Sherwood business units of Harsco’s GasServ Group in Asia, Australia and New Zealand. He will also manage the company’s sales and customer service teams in Beijing, Kaula Lumpur and Albury, NSW. Fleischer began his career at Harsco GasServ in 1996 and has held various management positions in sales and marketing. Taylor-Wharton named Ray Homan as strategic account executive for the company’s U.S. distributor network of beverage carbonation and cryo-science products. Additionally, Homan will assume sales responsibilities in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean ELCo Hires Regional Sales Manager (Jackson, MS) • ELCo Enterprises hired Kevin Williams as regional sales manager and product specialist for the U.S. Mid-South Region. Williams has more than 15 years’ experience in the welding industry and provides sales and support for ELCo’s line of weld wire dispensing and weld cell support equipment. Air Liquide Acquires Medical, Specialty Gas Business (Houston, TX) • Air Liquide finalized its acquisition of Team One Technologies Inc. (Romeoville, IL), an independent producer and distributor of medical and specialty gases. In addition to medical and specialty gases, the facility will provide Air Liquide’s non-medical packaged and specialty gas business with another geographic base for direct and distributor sales. “We look forward to increasing our presence in the Chicago area, expanding our customer relationships and attracting new business,” says Kim Denney, president of Air Liquide America L.P.
GAWDA NEWS HR Report Available • The October 2007 HR Manager's Legal Reporter is now available for download at www.gawda.org.
WORKSHOPS, WEB CONFERENCES & SEMINARS Welding Fume Control Methodology
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The
GAWDA Connection is distributed on the 8th and 23rd of each
month to all GAWDA members as GAWDA
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