April 1, 2024 – GAWDA Distributor News

Central McGowan Gases and Supplies Names Jason Kirby President

In a post on the company’s LinkedIn page, Central McGown named Jason Kirby as its new President. Kirby, who is on the GAWDA Board of Directors, comes to Central McGown after having spent the last 8 years with Oxarc, Inc. Prior to joining Oxarc, where he served as Executive Vice President, Jason worked for Airgas and Red Ball Oxgen.

Quinn Kennedy Becomes Partner at Red Ball Oxygen

Red Ball Oxygen is pleased to announce that Quinn Kennedy has purchased his father, Larry Kennedy’s, stake in Red Ball Oxygen, joining his cousin Alex Kennedy as an owner. This move completes the transition of ownership to the third generation of the Kennedy family since Quinn’s grandfather Craig Kennedy bought the company in 1969, ensuring that Red Ball Oxygen will remain a proudly independent, family-owned company for many years to come. Since joining Red Ball in 2013, Quinn has learned the business from the ground up by working in a variety of roles including plant operations, cryogenic technician, branch management, outside sales, and most recently, regional sales management. He is well-prepared and passionate about serving Red Ball’s customers and growing opportunities for Red Ball’s employees and suppliers.

Coastal Welding Supply Receives Prestigious Lincoln Electric Chairman’s Award

According to a post on the company’s LinkedIn page, Coastal Welding Supply received the prestigious Chairman’s Award from Lincoln Electric in recognition of the company’s “outstanding growth and distributor performance for 2023.” According to the post, “Only 10% of Lincoln distributors are eligible to receive this award.

Leonard Bugajewski Among Two Named as IBDEA Hall of Famers

GAWDA’s sister organization, the IBDEA, named Doug Damon and Leonard’s (formerly Leonard’s Syrups) Leonard Bugajewski as 2024 IBDEA Hall of Fame Inductees.

To learn more about the history of Leonard’s, click here.

Arc3 Gases Recognized with Chairman’s Award by Lincoln Electric

According to a post from the company’s LinkedIn page, Arc3 Gases was “honored and grateful to have received the Chairman’s Recognition from Lincoln Electric for the third consecutive year. This award underscores the importance of our supply partners and our dedication to providing technical expertise to our customers.”

Universal Compressed Air to Supply Pipeline Air to Massive Battery Plant in the Southeast

Universal Compressed Air (UCA) announced it has been selected to design, build, operate, and maintain a compressed air station for a massive electric vehicle battery plant in the Southeast.  

UCA will provide PIPELINE AIRTM as part of one of the largest investments in electric vehicles by an automotive manufacturer in the United States. PIPELINE AIRTM, UCA’s performance contracting model, is designed to allow companies to outsource compressed air as a utility, reduce energy and carbon footprint, preserve capital, and focus on their core business. UCA applies a design approach that focuses on the lowest evaluated cost coupled with system reliability, operability, ease of maintenance, and constructability.  

The campus will produce between 50,000 and 80,000 scfm of high-quality, reliable compressed air with an installed capacity of over 15,000 horsepower. UCA’s compressed air station will support the production of electric vehicles and advanced lithium-ion batteries.  

“We are grateful that UCA can support these critical, strategic electric vehicle initiatives, and this awarded compressed air station business is an extension of the successful relationships UCA built over the last decade,” said UCA Executive Vice President and COO, Rick Kowey.  

UCA looks forward to supporting the plant with efficient and reliable compressed air while minimizing its carbon footprint and continuing our commitment to building a sustainable future.