When Eric Wood officially accepted the mantle of GAWDA Presidency, he immediately had enormous shoes to fill. Not only was he accepting the presidency from Gary Halter, fresh off of his IMPACTful year as President, but he did so following in the footsteps of his own father, Craig Wood, who previously served as GAWDA President. And on top of that, he did so as GAWDA celebrated its 80th Anniversary in 2025. So, it was especially poignant, when Woody selected “Sustaining a Resilient Culture” for his theme as GAWDA President.
He worked all year, meticulously crafting two conferences and countless other educational opportunities around sustaining the culture that GAWDA has built over the past eight decades. Now, as Woody prepares to depart his year as GAWDA President during the 2025 Annual Convention in Tampa, we had the opportunity to interview him to reflect on the enormous progress that the association made this year.
The following is a lightly edited transcript of the interview. To see the full interview, watch the September 1st episode of GAWDA TV.
WELDING & GASES TODAY: Woody, as you’re entering the final month of your GAWDA Presidency, can you tell us what the whole experience has been like for you? Were there any surprises or anything that you especially cherished about the experience?
ERIC WOOD: Overall, the experience has been great. I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside a lot of talented individuals, and people that are passionate about our industry and our organization. To develop stronger relationships across our membership. And I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with so many great people who have new ideas. And I’m proud of the things that we did, such as the expanded offerings we offer.
It’s the creativity that has made this role very professionally fulfilling for me.
WELDING & GASES TODAY: The way GAWDA structures the executive committee, once you are in line to be President, you start sitting on the other planning committees for SMC and AC. I think that’s a great way to do things. So, you have been on planning committees before, but how different is it when it’s your SMC and AC that you’re planning? Did you have any must-haves going into those sessions?
ERIC WOOD: Having the opportunity to be part of previous planning committees gave us a good sense of what really goes into planning an SMC and the work that goes into the Annual Convention. Certainly, when it’s your Convention, it feels more personal and there’s a bigger sense of ownership, of course, and even a greater desire to make sure every detail reflects well on our association.
Going into it, I had a few must-haves. I wanted a location that made travel as easy as possible, so members could focus on the experience and not the logistical challenges that could be associated with it. And I also wanted to make sure that the venue and the events that we had available during our Convention fit all personalities and interests and put together the best educational sessions that we could.
And finally, I wanted to make sure that we threw a really good party at the end of it, because my two predecessors had really nice events and some really fun parties. And my wife, Paula, and I like to throw a party. So, we’re looking forward to that as well.
WELDING & GASES TODAY: With the event that is planned at the Motor Enclave in Tampa, I think you successfully checked off that last item. Your theme for this year, I thought was incredibly relevant, not only for it to be you, but also for this moment with it being GAWDA’s 80th anniversary. Can you discuss how you came up with the idea of “Sustaining a Resilient Culture” and what it meant for you?
ERIC: The theme of “Sustaining Resilient Culture” just came from what we were experiencing here within OE Meyer, and the changes that people are experiencing across our industry. And many of our businesses are going through changes, some very significant changes. You may have new company owners, you may have new executives, new personnel, and with those new positions, the assorted transitions. It can be exciting, but they’re also challenging. And they challenge established cultures. Every new leader or team member brings their own style and values, which can certainly strengthen what’s in place. But, if not handled thoughtfully, they can disrupt it. And we all look for better ways to improve our cultures to make sure that people are having the best experience, personally and professionally.
You certainly want to surround yourself with people that feel the same way. And when a business is like ours, and many of our peers, and has been around for 100 years, there’s a lot of different personalities. A lot of different types of people that come through an organization. There are challenges associated with that. And we work hard every day to make sure that our culture stays strong here.
So, the message was protecting the core values that make the culture strong. And, as the GAWDA President, I’ve seen resilient culture adapt during times of change. And when you have those shared values, like clear communication, there’s a lot of mutual respect within our organization. And, to me, that shows it’s very relevant today in our 80th anniversary year. And it’s a reminder that culture is our foundation and it’s what will carry us forward to the next 80 years.
WELDING & GASES TODAY: So obviously, with the huge caveat that we have the Convention still to come, what has been the highlight of your term as president, so far? Is there anything that you’re particularly proud of or that you’ve really loved?
Eric: Yeah, you know, aside from planning the Convention and getting to hit Regional Meetings, I really found the highlight to be seeing the energy and the strength that our Young Professionals Group has and the momentum that they are building. I can certainly take no credit for that, other than it shows years and years of work previously to bring value and to share that value with membership, and have people be interested.
And I’m proud of the new member programs that we’ve launched. We’ve seen volunteers very eager to get more involved, and the willingness to step up says a lot about the health of our organization.
Beyond what the GAWDA team has accomplished this year, I’m personally very pleased with the balance I’ve been able to strike in maintaining the presidency while also being part of running our company. I’m happy and proud of the way that we’ve worked through that. It wasn’t as challenging as I thought it might be.
WELDING & GASES TODAY: On that topic, how have you been able to successfully juggle your responsibilities at O.E. Meyer with being the president of GAWDA?
Eric: There’s only one way that it’s possible and that’s to have great partners and teammates. When we decide to do things like this, we talked about it openly. I have a tremendous amount of support here at OE Meyer, and a tremendous team that does a fantastic job with or without me here. So, between that, and just time management. Being part of this organization and having the responsibilities here at OE Meyer have helped me manage my time and prioritize projects and find time to fit other things like this in, which has been a tremendous learning experience.
WELDING & GASES TODAY: During this year’s Convention, you’ll have the opportunity to present the GAWDA Gives Back donation. The charity that you and Paula have chosen this year is the Black Dagger Military Hunt Club. Can you tell us more about what drew you to that organization and what you feel like that moment’s going to mean to you, especially with this being the 25th anniversary of GAWDA Gives Back?
Eric: Yeah, we’re excited. The Black Dagger Military Hunt Club is an incredible nonprofit. It provides hunting, fishing, and shooting experiences for wounded warriors, disabled veterans, active-duty military, and Gold Star families. They use the outdoor activities for recreation, but also as a way to build camaraderie, restore their confidence, and create lasting memories for those important men and women that have served our country and given us the ability to talk right now the way that we’re talking.
I’m passionate about hunting in the outdoors and the organization immediately resonated with me. One of my best friends is a wounded warrior. I have several buddies that were in the desert, and they brought a lot home with them.
The value, the peace, the challenge, and the connection that nature and hunting bring, and the idea of sharing that with veterans, many who have sacrificed so much, felt like a good fit. Supporting them allows us to give back in a way that aligns with both personal passion and GAWDA has a long-term tradition of generosity. And that’s sure evident in the time here where we’re celebrating our 25th anniversary of GAWDA Gives Back.
It’s going to be an incredibly meaningful moment for me and my wife, Paula. By far, it’s been one of the most rewarding parts of GAWDA.
WELDING & GASES TODAY: Do you have any advice that you can offer to your successors as president, Alison and then Kevin?
Eric: Yeah, I would just say don’t sweat it. I think there’s, even myself, I had a maybe a misrepresentation or stereotype of what this role would take and the amount of time it might take and the amount of work it might be. And, I can say that I would do it again. And the GAWDA team is absolutely fantastic to work with. GAWDA Media, you know, they’re okay, too, (Editor’s Note: Thanks Woody) but no, everybody has been fantastic.
And the balance is there. To all the people that are willing to volunteer, GAWDA Headquarters does most of the work. So, there are a lot of smart people around you to make you successful.
WELDING & GASES TODAY: Were there any last messages that you wanted to leave members with before we go?
Eric: Well, you know, as I prepare to transition from President to Past President, my message is pretty simple. Please, continue to support our Convention, our organization and take full advantage of the services that GAWDA offers. Please consider donating to Black Dagger Military Hunt Club. Your engagement, participation, and generosity are what keep our association strong and our impact meaningful. I appreciate you listening to me today and I look forward to seeing all of you in Tampa.
