Author: GAWDA MEDIA

by Patrick Lencioni These days, virtually no one will tell you that teamwork isn’t important when it comes to an organization achieving its goals. Even cynics understand that groups of people who are willing to put their individual interests aside for the good of the team will outperform groups of people who do not. Having said that, there is something that often happens after a team succeeds that suggests many of us might be discounting the real power of teamwork. A great example of this happens in the world of professional sports. With the football season having just wrapped up,…

By Bill McCloy, Managing Director, AmWINS Program Underwriters, Welding DistributorPro Insurance Program Your business has suffered a loss – a natural disaster or a fire.  So much of how you respond after a loss is predicated on how well you’ve prepared prior to a loss.  Ask yourself these questions: Have you developed an Emergency Response Plan or Disaster Recovery Plan?  Do you have inventory lists, plot maps, vehicle registrations, accounts receivable and payable, or key contact information documented and backed up?  Is your back-up secured off site?   Do you have a dedicated individual accountable for coordinating the response if…

By Mike Marks, Managing Partner of Indian River Consulting Group Back in the day, the path to distributor growth was to sell service with excellent people. Sales reps sold themselves first and customers bought from reps that had earned their trust based on their past performance. A key driver in the customer value proposition was their relationship with their own sales rep, not the company. Supply chains were unreliable and heroic recoveries were visible and common. The reps were paid a commission on the gross margin they generated so they could “eat what they killed.” The sales force was self-directed…

This year’s Spring Management Conference was scheduled to take place Austin, Texas. Unfortunately, with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we had to cancel this event. However, we look forward to the GAWDA Convention scheduled to take place September 25-28 in Phoenix, Arizona, which is sure to be three days of non-stop educational opportunities and takeaways. Those opportunities, combined with the unparalleled networking that GAWDA events facilitate, make the SMC and Annual Convention must-attend events for everybody in the gases and welding industry. But between all the professional development, GAWDA members have always known how to have a great time! Here is…

GAWDA Spring Management Conference is cancelled due to the growing COVID-19 threat. The GAWDA Spring Management Conference, which was scheduled to start on April 5th in Austin Texas, has been cancelled over COVID-19 coronavirus epidemic concerns. GAWDA has been monitoring the CDC, World Health Organization and John Hopkins websites for the past few weeks. During this time, we have been in communication with the facilities in Austin to assess what options we were available. Large conferences like the SMC are planned years in advance, with the facilities, as well as careful coordination with the city, after multiple inquires, we learned that…

GAWDA’s Spring Management Conference (SMC) will take place April 5-7, 2020, at the JW Marriott Austin in Austin, Texas. This year, the association has opted for a new format that we hope will be more inclusive for management at all levels of the company. As this is the first year of the new format, we have received questions from the membership about the new-look SMC. 2020 GAWDA President Abydee Butler Moore addressed these FAQ’s below. If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to GAWDA headquarters or visit gawda.org/spring-management-conference. What was the reason for the change…

A moderated discussion between Tom Badstubner and Michael Dodd By Tom Badstubner, Michael Dodd and Steve Guglielmo As members close the book on 2019 and look forward to continued success in 2020, GAWDA Consultants Tom Badstubner and Michael Dodd have some advice on annual compliance measures that should be taken during the strategic planning process. GAWDA membership includes access to these consultants at no additional expense. Members should make sure that they’re taking full advantage of that! These consultants are ready and willing to help members be proactive in ensuring they are in compliance so that when federal auditors come…

by abydee butler moore, brad peterson, ned lane, mark raimy, bill visintainer and tom biedermann At the 2019 GAWDA Annual Convention in Washington, D.C. Abydee Butler Moore officially ascended to the position of president of GAWDA. After the ceremony, which saw her get escorted to the stage by the GAWDA Past Presidents in attendance, Abydee laid out her “2020 Vision” for the association next year. However, the guided escort to the stage was more than a symbolic gesture. The past presidents who guided her to the stage have all stood where Abydee was about to stand and dealt with many…