Author: GAWDA MEDIA

Evergreen Midwest In 1978, entrepreneur Joseph Cregan, Sr. founded Evergreen Midwest. Prior to opening Evergreen, Cregan had spent two decades in the compressed gas and welding industry, which gave him the insight and the foresight to put his goals into action. Those commitments continued to live on through the actions of his family and Evergreen Midwest long-after Joseph passed away in 1988. Today, Evergreen Midwest continues his innovation, constantly strengthening the company while benefiting its customers. “Evergreen’s growth has been steady and constant over 45 years,” says President Tom Cregan. “We have developed our business through hard work and a…

Computers Unlimited In 1978, Dr. Mike Schaer and his partner, Stan Hoggatt, established Computers Unlimited in Billings, Montana. Now celebrating its 45th anniversary in 2023, CU has evolved into a world-renowned software development leader. In the early 1990s, Dr. Schaer assumed full ownership of the company. During these formative years, CU had a dedicated team of about 18 employees, who laid the foundation of the company, contributing their expertise in sales, software development, testing, implementation, training, and end-user support. Those core areas of emphasis remain integral to CU’s present-day operations and identity, continuing to drive success today. “We have a…

WEH Technologies Founded in 1973 by Erwin and Karolina Weh, WEH Technologies began as an innovative quick connector provider for pressure, function, and leak testing. Their market intuition led to a diverse product line, making them a key player in the industry. As the business expanded, it not only provided solutions to its customers’ challenges but also played a vital role in enhancing workplace safety and efficiency. The team at WEH remained committed to their vision of developing products that facilitated secure and seamless processes for their clients. Today, the legacy of Erwin and Karolina Weh lives on, as the…

Volunteer Welding Volunteer Welding Supply, Inc. was founded in 1973 by Harold and Evelyn McMurtry. Harold had previously been working for National Cylinder Gas since 1950 and had steadily climbed the ranks, even having been offered the position of National Sales Manager. However, due to his career advancement, the family had moved 7-8 times already and McMurtry wanted to settle down. He asked National Cylinder Gas if he could buy the original location that he started his career at in Nashville in 1950 and the company agreed, and thus, Volunteer Welding was born. Harold and Evelyn had three sons, David…

Ray Murray Ray Murray, Inc. is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2023. Founded by Ray Murray in 1973, the company today operates four locations in Flint, MI, Bensalem, PA, Lee, MA, and Goldsboro, NC, with 75 employees.  Ray Murray operated the company from 1973 through his retirement in 1997. From 1997-2005, Ray Murray, Jr. and John Murray managed the day-to-day operations of the company. In 2005, Mike Hopsicker became a partner and owner in the company and began serving as President and CEO. In 2021, Hopsicker acquired 100% ownership of the company. “There are many aspects that have helped us…

Comeaux Caps  Comeaux Caps is a family-owned and operated sewing factory located in St. Amant, Louisiana, just outside of Baton Rouge. Founded in 1973 by Sandy Comeaux, this year the company celebrates its 50th Anniversary. When Sandy founded Comeaux Caps in 1973, he was also the owner of another successful company called Hamco. There, he worked with Lorraine Hebert, who serves today as General Manager. Eventually, Sandy decided to focus full-time on caps and made the decision to sell Hamco so that he and Lorraine could focus full-time on Comeaux Caps. “It has taken years of hard work and dedication,…

 Weldcoa Weldcoa is celebrating its 55th Anniversary in 2023. Since Dick Bennett founded the company in 1968, Weldcoa has engineered solutions, manufactured equipment, and provided uncompromising service to its customers. “Our history of innovation has always been driven by the needs of our customers,” the company says. “We began our journey by serving gas distributors over 50 years ago, with the development of our patented palletization system, including filling, storage and transportation. Today it is the most widely used system in North America.” Since its inception, Weldcoa has been industry-renowned for its constant product development and improvement. As new applications…

Kalas Wire & Cable In the back room of the Denver Hardware Store in 1958, Paul Witwer, Walter Cubberley and Floyd Witwer agreed to start a wire business. Over the years and decades that followed, they saw the single room in the hardware store grow to include three manufacturing locations and three inventory warehouses that employs more than 500 associates, with annual sales exceeding $250 million. The men partnered in other endeavors over the years as well to create strategically and vertically integrated brands and businesses to compliment the Kalas portfolio. Throughout their periods of growth, they never lost sight…

Holston Gases, Inc. In 1958, Pat Baxter and Bob Walsh, who had worked together at National Cylinder Gas (NCG) decided to strike out on their own and started the Holston Oxygen Company in Knoxville, TN. Baxter and Walsh grew the business one account at a time, as customers were attracted to the personal attention and superior effort that the company made to satisfy their needs. In 1976, Baxter bought out Walsh’s interest in the company to become the sole owner of Holston. Today, Holston Gases, Inc. led by Chairman Bill Baxter (Pat’s son), President Robert Anders, and Senior Vice President…

Haun Welding Supply Though Haun Welding Supply was incorporated in 1958, its roots trace back much further than that. In 1930, Orval Haun began building welders for U.S.L Battery Co. of Niagara Falls. In 1940, U.S.L. sent Orval to set up welder manufacturing for the Syracuse Owen-Dyneto Co. However, around this time, Orval and a colleague discovered a better way to build welders that was both less expensive and allowed more control over the welder. When U.S.L. rejected that method of manufacturing, Orval saw an opportunity to build his own welders, which he did in his basement and began selling…