Author: GAWDA MEDIA

As has become tradition since the Nashville SMC, this year saw the return of the Educational Sessions. Following the morning’s two mainstage presentations, attendees had the option to attend two of six Educational Sessions. First, attendees had the option to attend presentations on Mega Gas Trends with Scott Rummans and Jeff Holyoak; Leadership with Dave Lambert; or Employee Retention with Ryan Craven. In the second session, attendees got to choose between sessions on AI & Cybersecurity with Allison Earlbeck, Tony Hopkins, and Aaron Turner; Building an Effective Compensation Strategy with Alex Chausovsky; and “Kickin Gas,” an interactive presentation from Bryan…

GAWDA Main Stage veteran Dirk Beveridge kicked off the educational portion of the SMC with a presentation about company culture. Dirk has traversed the United States over the past three summers, meeting with distributor companies who make up the “back bone of America.” And he was able to share lessons learned from the high-performing cultures of these companies practicing the noble art of distribution. Following Dirk’s presentation, GAWDA First Vice President Allison Earlbeck introduced ECI Software Solutions’ Dave Bent and Dr. Jonathan Bein, an author and AI Solutions Speaker who spoke about the important and hot-button issue of Artificial Intelligence.…

The WGW Committee hosted its bi-annual networking Meet & Greet before the Newcomers Reception. The Meet & Greet allows GAWDA’s women attendees to meet like-minded professionals before the conference officially kicks off. This year’s Meet & Greet had more than 40 women registered! It was the perfect way to get acclimated to the SMC before the Newcomers and Welcome Reception. The WGW also toasted the upcoming retirement of its co-chair Sue Reiter. Sue, thank you so much for your time and effort in spearheading WGW’s committee. We wish you well in your upcoming retirement!

Following an amazing day of committee meetings, meet and greets, scavenger hunts, and everybody getting acquainted with everything that San Antonio has to offer, GAWDA got down to what GAWDA does best, with a rockin party. First, more than 75 newcomers joined GAWDA committee chairs and past presidents for the Newcomers Reception. Each year, the Newcomers Reception is a great opportunity for the first-time attendees of the show to get to know seasoned GAWDA veterans before the President’s Welcome Reception. It’s an opportunity to form relationships in a more intimate setting before going off to the party with the entire…

The YP Committee hosted a Lunch and Learn and invited GAWDA President Gary Halter to speak to the more than 70 participants about bridging the gap between different generations of employees, not only within GAWDA, but also within our member companies. Gary’s presentation, was, of course, chock full of great Gary-isms as he related how his career has progressed and how much he has gleaned from his mentors along the way. Following the insightful presentation, the Young Professionals hosted what has become an annual event at the SMC, its Scavenger Hunt. This year’s Hunt featured a twist, as the Young…

The Booze Brothers (and Sisters) welcomed all GAWDA Distributors to their private Customer Appreciation Happy Hour at Margaritaville in beautiful San Antonio, TX after the Contact Booth Program.  The event was held on Saturday, April 20th, 2024 at Margaritaville in San Antonio, TX. This is an annual tradition held by Equigas, Direct Wire, Flame Tech, Steelmax, Norris Cylinder, Cryogenic Industrial Solutions, Superior Products, Cryostar, Blue Demon Welding Products & Weldcoa to combine forces to foster one big networking hospitality.

Is your Company Celebrating an Anniversary in 2024? If you are not listed below, and are celebrating a company anniversary in 2024, please contact us to be featured in our third quarter issue of Welding & Gases Today.  Contact Us Member Name Founded Year PFERD Inc. 1799 Roengten USA 1899 ESAB Welding & Cutting 1904 Federated Insurance 1904 Hartman Brothers, Inc 1904 City Carbonic LLC 1909 The Harris Products Group 1914 Arcos Industries, LLC 1919 Earlbeck Gases & Technologies 1919 Keen Compressed Gas Company 1919 DeLille Oxygen Company 1924 JAZ Brush USA 1924 Rexarc International Inc. 1924 Rocky Mountain Air…

Advanced Welding Supply Company John T. Albanese opened up Advanced Welding Supply Company, Inc. on April 1, 2003. However, his passion for the industry goes back much further. John’s passion for the welding industry first began at The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Road Railroad Company where he served a State Indentured Apprenticeship Program as a Boilermaker. John completed his Apprenticeship and became a Journeyman in 1975.  In 1984 John was recruited by Airco Welding Supply Company. He spent the next 18 years there as a top salesperson in Industrial Gases and Welding Related Sales. Because of John’s extensive…

Solution Source Founded in 1993 by Tim Yoder, the current President and CIO, Solution Source has established itself as a leading provider of the Oracle NetSuite ERP software platform, specializing in partnerships with distributors and manufacturers. What began as a Microsoft Access database development service for small businesses in the Goshen, Indiana, community has now evolved into a comprehensive provider of implementation, development, and managed services for Oracle NetSuite ERP. While teaching in the business department at Goshen College, Tim met fellow professor Russ Rupp, who joined the business as a partner in 1998. Tim and Russ combined their expertise…