Author: Steve Guglielmo

According to an article in the Butler Gas company newsletter: The Butler Gas Family salutes industry visionary Ken Thompson, and we thank him for his decades of service as Facilitator of our Buying and Information Group (BIG). A special evening was enjoyed by all as three generations of Thompson Family joined BIG Members in Charleston, South Carolina to celebrate the career of our group patriarch, Ken. Pictured, Jack Butler, Butler Gas Chairman, gives a toast to Ken. BIG is a best-practices group of twelve independent companies across the country. Butler Gas and our eleven company peers gather multiple times each…

Holston Gases is proud to announce the following promotions. Joe Baxter has been appointed Senior VP, taking on company-wide responsibilities. Mr. Baxter spent the last four years as the Kentucky region VP and has been with Holston for over 12 years. Replacing Mr. Baxter as the Kentucky region VP is Jason Blair.  He is a 26-year Holston veteran who comes to the Kentucky region after a very successful stint as the VP of the Alabama region. Matt Bird has been named the Alabama region VP.  Mr. Bird has over 15 years of industry experience and has been pivotal in the…

Red Ball Oxygen hired Eric Clay and Kerry Spencer. Eric will join Red Ball’s Springdale, AR, team as an inside sales rep. Kerry will be a branch sales rep for Red Ball’s Oklahoma City location.



U.S.-Canada Border Restrictions Go Into Effect – According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, as of January 15, 2022, U.S. truck drivers entering Canada must show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID or they will be denied entry. Drivers must use the ArriveCan app to upload their vaccination information to enter the country. Drivers transporting oxygen and other medical gases into Canada are exempt from the COVID vaccine requirements and may enter the country without proof of vaccination or quarantining upon arrival into the country. Canadian border officers have been provided guidance consistent with this interpretation. In addition, as of…

Click here to learn more. The AWS Foundation is dedicated to increasing the welding workforce by providing grant funding to secondary, post-secondary and welder training facilities that seek to enhance and improve their welding education programs. Grant funding of up to $25,000 per location is awarded for facilities to make improvements, invest in capital items such as welding or metalworking equipment, or purchase/upgrade computers or computer-based training systems. The following nine schools were recently awarded the Welding Workforce Grant: Botetourt Technical Education Center – Fincastle, Virginia Brunswick Community College – Bolivia, North Carolina Dixie Technical College – Saint George, Utah…