Author: Steve Guglielmo

According to a post on the company’s LinkedIn page, American Welding & Gases (AWG) Raleigh location raised $12,000 for the “Pretty in Pink Foundation.” The foundation provides uninsured and underinsured breast cancer patients in North Carolina with financial assistance.

In Memoriam: Andy Castiglione In a letter to fellow IWDC Members, WestAir Gases & Equipment CEO and IWDC Chairman of the Board, Steve Castiglione announced the passing of his father and WestAir Gases & Equipment Founder Andy Castiglione. With great sadness, I share the news of our founder and my father, Andy Castiglione, Sr., passed away at the age of 89. My father, Andy, had a great vision back in 1970 when he started WestAir, formerly known as San Diego Welders Supply. Little did he know at that time that WestAir would quickly become one of the largest independent distributors of…

Noble Gas Solutions Hosts Grand Opening for Utica, NY Branch Noble Gas Solutions held a grand opening event at its new 1109 Oriskay St. W branch location in Utica, NY on Wednesday, November 15. More than a dozen representatives from the company were on-hand for the event, which included a ribbon cutting, recognition from the local Chamber of Commerce as well as the Assembly, welding demonstrations for customers, special sales, raffles and coffee and donuts for all in attendance. Noble Gas Solutions CEO Colleen Kohler was interviewed for a segment by WKTV in Utica during the event. Check out the…

Butler Gas President and CEO Abydee Butler Moore Elected IOMA President The IOMA (International Oxygen Manufacturers Association) 80th Annual Meeting October 26th – October 30th 2023 elected the 2024 slate of officers. Butler Gas President and CEO Abydee Butler Moore was named IOMA President 2024. IOMA is devoted to supporting the growth and safety of the global industrial and medical gases industry. An international trade association of 100 member companies from around the globe, both gas producers and related equipment suppliers, IOMA governs global harmonization of safety standards and serves as the premier platform for networking among industry leaders. Abydee…

Lampton Welding Supply (Wichita, Kansas) was founded on October 1, 1946, by Marcel L. Lampton in his garage in Wichita. Marcel had worked for a welding supply company called Phillips and Easton before the company decided to not sell welding supplies anymore following World War II. So, Marcel decided to venture out on his own and fill that welding supply need himself. For nearly 80 years, Lampton Welding Supply has been driven by an entrepreneurial spirit to not only grow the business but to be a true partner to its customers, solving their problems and fulfilling their needs. That spirit…

GAWDA Visits County Welding Equipment On Tuesday, October 24, 2023, GAWDA Director of Member Services & Programs Andrea Levy visited GAWDA Distributor Member County Welding Equipment in Pompano Beach, FL. County Welding Equipment Owner Steven Segal gave Andrea a tour of the facility, including their large bulk tanks. We thank Steven and the team at County Welding Equipment for being such gracious hosts. To learn more about the company, click here. Norco Medical Named 2023 Provider of the Year Boise, ID-based Norco Medical was named the 2023 HME Provider of the Year at the HME News Business Summit in Charlotte. As part…

Terry Hall Awarded GAWDA President’s Award of Excellence During the 2023 GAWDA Annual Convention in Maui, GAWDA President Robert Anders bestowed the GAWDA President’s Award of Excellence on Terry Hall. The GAWDA President’s Award of Excellence is the highest award that GAWDA can give. Terry is only the 10th recipient in the association’s history. Congratulations to Terry on a career well-spent in the gases and welding industry! AirChem Industrial Gases Donates $10,000 to People’s Fund of Maui In honor of the 2023 GAWDA Annual Convention, AirChem Industrial Gases donated $10,000 to the People’s Fund of Maui. AirChem, who was unable to…

Holston Gases Announces Major Promotions Holston Gases Inc., which just finished its 65th year in business, is proud to announce the following promotions as it heads into fiscal year 2023/2024.  The role of Executive VP Joe Baxter has expanded to include oversight of the East Region and newly formed Georgia Region in addition to the Kentucky, Alabama, and Middle Tennessee Regions.  Spyro Vassiliou has been promoted to VP of the Georgia Region which includes five branches located throughout middle and north Georgia.  Jim Montieth, a 9-year veteran of the Holston Kentucky sales force has been promoted to the position of…

CK Supply Welcomes Three New Employee Owners In a post on the company’s LinkedIn Page, CK Supply announced that three new employee-owners had joined the company. Matthew Shand joined CK as a Staff Accountant, Kristine Hoffmann joined as the company’s new controller, and Liz Brown was welcomed as a Dry Ice Tech. To view the original post, click here. AWG Names Mike Bourgeois Regional Director of Operations & Distribution for Coastal American Welding & Gas, Inc. announced that Mike Bourgeois was promoted to Regional Director of Operations & Distribution for Coastal Welding Supply. Read the full announcement below. Vern Lewis…

In Memoriam: Robert “Bob” Ames GAWDA extends its condolences to the friends and family of Robert “Bob” E. Ames, who passed away on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, at the age of 76. He was the loving husband of Patricia “Patty” (Hunt) Ames, to whom he was married for 51 years. Bob was the son of the late George and Lillian (Kinsley) Ames. Bob graduated from York Central High School class of ‘64. After many years of working, he retired in 2012 as the co-owner of Commonwealth Supply Company alongside his partner Mary Shanaman. He was the president of GAWDA from…