Author: Steve Guglielmo

FMCSA Extends Emergency Declaration to May 31.  The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has extended its Emergency Declaration related to the COVID-19 national emergency through May 31, 2021. Under the Emergency Declaration, motor carriers and drivers providing direct assistance in support of relief efforts related to the COVID-19 public health emergency are granted emergency relief from Parts 390 through 399 of the FMCSRs, except as otherwise restricted. The extension of the expanded modified Emergency Declaration No. 2020-002 provides regulatory relief for commercial motor vehicle operations providing direct assistance in support of emergency relief efforts related to COVID-19 and is limited…

Central Welding Supply announced that the Central Welding Supply’s analytical lab is now Accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2017. The new Specialty Gas Lab, configured, engineered, and installed under the direction of Gary Emerson, Lead Manager for all Central Welding Supply Fill Plant operations, represents expanded capacity for production. ISO Accreditation was Gary’s logical next step. The ISO Accreditation process begun Summer 2020, received the news of accreditation, January 19, 2021. Click here to learn more.

GAWDA extends its condolences to the friends and family of Rod Spargur, Bellingham Branch Manager at Central Welding Supply. The company posted the following obituary on its website: We are sad to share the news of the passing of Rod Spargur, our long time Bellingham Branch Manager. Our thoughts and prayers are with Rod’s Mom, Stepfather who was “Dad” for 47 years, 3 sisters and a brother, his friends, and the Central Welding Supply team in Bellingham. Rod was pivotal in Central Welding Supply’s expansion into the Bellingham / Whatcom County market, as well as for the growth and management of gas reseller partners in…

GAWDA extends its condolences to the friends and family of Lorena Kennedy “Mrs. K.” who passed away on February 2, 2021. Red Ball Oxygen announced the tragic news on their Facebook page. Mrs. K was Red Ball’s original CFO and spent more than 30 years with the company. She will be dearly missed by everyone that knew her.

Now in its 3rd edition, safety publication CGA G-8.3, Safe Practices for Storage and Handling of Nitrous Oxide from the Compressed Gas Association (CGA), describes the principles and relevant details of the safe storage, handling, and distribution of nitrous oxide, as well as its properties and hazards. Nitrous oxide (N2O) has been produced and distributed by the industrial gas industry for many years. Commonly used as a medical gas, nitrous oxide is also used as an oxidizing gas for chemical and semiconductor manufacturing, a fuel oxidant for racing vehicles, and a propellant for pressure or aerosol products. Incidents such as…

F&M MAFCO, a leading international supplier of tools and equipment rental, sales, and service programs, announced Tim Fries’ promotion to chief operating officer (COO) from his role as VP sales and marketing. This leadership appointment comes two weeks after owner and COO Bill McKenna’s passing. According to Dan McKenna, the president of F&M MAFCO, “Appointing Tim to this critical leadership role is something that we had envisioned for him from the very first day he joined our organization. Tim has proven to be an amazing leader and has the experience, temperament, and skill set necessary to continue the tremendous growth…

American Welding & Gas, Inc. (“AWG”) is pleased to announce that Axmen Propane, headquartered in Frenchtown, MT, has joined forces with AWG effective immediately. Locally owned and operated in western Montana by the Hanson family and Mike Svoboda since 2000, Axmen Propane has built a strong reputation for prompt, professional service for its customers. The combination formed with our existing Silvertip Propane business creates the largest independent propane provider in Montana and surrounding areas. “We just finished our twentieth year and we are very pleased to have teamed up with AWG to carry on Axmen Propane for at least the…

Congratulations to AWISCO team members, Mushahid Ahmed and Jesus Pichardo, in their new roles within AWISCO. AWISCO is pleased to announce that Jesus Pichardo, previous Assistant Branch Leader of AWISCO Bronx, will be moving to the role of Maspeth Inside Sales Team Leader. Jesus joined AWISCO in July 2018 and has been a great addition to the Inside Sales team at AWISCO. We are excited to have Jesus lead this amazing team. Mushahid Ahmed has agreed to join AWISCO as our Employee Retention and Recruitment Specialist. Mushahid came to AWISCO through the PENCIL Program in 2016 and has been an intern at AWISCO…

nexAir announces the following changes to its sales organization leadership. Steve Sargent, currently Vice President and Area Sales Manager based in South Florida, will relocate to Birmingham, Alabama. Steve will be responsible for the Birmingham and Pell City sales teams, as well as the Productivity Specialists for the entire company. Vice President and Area Sales Manager, Bryan Howard, will remain based in Nashville and retain responsibility for the Middle and East Tennessee, as well as, Huntsville, Alabama sales teams but will also assume responsibility for the Gas Specialists for the entire company. Cale Harris, Area Sales Manager based in North Florida,…

Dale Oxygen, Inc. is pleased to announce its 4th branch location set to open in Somerset, Pennsylvania. While Dale Oxygen has a long history of servicing the Somerset, PA market from its Johnstown location, this branch addition is a deeper commitment to the local Somerset community as well as the surrounding regional markets, according to Harry Bennear, Chief Executive Officer. “Dale Oxygen’s new fill plant (2020) and 14,000 Sq. Ft. warehouse in Johnstown, PA will provide immediate availability for packaged gas and hard good products to support this new location which will also be a distribution hub for our company.”…