Author: Steve Guglielmo

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.”…

Senate Holds Confirmation Hearing for DOT Secretary Nominee Buttigieg.  The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee held a hearing January 21 on the nomination of Pete Buttigieg to be Secretary of Transportation.  As expected, Buttigieg did not offer any specifics for programs or policies he would implement at DOT, but spoke very broadly about the need for investment in infrastructure as a foundation for economic recovery. He also mentioned the challenges in infrastructure funding, including the insolvent status of the Highway Trust Fund, but did not suggest any particular source of revenue to address the shortfall. Buttigieg further stated that…

GAWDA extends its condolences to the friends and family of Robert E. Smith, owner of Industrial Welding Supplies and Nordan Smith, who passed away on December 12, 2020, at the age of 86. His daughter, sister and brother-in-law were by his side in his home when he passed. Robert, known by family and friends as Bob, was born to Okley and Gussie Smith on September 3, 1934, in Grenada, Mississippi. He graduated from JZ George High School in Carrollton, MS, and served in the US Air Force from 1951 — 1955. He was a passionate entrepreneur and businessman, a dedicated…

The following release was posted on CGA’s website. Medical oxygen is an essential part of patient care during the COVID-19 global pandemic, and the compressed gas industry is working diligently to safely and reliably supply health care systems in the U.S. and Canada. CGA member companies are certainly aware of and actively addressing spikes in medical oxygen use in COVID-19 hot spots. Each member is committed to deploy all available resources to respond to the increased demand for medical oxygen and to proactively communicate with health care providers as we fight this pandemic together. Healthcare is a top priority for…

Recently, the Compressed Gas Association (CGA) reached out to the Governors of all 50 states asking that medical, food, and industrial gas workers be included in the Frontline Essential Workers (Phase 1b) of the COVID-19 vaccine distribution. See below for an example of a letter that they sent. As the response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues through the equitable distribution of vaccines, we urge that state public health officials include the essential medical, food, and industrial gas workforce in the Frontline Essential Workers (Phase 1b) of the vaccine distribution. This includes medical, food, and industrial gas transportation workers, equipment manufacturers,…

Read more about the Central Welding Supply and Pacific Welding Suppliers Give Back efforts by clicking here.