Author: Steve Guglielmo

Part of developing a comprehensive digital marketing campaign is understanding how customers and potential customers are using the Internet to find your products and your website. The graphs and information below all come from Google Trends, which analyzes the popularity of search queries in Google Search across various regions and languages. The graphs scale “Interest Over Time” which represent search interest relative to the highest point in the chart for the given region and time-period. So, a value of 100 is the peak popularity for the term. Another alternative is “Google Keyword Planner.” To use this tool, you must have…

Thompson Brothers Welding & Industrial Supply announced on its Facebook page that had been named the “2023 Business of the Year” by the Coffeyville Area Chamber of Commerce.

FMCSA Updates Guidance for Medical Examiners.  The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has updated its guidance for Medical Examiners who provide physical qualification determinations for commercial motor vehicle drivers.  The FMCSA has published the changes in a revised Medical Examiner’s Handbook. The changes and clarifications to the ME guidance include the following: FMCSA clarified that the right to receive a copy of the Medical Examination Report Form, MCSA–5875, is personal to the individual and does not depend on who paid for or requested the physical qualification examination.  But the guidance clarified that its regulations do not prohibit an employer from…

AWISCO Announces Retirement of Felim O’Malley and Hiring of New Company President AWISCO CEO Lloyd Robinson released the following announcement regarding long-time Executive Vice President Felim O’Malley: “It is indeed a bittersweet moment to announce the retirement of Felim O’Malley from AWISCO. Felim’s contributions over his 20+ years at AWISCO, starting with the acquisition of Dynamic Welding in 2002, have been invaluable. The establishment of AWISCO West Babylon stands as a testament to his integral role in the company’s growth. We appreciate and acknowledge Felim for the many changes and acquisitions he has been a part of during his tenure.…

The American Welding Society (AWS) Foundation is pleased to announce that $2.5 million in scholarships have been awarded to support welding students across North America. In 2023, more than 1,500 welding students received scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $8,000 or more, with recipients attending 430 different academic and training institutions in 47 U.S. States and two Canadian provinces. Schools receiving the most scholarships were (by number of scholarships, then dollar amount): 122 | $319,000 –  Ferris State University – Big Rapids, MI    81 | $101,500 – Hobart Institute of Welding Technology – Troy, OH    42 | $  42,500…

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…