Author: Steve Guglielmo

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…

FMCSA Releases ANPRM on Safety Fitness Determination Revisions.  The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has released an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking input on a possible proposal to revise the agency’s Safety Fitness Determination process for motor carriers. The notice indicates that FMCSA is interested in developing a new methodology to determine when a motor carrier is not fit to operate commercial motor vehicles in or affecting interstate commerce.  FMCSA requests public comment on: (1) the need for a rulemaking to revise the regulations prescribing the safety fitness determination process; (2) the available science or technical information to analyze…

Allison Earlbeck Named CEO of Earlbeck Gases & Technologies In a post on the company’s website, Earlbeck Gases & Technologies announced that GAWDA Board Member Allison Earlbeck has officially taken over the role of CEO. “Earlbeck Gases & Technologies, a leading provider of industrial gases and welding supplies in the Mid-Atlantic,  recently announced a significant leadership transition as Jim Earlbeck, the company’s 2nd generation leader, passes the torch to his daughter, Allison Earlbeck. The transition comes as part of a well-planned succession strategy that ensures continuity and a seamless shift in leadership.” “I am honored to take on this new role…

AWISCO Appoints Kelvin Then as Bronx Branch Leader AWISCO announced that Kelvin Then has been appointed as its Bronx branch leader. “I am tremendously excited about my new role here at AWISCO and look forward to working alongside the team and helping wherever I can!” Kelvin says. “I am eager and committed to learning and growing as much as possible within the space!” AWISCO is excited to have him join the team! Wilson Products Announces 2023 Open House and Welding Expo On its company Facebook page, Wilson Products announced that it will be holding its 2023 Welding Expo and Open…

General Distributing Company Announces Anniversary Roadshow General Distributing Company is celebrating its 75th Anniversary in 2023.  To commemorate the occasion, the company announced on its Facebook page that it will be hosting a 75th Anniversary Road Show from September 18th-22nd. “Our crew will be loading up our Gendco BBQ trailer and driving it around the state to give a free lunch to all of our customer AND we will be joined by multiple vendors to bring you the latest and greatest for you to demo” Vern Lewis Welding Supply Announces Two New Team Members Vern Lewis Welding Supply announced…