Meet GAWDA's 2007 Board of Directors

President Bob E. Ames
Executive Vice President, Commonwealth Supply Company (York, PA)
ADVICE: No matter what part of the business you are entering, start in the plant and work your way up. Distributors, start by pumping gases, take time to ride with the drivers and understand what issues they face delivering to the customer. Manufacturers, work with the people who make the product. The more you know about the manufacturing process, the better position you will be in to help the customer who uses your products.
IMPROVE: Writing. In the beginning of my business career, I had a secretary who took dictation and did the writing for me. Today that doesn't exist. I never have a problem talking, however.
NEVER LEARNED: Accept no for an answer when I think I'm right.

President-Elect Gary Stoneback
Operations Manager, Metro Welding Supply (Detroit, MI)
ADVICE: Be prepared to listen and learn. This is not a glamorous business. You will need to work extremely hard, but the rewards are well worth the hard work.
IMPROVE: Embrace the new technology available to our industry.
NEVER LEARNED: My wife, Liliana, would certainly be surprised if “doing laundry” was not my response to this question.

First Past President Avery “Whip” Seaman Jr.
President, Corp Brothers Inc. (Providence, RI)
ADVICE: There's no such thing as a boring day in the life of a distributor. Come with your curiosity. Your passion will follow.
IMPROVE: Figure out how to spend quality time with my family in an environment where time is such a precious commodity.
NEVER LEARNED: Type, and it drives me crazy!

Second Past President Robert Thornton Jr.
President, South Jersey Welding Supply (Vineland, NJ)
ADVICE: When I entered the industry, business was so plentiful you could make mistakes and still do well. Not today. Be committed to working hard, learning and accepting change. Get it right to be successful.
IMPROVE: Time management.
NEVER LEARNED: How to make a bed.

Eastern Zone VP Bryan Keen
President, Keen Compressed Gas Company (Wilmington, DE)
ADVICE: Find knowledgeable people in your company or within the industry and learn everything you can from them.
IMPROVE: My golf game.
NEVER LEARNED: Decipher a cylinder rental invoice.

Eastern Zone Director Bryan Gentry
President & CEO, GTS, Inc. (Allentown, PA)
ADVICE: Get well-rounded. Experience production, distribution, sales, product management, purchasing and financial management.
IMPROVE: Communicate more effectively.
NEVER LEARNED: How to paint bulk tanks.

Southeastern Zone VP Jenny McCall
President, Welding Engineering Supply Company (Prichard, AL)
ADVICE: Look, learn and listen. Make decisions based on what is right and fair and continue to seek out rewarding and challenging experiences.
IMPROVE: Organizational skills.
NEVER LEARNED: How to roll cylinders.

Southeastern Zone Director John Norton
President, Specialty Gases Southeast, Inc. (Suwanee, GA)
ADVICE: Be patient and find a good banker.
IMPROVE: My delegation skills. I started this company and it's like another child of mine. It's hard to delegate and let other people make decisions.
NEVER LEARNED: Organize my desk.

Central Zone VP Craig Wood
President-Industrial Division, O.E. Meyer Company (Sandusky, OH)
ADVICE: Be a good listener.
IMPROVE: Be more attuned to the changes in technology and how they benefit the company.
NEVER LEARNED: How to program a VCR.

Central Zone Director Richelle Smith-Brecht
Executive Vice President, S.J. Smith Company (Davenport, IA)
ADVICE: Expect to learn something new every day. Never be frustrated that you don't have all the answers. You never will.
IMPROVE: Math skills. My daughter comes home with math homework, and I wonder why I didn't try harder in eighth grade algebra.
NEVER LEARNED: I absolutely cannot sew. In junior high, I took metalworking instead of sewing.

Southwestern Zone VP Mike Duvall
Regional President, Airgas-Mid South (Tulsa, OK)
ADVICE: It is a very large industry, but a very small industry. Take advantage of everyone willing to help you learn.
IMPROVE: Communication.
NEVER LEARNED: Play chess.

Southwestern Zone Director Rick Hanchette
President & CEO, Kirk Welding Supply (Kansas City, MO)
ADVICE: Always be honest and truthful. Treat others the way you want to be treated.
IMPROVE: Computer skills.
NEVER LEARNED: Be more patient.

Western Zone VP Glenn W. Bliss
President, General Distributing Company (Great Falls, MT)
ADVICE: Learn and absorb as much as you can from seasoned veterans. Show an unwavering commitment and dedication to your job and company and have passion and love for what you do.
IMPROVE: Patience, understanding and empathy.
NEVER LEARNED: Take time to appreciate accomplishments and success instead of always striving for better results.

Western Zone Director Kirk Merica
CEO, Five Star Gas and Gear (Los Nietos, CA)
ADVICE: Take time to get a history lesson of the industry, learn as much as you can from the people who are willing to share, filter the information and expand on your capabilities.
IMPROVE: Adapt better to new technology.
NEVER LEARNED: Leave work-related issues at work.

Associate Member VP Kevin Baudhuin
President-North America Industrial & Special Products, BOC Gases, a Member of the Linde Group (Murray Hill, NJ)
ADVICE: Focus on growing your customers through relationships and value. Your reward will come in many ways.
IMPROVE: My golf game, food moderation, and business development.
NEVER LEARNED: Win a spelling bee and sew a button on a shirt.

Associate Member Director Joseph Dillhoff III
President, OKI Bering (Cincinnati, OH)
ADVICE: Get to know everyone in the industry. This will help you as time goes on.
IMPROVE: My golf game. It needs a lot of help.
NEVER LEARNED: Tie a good fishing knot.

Insurance Trustees Committee Chair Dave Weigel
President, Oxygen Service Company (Saint Paul, MN)
ADVICE: Get to know as many people as possible within this industry, and you will have a professional family for life.
IMPROVE: Communication skills.
NEVER LEARNED: Answer e-mail questionnaires reasonably and on time.

Management Information Committee Chair Rick Smith
Vice President-Planning and Technology, National Welders Supply Company (Charlotte, NC)
ADVICE: It is better to admit that you do not know an answer than to open you mouth and insert your foot with a wrong answer. When admitting you do not know the answer, immediately say you will find the proper answer and always follow up. Do what you say you will do.
IMPROVE: Personal listening skills.
NEVER LEARNED: Drive a motorboat.

Human Resources Committee Chair Robert Jackson
President, Jackson Welding Supply Company (Rochester, NY)
ADVICE: Find a person who knows a lot and is willing to share their knowledge with you.
IMPROVE: The art of small talk.
NEVER LEARNED: Ride a motorcycle, which is probably a good and safe thing.

Safety Committee Chair Bonnie Stanage
Vice President of Safety, Matheson Tri-Gas (Albuquerque, NM)
ADVICE: Look at people who have been in the industry for many years and use them as a sounding board for advice.
IMPROVE: Computer knowledge.
NEVER LEARNED: How to relax. Even on vacation, I worry about the office.

Industry Planning Committee Chair Mark Blakely
Director-Industrial Products, Western Enterprises (Westlake, OH)
ADVICE: Learn the basics of the industry, pay attention to the details, work hard every day, embrace change.
IMPROVE: Time management.
NEVER LEARNED: Do laundry.