GAWDA installs officers for 2016-2017

Mark Raimy

The Gases and Welding Distributors Association (GAWDA), Hollywood, Fla., has installed a new president, named a new executive committee member, and appointed three new vice presidents for service to the organization in the coming year.

Mark Raimy, CEO of GAWDA member Welders Supply Co. - Raimy Corp. in Erie, Pa., has been named as the organization’s new president. He will serve as president for a one-year term.

Named to the executive committee as the association’s next first vice president is Brad Peterson, chairman and chief acquisition officer of Mississippi Welders Supply Co. Inc., Winona, Minn. As first vice president, Peterson is in line to become the organization’s president for the 2018-2019 term.

The following officers were reappointed to executive committee roles for 2016-2017:

• First Vice President Ned Lane, president of Cee Kay Supply Inc., St. Louis. He will lead the organization as its president in the 2017-2018 term.
• First Past President Bill Visintainer. He will serve another two years on the executive committee.
• Second Past President Tom Biedermann, vice president of Airweld Inc., Farmingdale, N.Y. He is a GAWDA past president who will serve another term on the executive committee.

Newly elected to the organization’s board of directors as vice presidents are three GAWDA members:

• Jeff Johnson, vice president of sales for Arc3 Gases, working from Dunn, N.C.
• Kelly Bladow, director of safety and compliance at Oxarc Inc., Spokane, Wash.
• Jay Brant, chief information officer at Indiana Oxygen Co., Fort Wayne, Ind.

They join the four current GAWDA board of directors vice presidents:

• Bob Ewing, president of Red Ball Oxygen Co. Inc., Shreveport, La.
• Kevin Falconer, vice president and general manager of Minneapolis Oxygen Co., Minneapolis.
• Abydee Butler Moore, executive vice president at Butler Gas Products, Pittsburgh.
• James O’Connor, director of national distribution for Norton Abrasives, Johns Creek, Ga.

Brad Peterson