GAWDA installs 2017-2018 president, officers

Ned Lane

The Gases and Welding Distributors Association (GAWDA), Hollywood, Fla., has announced the installation of Ned Lane as president. Lane, who is president of St. Louis-based Cee Kay Supply Co., will serve as head of the association until September 2018.

Lane has served on the GAWDA board of directors for the past several years and on the association’s executive committee for the past three years. He has been with Cee Kay Supply for 22 years, serving as president for the past 17 years.

Named as 2017-2018 officers for three newly open seats as vice presidents are Evan Bennear, sales manager, Dale Oxygen Co., Johnstown, Pa.; Melissa Perkins, director of marketing and finance, Electronic Fluorocarbons, Hatfield, Pa.; and Bill Proctor, president, nexAir LLC, Memphis, Tenn.

Abydee Butler Moore, executive vice president of Butler Gas Products, Pittsburgh, was named as the association’s first vice president. She is slated to assume the organization’s presidency in 2019-2020. Brad Peterson, chairman and chief acquisition officer of Mississippi Welders Supply Co. Inc., Winona, Minn., is now president-elect, in line to become the association’s president for the 2018-2019 year.

Mark Raimy, Welders Supply Corp. – A Raimy Corp., Erie, Pa., serves as first past president; and Bill Visintainer, Atlas Welders Supply, Tuscaloosa, Ala., serves as second past president.

The remaining members of the current board of directors are:

• Kelly Bladow, Oxarc Inc., Spokane, Wash.
• Jay Brant, Indiana Oxygen Co., Indianapolis
• Bob Ewing, Red Ball Oxygen Co., Shreveport, La.
• Jeff Johnson, Arc3 Gases, Dunn, N.C.
• Jim O’Connor, Norton Abrasives - St. Gobain, Johns Creek, Ga.