AD announced its member-owners elected two directors to its 2022 board of directors. AD’s newly elected director is Karla Neupert Hockley, president of Consolidated Supply Co. Tim Horsman, president & CEO of E.B. Horsman & Son was reelected by AD’s member-owners.

Edward J. Nierman, a founding partner of Canton, Massachusetts-based Independent Pipe & Supply, Canton, Massachusetts passed away on January 15, 2022, at 98 years of age. Nierman was a pioneering giant in the world of pipe, valves and fittings. A man of modest upbringing, he joined his parents in their small, used plumbing supply business. He and his brother Al expanded the business in 1950 into Independent Pipe & Supply. 

As distributors have navigated the past two years full of new challenges and unprecedented circumstances, the power and importance of learning from peers and engaging in educational resources has become more important than ever before. The American Supply Association has long provided networking and educational opportunities for its members, and its partnership with the Association Education Alliance (AEA) and involvement with the annual University of Innovative Distribution (UID) conference is one example.

ASA Chief Economist Chris Kuehl is back Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 2 p.m. Eastern/1 p.m. Central with his first ASA economic update webinar of the year, taking a look at the 2022 forecast. 

After 56 years of significant expansion and growth, the Abeling family has transitioned 100% of the company’s total ownership to all the employees of the company through a qualified retirement plan known as an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (or ESOP). All eligible employees will be granted shares of Company stock each year, at no cost, allowing them to earn ownership over time through their service to the company and accumulate tax-deferred retirement wealth. Consumers Pipe & Supply Co. joins a group of elite 100% employee-owned companies across the U.S.  

When Supply House Times reached out to me to ask if I would consider writing a quarterly column providing readers with updates on what is happening in the world of codes and standards I jumped at the chance. So beginning with this introductory column I will begin providing you with what I hope to be valuable information on codes and standards changes impacting your business.

ASA’s monthly sales report shows November 2021 results that reflect another month of robust performance compared to the same month a year ago. The year-to-date and trailing 12-month figures remained strong when compared against 2020, a year that had multiple weeks, if not months of closures or partial closures, ASA business intelligence partner Industry Insights, which produces the monthly sales report for ASA members, noted.

The Gustave A. Larson Co. announced it closed on the purchase of Progress Supply, Inc. (PSI), on December 17, 2021. Progress Supply is a long-time established and successful multi-location HVAC and Refrigeration distribution company in central and southwestern Ohio, southeast Indiana and northern Kentucky.

This diverse group of five participants includes roles from executive and marketing to purchasing and inventory experts. After the nearly three-hour conversation, it was clear one thing is for certain; the current supply chain status and high-demand calls for an all-hands-on-deck approach.

On Dec. 7, 2021, more than 27,000 customers of Amazon Web Services (AWS) — which includes Ring Security Cameras, Disney+, Netflix, Prime Video, Facebook, Venmo and more— experienced site outages, slow streaming or complete shut-offs of services. The outage also affected Amazon’s ability to deliver on its usually two-day shipping promise and delayed updates for customers.