Association News

• UID Seminars Have Jan/san Influence
The University of Industrial Distribution’s (UID) lecture series at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, March 2-5, is creating quite a stir this year. While UID seminars and lectures have long been a great way for sanitary supply distributors to educate themselves alongside distributors from other industries, the 2003 event looks to have more jan/san influence than ever before.

“We’ve had a partnership with ISSA since almost the beginning, but in recent years that partnership has been strengthened as they’ve helped our education program,” says Dr. Jay Smith, director of UID. “They’ve been a very supportive association, and we’ve even gotten some of our speakers through recommendations by the sanitary supply industry.”

Jan/san distributors who have participated in distributor education courses will recognize a few of the presenters: Dave Kahle and D. Bruce Merrifield Jr. are two speakers who have recently presented at ISSA-sponsored events. Other speakers include Tim Underhill, president of the consulting firm, Underhill & Associates; former Texas A&M professor Don A. Rice; and current Texas A&M faculty member William R. McCleave Jr.

Seminar titles include: “Branch Operations Management for Distributors,” “Negotiation Skills for Distributors,” and “Moving from Vendor to Critical Supplier.” UID traditionally offers two major education programs each year, but the two events have been combined into the one-time March event. “If attendance is good, we may go back to the double format,” says Smith. For more information, log on to UID’s website.


• David Frank to Speak at ISSA District Meetings
International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA) has enlisted David Frank to speak at the association’s district meetings, beginning in April 2003. Frank will present “Street Selling: How to Get and Keep Customers in the Jan/san Industry.” The half-day program will teach participants how to differentiate themselves based on the strengths, experiences, and value they bring to the marketplace. Contact ISSA with questions.


• UCGA Queries Industry Manufacturers
The Unified Green Cleaning Alliance (UCGA) met with JohnsonDiversey, 3M and Tennant to establish specific criteria for identifying products as environmentally safe. The UCGA is made up of 40 members, ranging from business advocates to environmentalists.

Players

• NOVA Hand Dryers, Berkeley, Ill., has announced that Rhett Pierce is the company’s new national sales and product manager. Pierce comes to NOVA with a background in electrical manufacturing sales, marketing, and national accounts development. He will be based in the Chicago area and will be directly responsible for overseeing manufacturer’s reps in North America.

• Sorbent Products Co. (SPC), Somerset, N.J., recently announced three personnel moves: Derek Yurgaitis is now director of new business development; Larry Kilian is managing director of SPC International in Herentals, Belgium; and Detlev Henseler is regional sales manager for SPC International. Yurgaitis returns to U.S. SPC after developing an international distribution network and establishing a warehouse and production infrastructure in Europe as managing director of the company. Kilian comes to SPC with 25 years of international industry sales experience. Henseler will be based in Herentals, Belgium, and will be responsible for sales in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

• AFFLINK, Tuscaloosa, Ala., has announced that Bruce Bisel has joined the company as its third regional packaging manager, and Julie Jacoby has been hired as healthcare development manager. Bisel is based in Chicago and will work with distributors and suppliers throughout the Midwest and Northeast. Jacoby will be traveling nationwide to train new members.

• CPAC, Leicester, N.Y., recently announced that Scott M. Arndt has joined Fuller Brush Co. as supply chain manager. Arndt assumes responsibility for supply-chain management, global sourcing strategies, procurement and logistics for raw materials.

• InstructionLink/JanTrain, Boise, Idaho, is a new training and education communications company founded by Allen Rathey. The company will specialize solely in the cleaning industry — both commercial and consumer.

Company Notes

• Advantage Marketing Associates (AMA), Chicago, an international alliance of wholesalers, has named its newest associate member, Icon Distributing Co., Salt Lake City. Icon services Utah, most of Idaho, and parts of Wyoming from their Salt Lake facility.

• Athea Laboratories, Milwaukee, has announced the hiring of Drake Sales Corp. of Huntington Beach, Calif., as a new sales representative group. Drake Sales will assume control of sales in southern California, Nevada, Arizona and Hawaii for Athea, a specialty chemical manufacturer.

• Norton Abrasives, Worcester, Mass., recently joined Prophet21’s Trading Partner Connect e-commerce program.

n Chemical Packaging Corp., Pompano Beach, Fla., has announced that it has changed its name to CPC Aeroscience. The company was established in 1961 as a private label for aerosol products, but has expanded to encompass electronic controls for production and manufacturing and other design sciences.

• Permatex, Hartford, Conn., recently announced that it has added the Greased Lightning industrial strength cleaner degreaser to its line of industrial products. Greased Lightning is being introduced under an exclusive agreement with A & M Cleaning Products, the parent company of Greased Lightning. Permatex is a supplier of other industrial cleaning products, including Hewitt Soap.

• Weiss Brothers, Hagerstown, Md., a sanitary supply distributor, recently announced several company awards. Wayne Kriet, a company truck driver, was named employee of the year; Steve Johnson was named sales rep of the year; Stan Werkheiser (Georgia-Pacific) and Angela Hemler (Rubbermaid) were named suppliers of the year; and Minuteman International was named best new product line.

• Henson Sales Group, Wayne, Pa., was recently honored by San Jamar, a paper towel dispenser manufacturer in Elkhorn, Wis., with San Jamar’s 2002 Outstanding Achievement Award. The award recognizes Henson’s “outstanding sales achievement and dedication to San Jamar company values.”

Company High Notes

SC-Johnson-Canada recently pledged $400,000 to the Hamilton Regional Cancer Centre Foundation’s capital campaign — “Hope Can’t Wait!”

The fund-raising campaign will help finance a major expansion of the Hamilton Regional Cancer Centre, which serves two million people in Central West Ontario. Brian Tuffin, president and general manager of SC Johnson-Canada, said it’s important for businesses to get involved with their communities.

“Being a good neighbor and actively contributing to solving problems and improving the quality of life around us is fundamental to the way we operate,” said Tuffin. “Many families are counting on this region’s Cancer Centre, and we’re pleased to support its expansion.”

Dr. Jim Wright, radiation oncologist and head of clinical trials at the Cancer Centre, said SC Johnson’s gift brings the Hope Can’t Wait campaign one step closer to reaching its fund-raising goal.

“We have now received pledges of $8.6 million towards our goal and each dollar helps the Cancer Centre provide the best possible treatment, research, and training,” he said.




POSTED ON: 2/1/2003