Former U.S. President George Herbert Walker Bush will be the keynote speaker for ISSA/INTERCLEAN®-New Orleans 2004, November 16-19 at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

“We are honored to have a U.S. president address the cleaning industry, especially so close after the country’s presidential election this November,” said ISSA executive director John Garfinkel. Bush’s son, George W. Bush will be running for re-election on November 2, 2004.

Bush held office between 1988 and 1992, following eight years serving as vice president under Ronald Reagan. Prior to working with Reagan, Bush held a number of positions in the federal government: ambassador to the United Nations, director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), chief of the U.S. Liaison Office in the People’s Republic of China, and U.S. Senator.

Since leaving office, Bush has written two books: A World Transformed, which covers foreign policy during the administration, and All the Best, a collection of letters written throughout his life.

Last year’s keynote speaker for ISSA’s annual event, the Honorable James Baker, is a close confidante of President H. W. Bush. Baker served as Secretary of State on Bush’s staff.

The annual ISSA/INTERCLEAN trade show draws more than 16,000 attendees from the sanitary supply industry. For more information, visit ISSA’s website.

NJSSA Honors Leahy with Lifetime Achievement

The New Jersey Sanitary Supply Association (NJSSA) recently announced that Russ Leahy, retired president of The Russ Leahy Co., has been awarded with the association’s first lifetime achievement award, named after Bob Stader, at Supply Line 2004, the region’s May trade show.

The Bob Stader Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes veteran professionals who have supported and promoted the jan/san industry and NJSSA with distinction.

“Russ Leahy is one of the association’s founding fathers,” said NJSSA president Hank Josephs. “He played an integral role in getting us where we are today.”

Leahy began his jan/san career with the Colgate Palmolive Co. after earning a Silver Star for gallantry in WWII. In 1967, he founded the Russ Leahy Co., Inc.

COMPANY NOTES

Sweet Paper Sales Corp., Miami, recently announced the opening of its 11th branch, located in Westfield, Mass. Family-owned Sweet Paper is a master distributor of paper, janitorial, hotel, party and restaurant supplies.

Cascades Inc., Waterford, N.Y., an international manufacturer of paper products, recently acquired a tissue mill (including a paper machine, converting lines and a de-inking pulp mill) in Memphis, Tenn. The acquisition will increase Cascades’ tissue capacity by 8 percent.

Advantage Marketing Associates (AMA), Chicago, an international alliance of jan/san wholesalers, recently reported that Garland C. Norris Co., Apex, N.C., an AMA wholesaler, is celebrating 100 years in business.

Dosmatic, an international manufacturer of water-driven injectors, recently opened a new office in Japan in response to increasing demand for its products and expertise in that country.

Windsor Industries, Denver, is offering $5,000 for the oldest Versamatic vacuum still in use. Contact Bob Abrams at (800) 444-7654.

PLAYERS

National Chemical Laboratories, Philadelphia, recently announced two personnel changes: Patrick McCarthy was named senior regional manager for the Southwest, and Dave Stoudenmyer was named regional sales representative for the Kansas City area (including Kansas and Missouri).

National Independent Sanitary Supply Cos. (NISSCO), Dulles, Va., recently hired Mark Bozich as the company’s director of business development.

Pioneer Eclipse Corp., Sparta, N.C., recently named Christopher Meaney as the company’s new North American sales manager. He will lead the company’s sales efforts in the United States and Canada.

The United Group, Monroe, La., recently elected new executive vice presidents: Chuck Edwards will lead the Southwestern region, and Jeff Robinson will lead the Western region.

COMAC Corp., Brossard, Quebec, recently announced the appointment of Lee Royko to the position of national sales/marketing manager. COMAC is a distributor of hand dryers across Canada.




POSTED ON: 5/1/2004