DIRECTOR’S DESK

An Exciting Summer for GAWDA

BY JOHN OSPINA

John Ospina is GAWDA’s executive director. He can be reached at GAWDA Headquarters in Hollywood, FL, via telephone at 844-251-3219 or via email at jospina@gawda.org. I n the 3rd Quarter Issue of Welding & Gases Today, I wrote a column entitled “A New Twist on Networking at the Annual Convention.” In that column, I noted that networking is one of the biggest benefits of our association.

At GAWDA, we are constantly striving to evolve and improve. I remain enormously proud of the work that we did during COVID, to continue to bring value to our members during such a trying time for our country and our industry. Many of the changes that we put in place during the height of the pandemic remain today, including our monthly safety webinar with our amazing consultants. But that time was also a double-edged sword. While we were able to put amazing programs in place, and members were reminded of how indispensable our consultants truly are, we lost that networking component that has made GAWDA so successful for more than 75 years.

Since we resumed our in-person conferences last year, I have seen a revitalization. No longer do we take for granted our ability to meet and network with our peers. Attendance at our in-person conferences has not only spiked post COVID, but active participation in the events has gone through the roof, as well.

Just before SMC, we made the exciting announcement that Natasha Alexis was promoted to Vice President of Operations and Administration, while Claudinne Cerveira was brought on board as our new Director of Meetings and Events. These moves allowed me to travel more to see some of our amazing GAWDA members. Just this summer, I have been able to attend the Northeast, Central, and Northwest Regional Meetings. I have also been able to visit several long-time GAWDA members to get tours of their operations and learn more about their businesses. Thank you to

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Haun Welding Supply, Carbonic Systems, O.E. Meyer Company, and Metro Welding Supply for so graciously hosting me. To see pictures of our visits to O.E. Meyer and Metro Welding Supply, turn to pages 64-65 of this issue.

To cap off this amazing summer of networking, we return to beautiful San Diego for this year’s Annual Convention. GAWDA President Bob Ewing has an unbelievable conference planned, complete with the networking and educational opportunities you’ve come to expect at a GAWDA national event. And, new this year, we debut the Networking 360 program, to further facilitate networking. During Past President Abydee Butler Moore’s inaugural address, she said, “Supplier friends, we hear you loud and clear. ‘Get more distributors at functions!’ And distributor friends, we hear you too. ‘Give us a reason to show up and send our teams.’” I believe that with the Networking 360 program, we have fulfilled both those requests, and I’m excited for its debut.

I want to finish this last message of 2022 by thanking Bob Ewing for his amazing year of service and by welcoming Robert Anders in as our new GAWDA President as we continue to build on our many successes from this year.