2021 GAWDA Regional Meeting Recaps

Northwest Regional Meeting

After having to cancel all of its 2021 Regional Meetings, this year saw the return of these important networking and educational opportunities. For the first time since 2019, GAWDA members had the opportunity to gather at three regional meetings. Below is a synopsis of each of these meetings as well as a sampling of pictures from each event. For a full photo gallery for each of the regional meetings, visit gawdamedia.com. For a sneak peek of the 2022 GAWDA Regional meeting schedule, visit gawda. org/activities/regional-meetings.

NORTHWEST REGIONAL MEETING

After not hosting a Regional Meeting since August 2019, GAWDA Regional Meetings returned for 2021 with the Northwest Regional Meeting, which was held from July 21-23 in Sunriver Oregon. The event was a major success, with 136 registrants who were treated to amazing industry presentations from industry heavyweights including Dave Lambert, Dave Weitzel, Hector Villarreal, and Mary Carter, as well as networking opportunities like an opening reception and dinner, a golf outing and bocce ball. A great time was had by all who attended. “This meeting was an impressive feat,” says Northwest Regional Meeting co-chair Eric Bliss. “Back in March, we had to make the decision on whether or not we would be able to conduct the meeting in a manner that is fit for the Northwest. Especially in the state of Oregon, which, at the time, had some of the strictest COVID restrictions in the country. The distributors got together and decided to move ahead with it. Our expectations were fairly low, we were going to be thrilled if we could get 50 attendees to join us. As it turns out, people have a desire to travel again. We had over 130 attendees at the event! I want to give a big shout out to all of the people that came and sponsored this event. Without their help, these events just wouldn’t happen. I would also like to thank Brent Laing and the great people at Industrial Source for helping co-chair the event. Robert Gerry was instrumental in organizing our speakers, which provided fantastic content and made it easy to grab takeaways that help provide a ROI on the trip. To our speakers: Dave Lambert, Hector Villarreal, Dave Weitzel and Mary Carter, thank you for your presentations and time it is greatly appreciated. Thank you everyone for helping with the 2021 NW regional meeting it was fantastic to see everyone in person again.”

CENTRAL REGIONAL MEETING

The second GAWDA Regional Meeting of 2021 took place in Oregon, Ohio, at the incredible Maumee Bay State Park from August 9-10. Central Regional Co-Chairs Eric Wood, O.E. Meyer, and Bob Ranc, Weldcoa, put together an amazing event that was well-attended by both GAWDA Distributors and Suppliers. The event had 72 registrants, who were treated to a cocktail reception and dinner with breathtaking views overlooking Lake Erie. The event also featured a GAWDA Association update from President Abydee Butler Moore and an enlightening presentation from Lincoln Electric’s Mike Mintun entitled “View of the Welding Industry, 2021 into 2022” where he gave his overview of what is in store for the welding industry in the next couple of years. August 10th featured a networking breakfast and then attendees had the opportunity to hit the links with fellow members. A great time was had by all!

continued on next page Central Regional Meeting

SEVEN SPRINGS REGIONAL MEETING

The GAWDA Seven Springs Regional Meeting was the final Regional Meeting of 2021. The event took place at the picturesque Seven Springs Mountain Resort in Seven Springs, Pennsylvania, from August 24-26. The event kicked off on Tuesday, August 24, with lunch and lawn games on the resort’s grounds, before attendees were broken into groups for a clay pigeon shooting competition. Teams of three or four were able to shoot at seven different stations. After the competition, attendees had a networking happy hour on a deck overlooking the grounds. Later that evening, attendees met for a barbeque dinner at the resort’s Foggy Goggle restaurant and bar, complete with live music and an opportunity to participate in axe throwing.

On Wednesday, August 25, the meeting kicked off in earnest with a networking breakfast, followed by the unique “Reverse Contact Booth Program.” The reverse contact booth literally flipped the script on the traditional contact booth program, as the 28 distributor companies in attendance had their own display table, while the suppliers in attendance were able to walk the floor and meet with them individually. It was a great opportunity to establish new relationships as well as to deepen existing ones.

After the reverse contact booth, the educational portion of the event took place. GAWDA President and Seven Springs Chairperson Abydee Butler Moore kicked off this portion of the meeting with an association update. As she did at SMC, she challenged attendees to find the key take home value that will help pay for and justify their attendance at the Regional Meeting.

Following Abydee, attendees were treated to great presentations from GAWDA Board Member Eric Wood, who discussed Gas Agreements and Contracts; Weldstar President Matt Winkle on identifying, recruiting and retaining the next generation of leadership, and Meritus Gas Partners Vice

Seven Springs Regional Meeting

Chairman Rob D’Allesandro, who discussed the company’s experience with mergers and acquisitions.

After the presentations, attendees gathered together for a networking lunch, followed by a golf tournament at the amazing Seven Springs Resort Golf Course. After golf, there was a networking dinner at the Mountain Club.

Finally, the conference concluded on Thursday, August 26, after a Safety presentation from GAWDA Consultant Marilyn Dempsey. Overall, 225 GAWDA Members were in attendance. Through raffles and prizes, the event also raised a large amount of money for this year’s GAWDA Gives Back Charity, the Children’s Literacy Foundation. A great time was had by all. Thank you to the unbelievable sponsors who made this event possible and to the GAWDA members who were in attendance.