Board of Directors supports group’s growth and virtual opportunities
Bridgewater, N.J., U.S., July 23, 2020 – The Messer Distributor Group (MDG), a leading network of independent distributors and suppliers, recently announced new additions to the group’s Board and pivoted from a planned in-person annual meeting to a highly successful virtual event.
Established in 1993, the MDG helps independent gases and equipment distributor members to leverage their purchasing power to achieve volume discounts and earn rebates from equipment suppliers. The organization offers joint marketing programs to improve sales effectiveness and hosts educational discussion forums on common business challenges.
“It is critical that MDG members stay abreast of all new products and services vendors offer, as well as various future industry and technology trends,” said Chris Ebeling, Executive Vice President, Sales & Marketing, US Bulk at Messer. “These meetings, and our ability to adapt to a virtual format during these unique times, make that possible. We’re very pleased to continue providing value to the industry in this digital manner, as we continue to grow in the US market.”
“Great organizations are built to be nimble and flexible to react to market changes, but this year our industry faced unprecedented events,” said Bryan Keen, Co-Chairman of the MDG and President of Keen Compressed Gas Company. “I am proud of the MDG, including distributor members, important suppliers and the Messer team, as they pivoted from our traditional annual meeting to a virtual program in a short period. The MDG program really has demonstrated its unique value proposition to independent distributors.”
After discussing membership and vendors, the MDG elected to have a two-week virtual program that included a general membership meeting and 26 half-hour vendor webinars. The approach proved successful as all programs received positive support and engagement from the members.
“In retrospect, the 2020 annual meeting was a particularly valuable event,” said Ed Mueller, President Welders Supply and Chairman of the MDG Re-sale and Assets Committee. “We had great show specials from the vendors, unique and educational webinars and celebrated with Radio MDG that gave the entire distributors’ organization an opportunity to participate.”
In addition to the virtual webinars, the MDG announced changes to its Board of Directors. Elected to the Board at the annual meeting were John Mark McMurtry, President of Volunteer Welding Supply and Richelle Smith-Brecht, President and CEO of S.J. Smith Company. The Board also elected Bryan Keen as Co-Chairman to serve alongside Terry Hall, representing Messer.
The 2021 Annual Membership Meeting will be held at the Eden Roc Hotel in Miami Beach from June 6 through June 8. For more information visit the MDG website or call: 800-755-9277.
About Messer Americas
Messer is the largest privately held industrial gas business in the world, and a leading industrial and medical gas company in North and South America. Messer offers over 120 years of expertise in industrial, medical, specialty, and electronic gases and safely delivers quality gases, related services and technology via an extensive production and distribution network. Messer Americas is part of Messer Group, representing a USD 3.5 billion enterprise with presence in the Americas, Europe and Asia. For more information, visit: www.messeramericas.com.
