At the 2023 AD North American Meeting – Industrial & Safety – U.S. and Safety Network Divisions, AD hosted its annual Spirit of Independence Awards dinner to honor the achievements and excellence of the AD community.

This year’s awards show featured new Safety Network awards for the first time at the North American Meeting.

“This event recognizes and celebrates not only the top performing companies, but also the individuals who value the true spirit of independence that defines the AD community,” said Marisol Fernandez, President of AD’s Electrical & Industrial Business Unit. “Thank you for everything you do to ensure the success of AD and independent distributors.”

Fernandez also welcomed 30 AD members into the AD Centennial Club, which celebrates the legacies of independent distributors with over 100 years in business supporting their communities.

AD’s Member of the Year awards celebrate the independent distributors who achieved excellent sales growth and growth in purchases from AD suppliers. The winning companies also achieved high participation rates in AD programs and initiatives. The following companies received Member of the Year recognitions:

  • 2023 AD Industrial & Safety – U.S. Tier One Member of the Year: SurfacePrep
  • 2023 AD Industrial & Safety – U.S. Tier Two Member of the Year: Martin Supply
  • 2023 AD Safety Network Tier One Member of the Year: Alabama Safety
  • 2023 AD Safety Network Tier One Member of the Year: Northern Safety

AD’s Supplier of the Year awards celebrate the supplier companies that engaged and support AD members with high levels of excellence. Winning companies increased sales from members, participated in AD sales incentive opportunities and engaged in AD programs. The following companies earned Supplier of the Year honors:

  • 2023 AD Industrial & Safety – U.S. Tier One Supplier of the Year: Walter Surface Technologies
  • 2023 AD Industrial & Safety – U.S. Tier Two Supplier of the Year: Apex Tool
  • 2023 AD Safety Network Tier One Supplier of the Year: Acme United
  • 2023 AD Safety Network Tier One Supplier of the Year: Ergodyne

The Best Conversion to an AD Supplier awards go to a member and supplier that collaborate to convert sales from a non-AD supplier to an AD supplier. Ten companies in total were awarded in five different categories:

To honor supplier engagement, the Best Annual Planning Process award celebrates the members that implemented effective Field Marketing Summits and implemented successful communication strategies with partner companies. The winning companies were:

  • Best Annual Planning Process – Industrial & Safety: Border States
  • Best Annual Planning Process – Safety Network: Premier Safety

Mike Carr, President of the Industrial & Safety Divisions – U.S., presented the Best Workplace Recognitions. This year, Carr celebrated four member companies that earned an overall engagement score of 85% or higher on a third-party engagement survey or were recognized regionally or nationally as a “best place to work.” The four recipients were AHB Tooling & Machinery, CBT Company, GME Supply and Safety Products, Inc.

Next, Carr presented two MVP awards, which honor individuals who made significant contributions to their company’s partnership with AD. MVP winners go above and beyond in helping their companies achieve value through AD’s programs and initiatives. The 2023 MVP award winners were:

  • 2023 Industrial & Safety MVP: Alexis Miller, Product Marketing Champion, Vallen
  • 2023 Safety Network MVP: Austin Maly, Sales Manager, Guardian Safety & Supply

AD Chairman and CEO Bill Weisberg closed out the ceremony by presenting the Giving Back award, celebrating the company that achieved excellence in giving back to their community and empowering their employees to participate in giving back efforts.

“As independents, you get the opportunity to form meaningful relationships and give back to the communities that have supported you for decades and even centuries,” said Weisberg. “Giving back is a core value at AD, and each company that prioritizes giving back and makes a difference for those in need deserves to be celebrated.”

Stauffer Glove & Safety, the 2023 Giving Back award winner, was honored for their charitable efforts in and around their community of Red Hill, Pa. – the home of Stauffer since the company’s founding in 1907.