NAW Research Foundation Names Chairman

April 1, 2004
The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors' Distribution Research and Education Foundation (DREF) announced the election of a new chairman and

The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors' Distribution Research and Education Foundation (DREF) announced the election of a new chairman and the addition of two members to its Board of Directors.

Moving into the chairman's seat is Byron Potter, president/CEO, Dallas Wholesale Builders Supply Inc., DeSoto, Texas. He fills the position vacated by the retirement of J. Michael Moore, Applied Industrial Technologies, who was named Honorary DREF Director for Life.

Joining the DREF Board are Mark W. Kramer, CEO of Laird Plastics, West Palm Beach, Fla., and Randy Lindberg, president/CEO of Nature's Best, Brea, Calif.

According to Ron Schreibman, DREF executive director, "We're indebted to Mike Moore for his leadership of DREF during the past three years. With an individual like Byron Potter taking the reins of the foundation and board members like Mark Kramer and Randy Lindberg, it's a certainty that we will continue to produce excellent work for the benefit of the wholesale distribution industry."

The DREF Board includes Mary Sue Lyon, executive vice president, Power Transmission Distributors Association, Chicago; Andrew Berlin, president/CEO, Berlin Packaging, Chicago; Inge Calderon, executive vice president, American Supply Association, Chicago; Charles Cohen, president, Benco Dental Co., Wilkes Barre, Pa.; Don Frendberg, executive vice president/CEO, Heating, Airconditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International, Columbus, Ohio; Tim Holt, president/CEO, National School Supply & Equipment Association, Silver Spring, Md.; Julia Klein, president, C H Briggs Hardware Co., Reading, Pa.; Richard McCarten, vice president, Electro-Federation Canada, Mississauga, Ont.; Robert N. Renkes, executive vice president, Petroleum Equipment Institute, Tulsa, Okla.; James K. Risk III, CEO, Kirby Risk Corp., Lafayette, Ind.; Bob Roberts, president. Roberts Oxygen Co., Rockville, Md.; Raymon A. York, CEO, Ewing Irrigation Products, Phoenix, Ariz.; and Douglas R. Young, president/CEO, Behler-Young Co., Grand Rapids, Mich.

Established by the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors in 1967, DREF has produced a body of work, consistent with its mission of sponsoring studies on strategic management issues affecting the wholesale distribution industry.

The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors encompasses 96 national line-of-trade associations, approximately 30 regional, state and local wholesale distribution associations; approximately 40,000 wholesale distribution companies; and 85,000 wholesale distribution company personnel.

For more information, visit www.naw.org.