S.J. Smith has joined IWDC as of April 1. IWDC is a cooperative of independent welding distributors across the country.

Six participants, including S.J. Smith CEO Richelle Smith-Brecht, participated in The CEO Track, the opening session to the GAWDA National Convention in Colorado Springs, CO in October.

Panel members included Smith-Brecht; Jason Krieger, president/CEO, American & Gas; Jenny McCall, president, WESCO Gas & Welding Supply, Inc.; Mark Raimy, CEO, Welders Supply Company; Wally Brant, CEO, Indiana Oxygen Company; and Alex Kennedy, CEO, Red Ball Oxygen. Discussion centered on the SWOT analysis, discussing the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the industrial gas and welding industry.

When asked about what a good day as a CEO looks like, Smith-Brecht said typically, that is a day where “we are making decisions, pushing the company forward, with the values that are most important to S.J. Smith.”

“I love being involved with the employees, so a good day for me is being in a CI meeting, working with employees, understanding their strengths and what they’re bringing to the progress of the team. Communication for me is integral. Always, my job is … making sure the company is going after the short-term and long-term goals, our vision, our mission statement and more importantly our values.”

In light of current Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidance, as well as recommendations from GAWDA (Gases and Welding Distributors Association), S.J. Smith has revised business contingency plans and health measures in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

S.J. Smith, Decatur, is moving to its new location at 3890 East L and A Industrial Drive, Decatur, opening Monday, May 24.

​Richelle Smith-Brecht, president and CEO of S.J. Smith Company, Inc., was recently elected to the Messer Distributor Group (MDG) Board. Smith-Brecht was one of two elected to the board during a recent virtual MDG board meeting. John Mark McMurtry, president of Volunteer Welding Supply, Nashville, Tenn., was also elected.

Over the past month, S.J. Smith has put into place business contingency plans and health measures as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and other federal, state and local health agencies, as well as GAWDA (Gases and Welding Distributors Association), in light of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

Over the past month, S.J. Smith has put into place business contingency plans and health measures as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and other federal, state and local health agencies, as well as GAWDA (Gases and Welding Distributors Association), in light of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

S.J. Smith Company, Inc., awarded the 2018 CGA & GAWDA Distributor Safety Award for companies with more than 100,000 employee exposure hours on Monday, Sept. 30, at the 2019 GAWDA Annual Conference in Washington, D.C.

It’s a hot day in July, and Jason Daniels is prepping for a day of driving from S.J. Smith’s Urbana, Ill., location. Daniels, who has been driving with S.J. Smith for eight years, is familiar with the safety requirements for driving the truck and delivering cylinders and refrigerated liquid cans. Today, however, he has company. He’s driving with Zack Kyer, compliance coordinator at S.J. Smith, for a full day of road testing.