MRC Global Inc. is the largest global distributor of pipe, valve and fitting products to the energy and industrial industries and operates more than 400 service locations in 18 different countries around the world. The company relies on this distribution network and long-standing, global manufacturer
relationships to provide a unique value proposition to energy and industrial end users in the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors.

“We are proud to be recognized by Fortune, especially as a newly public company,” MRC Chairman, President and CEO Andrew Lane said. “After more than 90 years as a successful private organization with a proven reputation for integrity and excellent service, we look forward to continuing to build upon that legacy as a publicly held company.”

Compiled since 1955, the “Fortune 500″ ranks U.S. companies by sales. Companies are ranked by total revenues for their respective fiscal years. Included in the survey are companies that are incorporated and operate in the U.S. and file financial statements with a government agency.

More information can be found at www.mrcpvf.com.

Board Chairman Roy Sherman made the following comment: “The Board of Directors wishes to congratulate Rob. We have the utmost confidence in
him, the management team, and all our employees. It is through the hard work and dedication of our more than 440 employees that A.Y. McDonald Mfg. Co. has become one of the nation’s premier manufacturers of waterworks brass, high-pressure gas, plumbing and pump products. We thank all of you for your continuing work to exceed our customers’ expectations every day.”

“Reese Kitchens is one of the premier cabinet designers in the local market with a strong reputation,” said Ferguson CEO Frank Roach. “Their locations fit well with our desired geographic footprint and the addition of new products allows us to best serve customers not only in downtown Indianapolis but also the neighboring suburbs.”

Three showrooms — Broadripple, Greenwood and Zionsville — will operate as satellite locations of Ferguson’s main showroom in the Indiana Design Center. Product offering at these locations will be expanded to include kitchen and bath plumbing products and fixtures, appliances and lighting.

“We believe that Ferguson can build on the legacy of our family business,” said David Reese, owner of Reese Kitchens. “They will also be able to offer the best opportunities to our employees, so we felt it was the best decision we could make.”

Wolseley recently announced Ferguson’s first quarter results, showing sales growth in all Ferguson business units. Ferguson’s revenue was 9% ahead of last year.

has one location in Syracuse servicing the supplies and equipment needs of contractors, institutional, industrial and municipal accounts.

“The acquisition of Inland Supply affords us the opportunity to expand our presence in the Syracuse market,” said Michael Duffy, Irr Supply Centers’ president.

The Inland Supply location will remain open and operate under the Irr Supply Centers Inc. name.

Irr Supply Centers Inc. operates 32 locations in Western and Central New York and Northern Pennsylvania. Irr Supply also operates five registered Kohler showrooms — Visionary Baths & More — throughout New York State.

Founded in 1974, Shurjoint introduced the SHURJOINT brand in the mid-1990s. Based in Taiwan and the U.S., Shurjoint currently offers over 3,000 piping components with a full line of grooved fittings, couplings, valves, ductile iron threaded pipe fittings and welding outlets in ½-inch to 96-inch sizes. SHURJOINT products are used with a variety of piping materials including: carbon steel, stainless steel, ductile iron, PVC, HDPE, CPVC and copper.

“This acquisition demonstrates Tyco’s ongoing commitment to the Mechanical market. As a result, Tyco will broaden its grooved product portfolio and expertise in innovative mechanical solutions,” said Colleen Repplier, president of Tyco Fire Protection Products. “Shurjoint is an excellent strategic fit to our business, and allows us to improve service to the fire, HVAC, mining and industrial markets.”

To kick off the program, Efrain Perez, corporate relations director of World Vision, gave the invocation, and he was followed by an official welcome from Suzie Williford, past president of the NKBA. Lou Rohl, COO of Rohl LLC, presented reflections on Rohl’s efforts to give back as the guest speaker.

The Crystal Vision Award was presented to Kohler Co., and accepted by Rachel Kohler, Group President-Interiors, who spoke of Kohler’s commitment to tackling poverty and serving those less fortunate. In the past year alone, Kohler donated $6 million of product to the Storehouse.

HD Supply was recognized as Partner of the Year. Daniel G. McInerney, director of regional distribution for the Northwest, accepted the award.

And the Robert P. Atkins Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Lyle Hunnicutt, president of RainTree Associates LLC.

Sponsors of the Crystal Vision Breakfast were: Elkay, Fortune Brands, Globe Union/Gerber/Danze, Grohe America, Inglis Foundation, Kohler, Nielson Expositions, Snyder Diamond, SharkBite & Reliance Worldwide, Your Other Warehouse/The Home Depot, and NKBA.

The Storehouse of World Vision is the National Kitchen & Bath Association’s Charity of Choice, supporting many of the industry’s great companies in their philanthropic efforts. To learn more, visit www.worldvision.org.

Weldbend – an industry leader in domestically-manufactured carbon steel weld fittings and weld flange products from ½” thru 60” – brings to the forefront another larger-than-life personality to headline its annual breakfast.

“George Foreman is a terrific speaker who we all know will both entertain and inspire our guests,” Weldbend president Jim Coulas said. “Hosting the IPD Breakfast each year is one way for us to let our customers know how much we appreciate them.”

In just two years, the annual Weldbend IPD Breakfast has become a can’t-miss event at NetworkASA, the annual convention of the American Supply Association. Last year in Las Vegas, KISS co-founder and multi-media magnate Gene Simmons was a big hit as he entertained and inspired the overflow crowd at the Bellagio with his personal story of realizing the American dream and the business lessons he used to get there.

Two years ago in Chicago, Hall of Fame football coach Mike Ditka got lots of laughs and two standing ovations. Like Simmons, Ditka championed American manufacturing and the entrepreneurial spirit. Both Simmons and Ditka took questions from the crowd and gave away autographed souvenirs to lucky attendees. Foreman promises his own style of personal interaction with lucky members of the audience.

As one of the most feared heavyweight boxers of all time, the 1968 Olympic champion compiled a 76-5 professional record, including a mind-boggling 68 knockouts. He captured the heavyweight crown for the first time in 1973 with a stunning, second-round knockout of then undefeated and undisputed champion Joe Frazier. A year-and-a-half later, Foreman lost for the first time in the infamous “Rumble in the Jungle” to the legendary Muhammad Ali.

Foreman retired from the ring initially in 1977 with a 45-2 record, but came back to boxing 10 years later in 1987. Seven years after that, at the age of 45, he became the oldest heavyweight champion of all time when he knocked out Michael Moorer.

He retired again in 1997 at the age of 48.

In addition to his ring career, Foreman has gained international celebrity status. He has had his own television sitcom, “George”, was the face of the top-selling “George Foreman Grill”, and has authored over a half-dozen best-selling books, including his most recent, The Knockout Entrepreneur.

The event is open to IPD Members (and their spouses) that are registered to attend NetworkASA 2012.

For TOTO USA’s distributors and high-end kitchen and bath showrooms, the new alliance will deliver exceptional value by providing them the opportunity to add the highly desirable Villeroy & Boch USA products to their businesses. With the addition of the Villeroy & Boch brand and its outstanding European design, this sales alliance offers them an even broader range of aspirational, premium products that will improve their competitiveness and lead to increased sales and profits.

As is the case with TOTO USA products, Villeroy & Boch USA products are available only to the trade. The two brands will be positioned to complement each other in showrooms. This will give consumers a broader range of premium options when choosing the products for their bathrooms, and it will add substantial value and strength to the competitiveness and profitability of the distributors and showrooms that feature the two brands together. Distributors and showrooms selling both brands will enjoy economies of scale on freight, service, and support by combining Villeroy & Boch USA orders with their TOTO USA orders.

Villeroy & Boch USA customers can continue to order products through its New Jersey facilities until August 31. Starting July 1, however, its products will also be available through TOTO USA. As of September 1, all Villeroy & Boch USA products will be sold through TOTO USA only, and TOTO USA will handle all sales, logistics, and customer support matters.

“This is likely to be one of the most interesting sales alliances we’ve ever seen in our industry in North America, and I know that both brands as well as our broad network of distributors and showrooms will be eager to get it started with a lot of momentum,” said David Krakoff, senior vice president–Americas, Sales Division, TOTO USA. “Our customers are very tuned-in to how to be successful in the premium segment of the market, and they will see this TOTO USA/Villeroy & Boch USA alliance as an attractive and highly desirable step. It’s a unique offering that no one else can match.”

Michael Swan, president of Americas, Bathroom and Wellness Division, Villeroy & Boch USA, added, “This sales alliance gives Villeroy & Boch USA immediate access to a broad customer base and offers excellent synergies in sales, service, and logistics. I am convinced that it will be very effective for both companies – TOTO USA and Villeroy & Boch USA equally. It’s a win-win situation for everyone.”

In addition to the benefits to TOTO USA’s distribution and showroom customers, the new sales alliance between TOTO USA and Villeroy & Boch USA offers architects and designers an exciting new high-end pallet to pull from when choosing products for their projects. TOTO USA will be offering an exceptional range of Villeroy & Boch USA European-designed products to complement the strong design, technology, and sustainability options available from TOTO USA today. This will include some new product categories for TOTO USA such as Villeroy & Boch USA European-designed bathroom furniture.

Villeroy & Boch USA’s Swan noted that, “In the next several years, via this alliance, we expect to see impressive growth in the showroom presence of Villeroy & Boch USA in North America.” TOTO USA’s Krakoff agreed. He said, “We expect this to be a real game-changer.”

Yeager Supply vastly expanded its inventory capacity with the purchase of the old Reading Railroad Locomotive Shop, adding more than 280,000 square feet of enclosed warehouse space.

Today Yeager Supply employs more than 100 talented individuals in four offices, with 16 trucks making daily deliveries throughout Eastern Pennsylvania.

When Mr. Yeager was asked the secret to his success, he shared the wisdom he always tells his employees, “Take good care of the customer and everything else will take care of itself.”

Yeager will celebrate by hosting a trade show at the Inn at Reading on May 2. More than 40 vendors will have booths at the show and a dinner for vendors and all Yeager employees will follow.

A 27-year employee of Bonney Forge, Rick was in Atlanta at the time of his passing. During his career, he held several senior positions at Bonney Forge in a number of functional areas within the organization.

Bonney Forge representatives said, “We are saddened to announce the unexpected passing of Rick, who was an integral member of the Bonney Family. Rick served Bonney Forge with distinction in positions of increasing responsibility spanning nearly three decades. He was a substantial contributor to the growth in the company from its humble beginnings to the world class operation it is today.

“For many years at Bonney Forge, we have spoken of the Bonney Family Spirit, and Rick truly exemplified that Family Spirit in every aspect of his life. He was a special member of the BF family who served as an industry leader, a mentor and a role model for many within the company. Although he will be missed, he will not be forgotten as his legacy will live on in those he has prepared for the future. We mourn his passing and will miss his dedication, his expertise and the bond of friendship he had with each of our employees. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Leone family.”

This morning, Bonney Forge shared with The Wholesaler the schedule for Rick’s services and memorials.

Friday, April 20, 2012

Viewing — 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Service: 4:00 p.m.
John B Brown Funeral Home
417 Washington Street
Huntingdon PA 16652
814-643-1256

Celebration of Rick’s Life Reception: 6:30 p.m. at Lodge

Tuesday, April 22, 2012

Chapel Service — 2:00 p.m.
Full Military Rites — 2:30 p.m.
St. John’s Northwestern Military Academy
1101 Genesee Street
Delafield, WI 53018
262-646-7199
www.snjma.org

Anyone wishing to make memorials in Rick’s name is encouraged to consider St. John’s Northwestern Military Academy in Delafield, Wis., or Shepherd Center Pool in Atlanta, Ga.

On behalf of everyone at TMB Publishing, our hearts go out to the Leone family, the entire Bonney Forge organization, and all those who had the pleasure of getting to know Rick throughout his years in this industry. He was a treasured friend, and will truly be missed.