After close to a year of preparation, the Specialty Tools & Fasteners Distributors Assn. has completed the 140-page Counter Pro handbook. The handbook provides a thorough review of the multiple tasks a counter pro faces in serving customers and working with other company departments.

Counter Pro is a result of member requests to provide training aimed specifically at the counterperson. Having purchased the rights to Counter Pro from the National Assn. of Electrical Distributors, STAFDA's Board of Directors customized the book to read especially for its market. Members are encouraged to brush up on counter practices before handing the book to employees.

For more information, visit www.stafda.org.

The Bearing Specialists Assn. announced that its Certified Bearing Specialist program is now open to manufacturers. The association's CBS program—the only bearing-industry specific certification program—offers a rare opportunity to demonstrate industry knowledge and the added value that knowledge brings to every bearing industry transaction.

According to a statement, BSA is very happy to invite manufacturer employees to join the distinguished ranks of more than 200 Certified Bearing Specialists worldwide.

For more information, visit www.bsahome.org.

The Education Foundation of the National Assn. of Electrical Distributors appointed Jim Lombardo as educational program manager. In this position, Lombardo will be responsible for overseeing the Foundation's wide range of industry-specific training resources—from the Electrical Products Education Course to newer association offerings such as Counter Pro. He also will be responsible for developing future education and training programs for the electrical distribution channel.

For more information, visit www.naed.org.

Members of the Western Assn. for Fastener Distributors elected Alison Hubbard of North State Fastener in Sunnyvale, Calif. to a second term as president of WAFD at a recent Board of Directors meeting. Hubbard is the second person from her family to serve as WAFD president.

Other appointments include Lou Boyd of The Oleander Co. as the association's vice president; and Dee Silver of Barnhill Bolt Co. as secretary/treasurer. All officers will serve one-year terms.

For more information, visit www.wafd.org.

The Distribution Research and Education Foundation of the National Assn. of Wholesaler-Distributors announced the election of David E. Griffith, president/CEO of Modern Group, Ltd., to the DREF Board of Directors. Griffith also is president of the Material Handling Equipment Distributors Assn., an NAW member association.

Since being established 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.

For more information, visit www.naw.org.

kgriffiths@reedbusiness.com