Members of the NorthAmerican Industrial Representatives Assn. voted to discontinue the group's operations and forge a relationship with the Industrial Supply Assn., according to a statement from NIRA. The membership approved the board of directors' resolution to dissolve NIRA, in conjunction with a negotiated package of service to be provided to members by ISA.

"The NIRA board felt that allying with ISA would position NIRA members for maximum future success, while empowering professional rep firms to have an active, voting role in the future of ISA," said NIRA president Dave Turpin of Turpin Sales & Marketing, Inc. "With our members' recent vote in support of that plan, we are now ready to work closely with ISA to address the needs of professional rep firms serving the industrial marketplace."

With this agreement, ISA: extends full membership voting privileges to ISA rep members; adds a voting rep member to ISA's board of directors; creates an ISA Rep Committee to oversee program and policy matters; becomes fully engaged in providing programs to serve rep interests; participates actively in programs, trade shows and activities addressing the interests of NIRA's industrial safety product reps; and includes opportunities for rep exhibit booth programs at ISA conventions. NIRA agreed to discontinue operations as a trade association and to recommend that its members transfer their membership to ISA.

John Pittman, NIRA chairman and president of Pittman Industrial Marketing, said, "NIRA is indebted to its founders, past leaders and current board members for their efforts and commitment to promoting the function and value of the professional industrial sales rep. NIRA rep firms have set the professional benchmark for our industry, and we are delighted that ISA is now ready to recognize our members as key elements of the industrial supply channel."