The National Assn. of Electrical Distributors named John Duda, chairman and CEO of Butler Supply, Inc. in St. Louis, as the incoming chairman of the NAED Board of Directors. Duda will serve as chair-elect in 2005–06, preparing to lead the Board in '06–07. Before the election, Duda served the association as chairman of the NAED Education & Research Foundation from '01–03, initiating the charge to create an endowment campaign to ensure the Foundation's future, as well as holding other offices.

"I am very honored to accept the awesome responsibility of serving as NAED chairman," says Duda. "I believe that a strong, national trade association that is attuned to the needs and wants of its members is an incredibly valued resource. I am committed to serve large and small distributors alike, so NAED can help us all to continuously grow and prosper."

For more information, visit www.naed.org.

The Bearing Specialists Assn. elected its 2005–06 officers and Board of Directors, including: Douglas Savage as president; Tom Miller as first vice president; Cam Lawrence as second vice president; Steve Durston as treasurer; and Craig Gipson as chairman of the board. Also elected to three-year terms on the board were Eduardo Bichara, Craig O. Faber, and John Timble.

BSA also presented two Lifetime Achievement Awards. James J. Fitzpatrick of Bearings Specialty Co., and John Nations of Bearings & Drives were each honored at the association's annual convention in Vancouver. The award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the industry and the associations and demonstrated a leadership role within the industry. The 2005 Lifetime Achievement Awards are only the second and third presentations BSA has made.

For more information, visit www.bsahome.org.

FPDA—Serving Fluid Power and Motion Technology Distributors elected its directors and appointed association officers at its annual meeting in Palm Desert, Calif. Officers include: Steve Ellis as president-elect; Scott Dickson as vice president, finance and treasurer and convention chair; Tom Cox as vice president, membership; and Brian Kundinger as immediate past president. Five directors, each serving three-year terms, were elected to the Board of Directors: Tom Cox, Richard Neels, Stephen Pickfield, Steve Schwasnick, and Greg Sidener. Members for FPDA's Young Executive Advisory Board also were elected, and include Keith Elphick as YES chair; Brian Kundinger II as YES vice chair; and Tom Cox as YES past chair.

For more information, visit www.fpda.org.

The Power Transmission Distributors Assn. launched a new resource for apparel and other promotional products available only to PTDA members. The new online catalog offers an array of products that can be co-branded with the PTDA and members' logos. A simple design allows members to navigate quickly and easily through the order process. Items include shirts, giveaway pieces and briefcases in product categories; men's apparel; ladies' apparel; outer-wear and fleece; bags, blankets and caps; and trade show and gift items. There is no minimum quantity on apparel and bag orders, allowing users to order only one piece, or a company's worth of an item. PTDA receives no royalty on purchases.

For more information, visit www.ptda.org.

kgriffiths@reedbusiness.com