The National Assn. of Wholesaler Distributors will conduct its annual Wholesale Distribution Manager's Course (WDMC) June 9-13 at Ohio State University in Columbus.

This year's course will be the 57th one presented by NAW and combines classroom instruction, small group discussions and computer laboratories—all focused on specially designed wholesale distribution case studies.

The WDMC is updated each year and looks at all major areas of distribution including sales management; value-added services; market-focused planning and financial management.

Registrants are assigned to specific teams and each evening the teams gather for brainstorming sessions. By the end of the week, participants will learn specific ways to improve their company's profitability and their own individual job performance.

For information, go to: www.naw.org/WDMC08.

Mark Alexander, general manager of Würth Industry North America, has joined the board of directors of the National Fastener Distributors Assn.

Alexander previously served as an NFDA director from 1994-1995 and as NFDA president in 1996.

“We are excited to have Mark join the board and look forward to his continued dedication to NFDA,” said NFDA executive vice president, John Hausoul.

For more information, go to www.nfda-fastener.org

The National Fluid Power Assn. is joining with the Canadian Fluid Power Assn. (CFPA) to bring the Fluid Power Challenge to southeastern Wisconsin this month.

The 2008 NFPA Fluid Power Challenge is a successful and innovative fluid power education program modeled after the one run by NFPA's Canadian counterparts for several years.

This competition challenges middle school students and teachers to solve an engineering problem using fluid power technology.

The host school is Kettle Moraine High School, located about 25 miles from Milwaukee.

“The challenge is meant to complement the fluids section in many science and technology curricula and gives students the hands-on experience of designing, building and demonstrating a fluid-power based mechanism to solve an assigned problem,” explains technology and engineering teacher Bryan Kind.

The NFPA Fluid Power Challenge consists of a full-day pre-competition workshop that allows the teams to develop and practice the skills needed for the competition. It also includes a full day of fluid power skills competition where teams solve a technological problem through the use of fluid power.

For information, go to: www.nfpa.org; www.cfpa.ca

Bradley (Brad) D. Wilson died on Feb. 4, in Phoenix, Ariz., after a brief illness. He was 61.

He was president of Mid-State Bolt & Nut Co. of Columbus, Ohio, a role he'd held since 1996, and had been with the company for 37 years.

Survivors include his wife Barbara (Barb), daughters Erica and Lauren, and a granddaughter. Condolences can be sent to the family: 181 Fox Glen Drive, Pickerington, Ohio 43147.