INDIANAPOLIS, IN — In recognition for his contributions to the Independent Welding Distributors Cooperative (IWDC), the industrial gas & welding industry and surrounding central California community, Mike Barnes was presented the Bob Jackson Memorial Award at IWDC’s Nov. 1-3 Owners’ Meeting in Amelia Island, FL.
Bob Jackson played an integral part in the formation of the IWDC. The honor is bestowed annually on a Member who has “gone above and beyond” in their support of the organization. The Bob Jackson is considered the preeminent award of the IWDC. Criteria for the award includes: strong volunteer spirit, supportive of independents, viewed internal and externally as a respected leader, engaged in our industry, community and family centric.
Fresno Oxygen & Welding Suppliers Inc., a fourth generation company headquartered in Fresno, CA is one the oldest continuously owned independent gas & welding distributor in North America. Mike Barnes is President of Fresno Oxygen, and has been leading his company’s growth for over twenty years. During his leadership the company has doubled their number of locations and quadrupled their business. They have installed a state of the art cylinder fill plant, expanded into bulk gas delivery and diversified into specialty gases.
The IWDC is a cooperative, formed in 1994, which leverages the strengths of its independent welding distributor members across North America. IWDC’s 139 Member companies collectively represent over $2.2B in sales, serving a wide range of industries. The common denominator is that these industries look to them for industrial, specialty, and medical gases as well as related equipment, hard goods, and consumables. End-use customers served by IWDC Members benefit from having the unparalleled expertise of a local Member distributor who has access to national-scale purchasing and marketing programs.
