Charlie Ingram leaving Eriez after 26 years of accomplishment and service.

Charlie Ingram, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, will retire from Eriez® at the end of 2020, according to President and CEO Lukas Guenthardt. “After 26 years of significant contributions to Eriez, our industry and the Erie community, Charlie has decided to retire and bring to an end his very successful career,” said Guenthardt.

Ingram joined Eriez in 1994 as national sales manager, rising to vice-president of sales & marketing in 2004. According to Guenthardt, Ingram was one of the architects of Eriez’ three-fold growth while he directed … Read the rest

The National Marine Representatives Association (NMRA) used the virtual IBEX platform to host its annual meeting and elect its 2020-2021 officers and board. Each is an independent manufacturers’ sales rep working in the marine market.

Scott Kolodny of ComMar Sales is the NMRA president and Aaron Freeman of Tideline Marketing is vice-president. Mark Goodman of SGL Sales & Marketing was elected treasurer and previous board member Craig Cochran of GSW & Associates is now secretary. Patrick Churchman of Midwest Outdoor Marketing becomes the past president.

Kurt Fromherz of Waters & David Company was elected to the NMRA board of directors … Read the rest

The Electronics Representatives Association (ERA) announces that Gerald Newman, a partner in the law firm of Schoenberg Finkel Beederman Bell & Glazer, LLC, and ERA legal counsel, is the recipient of the ERA Lifetime Achievement Award.

The award was presented to Newman during the ERA mid-year board meeting held virtually on October 29, 2020, in recognition of his service to the electronics industry, manufacturers’ representatives and ERA.

The Lifetime Achievement Award was created to recognize individuals who play an integral role in supporting the manufacturers’ representative model in the electronics industry.

For five decades, Newman has provided outstanding legal support … Read the rest

If Jerry Leth thinks it was just yesterday that he joined the MANA staff, he should think twice because it’s been a lot longer than just yesterday. A great deal has happened in the world, in general, and in the world of reps specifically during the 20 years that Leth has been a staple at MANA headquarters.

While gas was averaging about $1.26 a gallon in 2000, George Bush had just narrowly defeated Al Gore in one of the closest elections in American history and cell phones were just emerging as more than a “yuppie toy,” it’s remarkable how many … Read the rest

The venerable Schoenberg Finkel Newman & Rosenberg, LLC (SFNR) law firm, MANA’s legal counsel and long-time member of MANA’s Legal Forum, recently re-branded as Schoenberg Finkel Beederman Bell Glazer, LLC (SFBBG).

In addition to the new name, SFBBG relocated offices to 300 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 1500, Chicago, IL 60606. Their phone number remains (312) 648-2300. We extend our best wishes to MANA counsel Dan Beederman (daniel.beederman@sfbbg.com), and rep lawyers Gerry Newman (gerald.newman@sfbbg.com) and Adam Glazer (adam.glazer@sfbbg.com), and the entire SFBBG team for their continued success!

Visit SFBBG’s website to learn more, www.sfbbg.com.… Read the rest

Manufacturers’ Agents of Cincinnati (MAC) has restarted their monthly luncheons in a safe and compliant manner. The group kicked off their 49th year in operation with a luncheon at Montgomery Inn in Cincinnati on Friday, September 11.

Scott Brown of FocalPoint Business Coaching spoke on “Gaining Clarity Mid- and Post-Covid.” While Covid was not on any strategic roadmap, the pandemic carries many lessons regarding strengths and opportunities in business.  What companies do with this information could not only improve their product and service short-term but also open up new opportunities to enhance and position business to expand well beyond Covid.… Read the rest

MANA’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Lisa Wilson, president of L.S. Wilson & Associates, Inc., in Bristol, Wisconsin, has successfully applied to appear on the January 2021 MANA Board of Directors ballot to serve a two-year term starting May 1, 2021.

Wilson is running for the seat that will become available when MANA Director Charlie Ingram completes his second two-year term on April 30, 2021. Ingram is executive vice president & chief marketing officer of Eriez Manufacturing in Erie, Pennsylvania.

Ingram is the only manufacturer ever to serve on MANA’s Board of Directors and his contributions to … Read the rest

The National Marine Representatives Association (NMRA) awarded its 2020 NMRA Maritime Trades Scholarship of $3,000 to Matthew Reynolds of Brohman, Michigan. Established in 2008, the scholarship awards students of excellence who are pursuing a marine industry career.

A 2019 graduate of White Cloud High School, White Cloud, Michigan, Reynolds made only one college visit: Great Lakes Maritime Academy in Traverse City, Michigan. “From its nautical-themed classrooms to the massive 224′ T/S State of Michigan, I knew right from the start that this was where I wanted to be,” he said. Reynolds is in the Deck Officer program and currently … Read the rest

Neuvokas Corporate (www.neuvokascorp.com), a leading composite rebar manufacturer, is excited to announce it has engaged PG Tool Sales Agency, LLC, a manufacturers’ representative agency specializing in construction supply markets, to represent GatorBar sales in eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

Ken Keranen, Neuvokas COO said, “Increased GatorBar customer demand, product awareness and market penetration are creating opportunities outside of the Midwest and we are now expanding our retailer network footprint into the Mid-Atlantic states. We recently interviewed a number of rep firms and PG Tool really stood out for us due to their … Read the rest

Three rep agency members of the Association of Independent Manufacturers’/Representatives, Inc. (AIM/R) are in the spotlight this year. Each June, industry publications honor rep agencies in the plumbing and HVAC industry. In 2020 AIMR is pleased to announce that these honors went to three of their members.

• Charlie Parham, CPMR, of Pepco Sales & Marketing was honored by Supply House Times as their “2020 Manufacturers’ Rep of the Year.”
• Scott Cooper of New England Sales, Inc., was honored by PM Engineer as their “2020 Rep of the Year.”
• Joe Curcio of Maloney & Curcio, Inc., was honored by Plumbing &

Things have changed quite a bit in our communities, countries and world in the past several weeks. Every industry and business is re‑evaluating its next steps, and AIM/R is no different.

AIM/R’s Board of Directors has reviewed and discussed several options for the AIM/R 48th Annual Conference (September 16-19, 2020) in San Diego, California. In so doing, the Board considered many factors, including: participation levels, the economy, consumer confidence, travel restrictions, fiscal responsibility, possible new outbreaks of COVID-19, the availability of speakers and the tenor of both the educational and social programming.

After careful consideration of these and other factors, … Read the rest

The year 2020 marked the WomenReps Third Annual conference, a Texas-sized success. This unique conference once again grew in attendance and was so well received that the gathering for 2021 is already in the planning stages.

Participant Willa Moats, Willcare Associates, LLC, shared this feedback:

“Just a note to share my gratitude for the efforts put forth for our conference in Dallas.  This was my second one and one of the best conferences I have ever been part of. Often certain parts/presentations/topics are better than others but this conference proved 100 percent useful.”

Jamie Benson of Foster Engineered Products wrote:… Read the rest

Approximately 25 people including reps, manufacturers and distributors attended the monthly meeting of the Manufacturers’ Agents of Cincinnati (MAC) on February 14, 2020 at Montgomery Inn in Cincinnati, Ohio. The meeting covered how the new 5G Platform from Verizon Wireless will transform our lives and businesses — a timely subject for Southwest Ohio given that just two weeks prior, Verizon made Cincinnati the 34th city in the United States to get 5G service.

For information on future meetings, visit the MAC website at www.maccincinnati.org, click on the events tab for details.

Please note that MAC takes a recess on monthly … Read the rest

MANA’s Board of Directors welcomes three new rep members who were elected to two‑year terms, starting May 1, 2020.

Keynae Agnew, Agnew Pacific Enterprises, LLC, California
From the beginning of my career as an independent representative, MANA has been a significant resource for education and training. As an agency owner, I understand the benefits and importance of being connected to a trade association like MANA. I am not only passionate about achieving success for my own agency, but also have a desire to assist others in achieving professionalism and success in their careers. I believe serving on the Board of … Read the rest

Manufacturers’ Agents of Cincinnati (MAC) has elected a new president starting July 2020. Mark Hogan of CTQ Systems in Cincinnati replaces Chris Schnetzer, who has served as MAC president since 2014.

Hogan started his Cincinnati-based rep firm, CTQ Systems, in 2017 after a 20-plus-year career as a corporate engineer. CTQ helps customers select optimal automation components from the lines of AMCI, Nexen, Nook, Linmot, Stober, and Zero-Max by partnering with Paul Davis Automation. CTQ represents Viralwolf.com for marketing automation solutions. Servicing southwest Ohio and the state of Kentucky, CTQ also provides design engineering services and offers 3D printing service. Hogan … Read the rest

MANA’s annual manufacturer seminar, Best Practices With Reps, Planning With Intent, led by Hank Bergson of Henry Bergson Associates, LLC, was once again a resounding success.

Below: A highlight for many attendees was the session on rep councils presented by MANA Board Member Charlie Ingram, who is executive vice president & chief marketing officer of Eriez Manufacturing Company.

 … Read the rest

At MANA’s recent Board of Directors meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, MANA’s Board took questions from local MANA members and MANA CEO Charles Cohon demonstrated MANA’s new RepFinder® smartphone app.

MANA Board Chairperson John Davis, Paul Davis Automation, Inc., Chardon, Ohio, also thanked board members Stephen Fowler, Process Equipment Resources & Consulting Services, Bridgewater, New Jersey, and Ed Juline, Mexico Representation, Guadalajara, Mexico, for serving two two-year terms on MANA’s Board of Directors and thanked past Board Chairperson John Beaver, GSA Optimum, Oakdale, New York, for his service on the board and as board chairperson.… Read the rest

The National Marine Representatives Association (NMRA) recently elected its 2019-2020 officers and board of directors. All are independent manufacturers’ sales reps who work in the commercial and recreational marine markets.

Patrick Churchman of Midwest Outdoor Marketing became NMRA president and Scott Kolodny of ComMar Sales is vice-president. Aaron Freeman of Tideline Marketing is the new treasurer and Mark Goodman of SGL Sales & Marketing is now secretary, after serving on the board of directors. Clayton Smith of Waters & David Company becomes the past president.

Robert Guerrieri of Atlantic Marketing, Jorge Montes of Brunger Export, and Mike Steiner of West … Read the rest

One of the best-kept secrets each year at the AIM/R Annual Conference is the recipient of the Golden Eagle Award. This prestigious award was established as a way to recognize senior-level plumbing manufacturing executives who have actively supported independent reps and the important role they play in the supply chain. During the September 2019 Annual Conference in Orlando, AIM/R Board Member Michelle Lewnes-Dadas, CPMR, of Preferred Sales Inc., announced that Elkay Corp.’s Executive Vice President Mark Whittington had been selected for the Golden Eagle.

Throughout the year, AIM/R reps are encouraged to nominate executives who value their representatives and recognize … Read the rest

MCS has been serving the Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina territory since 1998, and I have been a MANA member since 2008.

My MANA membership has been proven to be especially valuable just recently.

I just picked up a new line from an ad in Agency Sales magazine, and I also have connected with MANA-member attorney Leslie Marell for some legal needs.

Mark Peavey
Microwave Component Sources
www.go4mcs.com… Read the rest

The success of any business or organization doesn’t just hinge on one person. Rather, it can usually be traced back to the contributions of many. Today’s AIM/R members wanted a way to honor the dedication and efforts made by members who came before them — especially those who drove the group’s inception and helped build a strong foundation.

In 2015, AIM/R established a Hall of Fame to formally recognize — and memorialize — all of those contributions. Fourteen have already been honored, and two more were inducted last week at the group’s 47th Annual Conference in Orlando. During the awards … Read the rest

The National Marine Representatives Association (NMRA) awarded its 2019 NMRA Maritime Trades Scholarship of $2,500 to Kennedy Peirson of Villas, New Jersey. The scholarship was established in 2008 for students pursuing an education that leads to a career in the maritime trades.

A recent graduate of Cape May County Technical High School, Peirson will be attending the University of Tampa this fall to pursue a degree in marine biology. Having learned about the vital importance of coral reef ecosystems and the threats facing them, she already has a career trajectory. “I want to become someone who works to find solutions … Read the rest

The Henry M. Wood Company (HMW) is extremely pleased to announce the addition of two new partners.

Proudly serving Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana since 1928 and a MANA member since 1948, Henry M. Wood Company has long been the industrial parts manufacturers’ representative who comes up with solutions otherwise thought impossible (or too costly) to achieve. Bringing in two new partners in possession of creative innovation and technical aptitude shall carry this company well into the future.

Brad Bossong has been with HMW since 2011 as an outside sales manager in the Dayton, Ohio area. He has a Bachelor’s degree … Read the rest

The Association of Independent Manufacturers’ Representatives, Inc. (AIM/R) held a new educational offering called AIM/R Rep Advantage (March 7-8, 2019) in Rosemont, Illinois. In comparison to the AIM/R Annual Conference, the program was a condensed 1.5-day, content-filled, and rep-only event.

More than 40 participants seeking training and networking in a rep-on-rep environment in a centralized, smaller venue attended the very first offering. Faculty included members of AIM/R leadership — past and present — and Dirk Beveridge of UnleashWD (www.unleashwd.com) as the opening keynote.

Topics addressed included the following: innovation, buyouts/mergers, warehousing and turns, apps to better run your business, managing … Read the rest

At its 50th Anniversary Conference, held in Austin, Texas, February 24-26, the Electronics Representatives Association (ERA) presented the third annual Tess Hill Award to Bob Evans, CPMR, president of EK Micro in Rolling Meadows, Illinois.

Evans was recognized for his nearly 20 years of contribution to ERA at the chapter and national levels, his long-standing commitment to education as the current chair of the Chapter Leadership Council, and his service to both the Chicagoland-Wisconsin Chapter and the ERA Executive Committee.

This award was created in 2017 to honor Tess Hill, a long-time ERA staff member. It recognizes individuals for their … Read the rest

MANA’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Tommy Garnett has been elected to MANA’s Board of Directors. Garnett is president and CEO of MANA member Garnett Component Sales, Inc. (GCS), Wake Forest, North Carolina.

He will fill the seat that will become open when Danny Collis, president of Collis Group, Inc., Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada, completes his second term of Board service on April 30, 2019. MANA’s Board of Directors is grateful to Collis for his insights and dedication during his terms on the Board.

Garnett was introduced to the rep world by his father. “I just about … Read the rest

The Electronics Representatives Association (ERA) White Pin Group has announced that Ellen Coan, CPMR, of the Indianapolis-based CC Electro Sales, Inc. is the 2018 recipient of the Jess Spoonts — ERA White Pin Scholarship Award. Coan will receive a $1,000 grant that can be used to fund her continuing education as a professional field sales representative. She was nominated for the honor by White Pin member Matt Cohen, CPMR, of CC Electro Sales, Inc.

To qualify for this award, nominees must be from an ERA member rep firm, must have been involved in ERA activities and leadership roles on the … Read the rest

Many thanks for your congratulations and access to the MANA certificates — I will make good use of these!

I’m very pleased to advise we have signed up with four manufacturers’ representatives, all of these were featured in MANA’s database — as Jerry Leth mentioned to me, a while ago: “Chalking up sales will take time.” And he was right, however, as of December 2018, we are seeing promising sales — 2019 will be the proverbial proof in the pudding.

I’m taking this opportunity to send a special “Thank you” to Jerry, whose guidance in the early stages of engaging … Read the rest

The Foodservice Sales & Marketing Association (FSMA) has released a must-read, comprehensive industry White Paper, co-sponsored by its FSMA Foundation and ASMC Foundation, comparing the economic differences of agency sales and direct sales. The study provides a unique calculation tool to answer the age-old question of which sales method is the best for a manufacturer.

For more than 100 years, agencies have been the primary go-to-market selling source. The chief reason for the overwhelming preponderance (70-75 percent of U.S. food­service product volume) of agency sales is that they are significantly more cost-efficient and effective than direct sales. The study explains … Read the rest

MANA Board member Charlie Ingram has been promoted to the newly created position of executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Eriez Magnetics, Erie, Pennsylvania, effective January 1, 2019. Ingram served most recently as Eriez vice president of sales and marketing.

In making the announcement, Eriez President and CEO Tim Shuttleworth said, “Over his 25 years of dedicated service to Eriez, Charlie has played a key role in developing and executing sales and marketing strategies which have significantly contributed to our company’s substantial growth and worldwide success. He is an extremely effective, respected, and strategic leader in the industries … Read the rest