NACD Presents 2010 Distributor of the Year and Lifetime Achievement Awards

LA QUINTA, Calif., Dec. 2, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Bruce Whetter, President, Americhem Sales Corporation, Mason, Michigan  was named the 2010 Distributor of the Year by the National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD) today.  Whetter's 13 plus years of service to the Association in many different leadership roles has been an outstanding example of his steadfast commitment to the chemical distribution industry.

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Whetter's leadership roles included Chairmanship of the Professional Development Committee, and serving on the Membership and Responsible Distribution Committees.  He is currently completing his term as President of the Central Region.

Whetter received the award today during a General Session of NACD's Annual Meeting, where he was commended for his unwavering commitment to the mission and goals of the Association and consistently promoting the benefits of NACD and Responsible Distribution(TM).  He was also recognized for strong and positive leadership both on the regional and national level and for always putting the Association first.  Last year's award winner and the outgoing Chairman of NACD, Bruce Schechinger, President, BHS Marketing LLC,  presented the award to Whetter.  In doing so he said, "When we see somebody like Bruce Whetter, who works tirelessly, using the core principles of Responsible Distribution(TM), it makes us all proud.  Bruce Whetter is truly the Distributor of the Year."

For only the second time in its history, the NACD gave out its Lifetime Achievement Award.  This award was presented to Don and Betsy Witteman of Dorsett & Jackson, Inc. out of Los Angeles, CA.  Active in the Association for over 30 years, Don served on many NACD Committees, such as the Membership and Responsible Distribution Committees, the Business Council on Factory Pack Businesses and the Western Region Board as Secretary, Vice President and President.  He also served on the NACD Board of Directors from 1994-1996.  Don together with Betsy, helped organize the Western Region Meeting since the 1980s.  The programs that they developed at the Western Region meeting became the model for other regions to follow.   In planning and executing each year's event, Betsy was fastidious in her site selection and implementation of the programs working in concert with the Regional Officers.

"For all of these years, Don and Betsy Witteman just wanted to lend a hand and make a better business environment for us all.  They never wavered in their willingness to coordinate all of the components of the Western Regional meetings,"  said Schechinger.

NACD and its 390 member companies and affiliates are vital to the chemical supply chain providing products to over 750,000 end users.  They make a delivery every five seconds while maintaining a safety record that is more than twice as good as the safety standards set by DOT.  NACD members are leaders in health, safety, security, and environmental performance through implementation of Responsible Distribution, established in 1991 as a condition of membership and is a third-party verified management practice. For additional information on our members, their safety record or NACD, visit NACD's website -- http://www.nacd.com.

SOURCE National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD)