Meyer, Sullivan Lead NFDA

John Wolz

Tim Meyer of Meyer Retaining Ring Co. Inc. is the new president of the National Fastener Distributors Association, and Peter Sullivan was elected vice president.\
Rebecca Branson of Threaded Rod remains associate chair, and James Sullivan of Chicago Hardware & Fixture Co. is associate vice chair.
Elected to three-year terms on the board were distributors Peter Vogel, Bossard U.S. Holdings Inc.; Andy Cohn of Duncan Bolt Co.; Bryn Tuttle-Stock, Spencer Products Co.; and associate Jeff Hepner, Telefast Industries Inc.
Meyer succeeds Jimmy Reittinger Jr. of Automotive Fasteners Inc.
Meyer described the NFDA”s current goals as “retaining members, bringing them more into the fold and expanding membership services with affinity programs.”
“We have managed to maintain steady membership during difficult economic times,” Meyer pointed out. “Now we want to expand member participation. We want members bringing more people from their companies to conferences. It can rejuvenate key employees when they bring back one great idea on how to improve your firm.”
Meyer told FIN he was in banking in 1976 when he “became aware of a bankruptcy of a company which specialized in washers, rivets and retaining rings” and acquired the company located in Milwaukee.
Sullivan represents the second generation in South Boston-based Accurate Fasteners. The firm was founded in 1960 by childhood friends Jack O”Donoghue and John Sullivan.
Peter Sullivan worked summers in the distributorship, starting with “making boxes,” but headed to Wall Street for a non-fastener career. He returned to Boston working in the venture capital business, and in 1990 he rejoined the fastener business. Today he is director of VMI at Accurate.
“There were things to be done at Accurate, and there was a great opportunity for us in new value-added programs. I like helping people solve problems,” Sullivan described his return to fasteners. “You never really leave the business.”
Sullivan expects NFDA will increase its marketing efforts so members and nonmembers understand the benefits of membership.
The NFDA reported the 2004 spring conference was the largest in six years.
The NFDA fall city meeting will be concurrent with the Industrial Fasteners Institute meeting September 30-October 2, 2004, at the Embassy Suites Lakefront in Chicago. The next annual spring meeting is scheduled April 12-16, 2005, at the Marriott Bay Point Resort in Panama City, FL.
For information contact NFDA executive vice president Dave Merrifield. Tel: 216 579-1571 Fax 216 579-1531 E-mail: nfda@nfda-fastener.org Web: nfda-fastener.org �2004 FastenerNews.com