AWMA Hands Out Top Awards at Summit & Business Exchange
FAIRFAX, Va. -- The American Wholesale Marketers Association (AWMA) will present two prestigious awards to industry executives during this year's AWMA Summit & Business Exchange (ABX), which will take place at the Ritz-Carlton in Amelia Island, Fla., from Sept. 10-13.
The AWMA Hall of Fame Award, which recognizes industry leaders who worked to advance the cause of the convenience distribution industry and who have demonstrated a lifetime of service to AWMA at the highest level, will be presented to David W. Dresser, vice president of tobacco and marketing services at Core-Mark International Inc.
The AWMA Dean Award, which recognizes individuals for their outstanding service and contributions to the industry and to AWMA , will be presented to Charles R. Casper Jr., president of Mydad LLC, dba Hardec's.
Dresser has worked in the industry since 1959, starting with his family's business, General Distributing Co., and continuing when it was sold to Glaser Bros., now Core-Mark. He has been actively involved in AWMA and its predecessor, the National Association of Tobacco Distributors, since 1985. For the past eight years he has served on the AWMA Industry Affairs Committee, where he helped explore solutions and promote initiatives to improve sales and profits for all industry partners, according to the announcement.
Casper is a longtime AWMA member and current chairman of the AWMA Government Affairs Committee. He also leads the association's government affairs initiatives and oversees the association's annual Day on the Hill event. "When you get involved, you can make some things happen," said Casper. "More importantly, you can make sure some things don't happen."
The 2012 AWMA Summit & Business Exchange is set to have the highest number of attendees to date, with a record-setting 10-percent increase in overall attendance, 11-percent increase in distributor participation in the ABX and a 17-percent increase in ABX supplier participation. The ABX brings distributors and suppliers together in prearranged private meetings where they discuss mutual concerns and are able to make plans for the future.
"The ABX gives you a chance for eyeball to eyeball meetings with your business partners," said Dresser. "I highly recommend it to all AWMA members. It will benefit everyone."
The American Wholesale Marketers Association (AWMA) is the only international trade organization working on behalf of convenience distributors in the United States, according to the association. Its distributor members represent more than $85 billion in U.S. convenience product sales, and associate members include manufacturers, service providers, technology companies, brokers, retailers and others allied to the convenience retailing industry.