F.W. Webb announces pair of acquisitions

F.W. Webb Co. announced the acquisition of Stritt & Priebe, a specialist in industrial valve supply, service and repair in Buffalo, New York, and VJ Stanley, a wholesale-distributor and manufacturers' representative of steam and hydronic products in Rochester, New York.

Stritt & Priebe has been a resource for expertise, service and supply of specialty industrial valves, pipes and fittings since 1922, F.W. Webb noted. Stritt & Priebe owners Bill Victor and Joel Scott acquired VJ Stanley in 2014. VJ Stanley has been a wholesale-distributor of steam and hydronic products, serving the HVAC and engineering communities in the Rochester area for more than 70 year.

"With this acquisition we welcome two high-quality businesses into the F.W. Webb family, bolstering our wholesale supply reach in the Upstate New York region and enabling us to provide unmatched specialty industrial valve service to customers across Webb's entire footprint,” F.W. Webb owner and President Jeff Pope said.

"The acquisition of VJ Stanley continues our expansion within the plumbing, heating, HVAC/R and PVF market, giving us greater vendor and product synergies in the Rochester region. "Stritt & Priebe adds peerless expertise in industrial valve service with customers from the Niagara Falls Power Plant to B.J. Muirhead Co. We can now offer this capability to all customers across our footprint, with transportation and logistical support of our distribution fleet. We are now rapidly integrating these businesses into our network, and I would like to take this opportunity to welcome our new associates to Webb."

AD buying and marketing group surpasses $1 billion net distributions mark

The AD buying and marketing group reported total 2021 member sales were $58.5 billion, a 30% increase from 2020, with purchases by member companies from AD supplier partners up 39% to $16.6 billion. Additionally, AD achieved a 49% increase in net distributions to its members, surpassing the $1 billion milestone for the first time in the group’s 40-year history.

83 independents joined the group in 2021, 62 of which came over from other groups, bringing AD’s total member count to 845 across 13 divisions and three countries. AD’s members also made 73 acquisitions during 2021.

By country, same-store sales of members in the U.S. were up 18%, Canada same-store member sales increased by 27% and Mexico same-store sales increased by 31%.

AD’s Chairman and CEO Bill Weisberg shared, “I am incredibly proud of our community of vibrant independents and grateful to our valued supplier partners for the support they showed us during this year of unprecedented supply chain challenges. We found great strength in partnerships and discovered new ways to innovate and create value together. We are looking forward to another great year in 2022.”

In other AD news, the group announced its member-owners elected two directors to its 2022 board of directors.

Each year, the AD board’s Nominating & Governance Committee holds an open nomination and voting period, which AD members select individuals to its board of directors. Currently, more than 120 of AD’s 850-plus member companies provide leadership on corporate and divisional boards and committees.

AD’s newly elected director is Karla Neupert Hockley, president of Consolidated Supply Co. Tim Horsman, president and CEO of E.B. Horsman & Son was reelected by AD’s member-owners.

Neupert Hockley leads Consolidated Supply Co., a U.S.-based distributor of plumbing, waterworks and hydronics products across 21 locations in Oregon, Washington and Idaho. Neupert Hockley represents the fourth generation to lead the company. Under her leadership, Consolidated Supply has grown to hold the WBE designation for Women-Owned Businesses and has achieved “Top Workplace” status for five of the last seven years. She has served on several committees within the industry and is currently a member of the ASA Education Foundation Endowment Investment Committee and the AD Plumbing Division Board. She has been an active member of the Young Presidents’ Organization since 2006.

"I am honored and humbled to have been elected by my fellow AD member-owners to serve on the board. I am excited to contribute and represent our members as we all pursue a successful future,” Neupert Hockley said. “The AD community’s commitment to growth and innovation is remarkable. I am looking forward to being involved as a steward for this great organization and at the forefront of the strategic initiatives to come.”  

Horsman leads E.B. Horsman & Son, a more than 120-year-old independently owned and operated distributor in the industrial, commercial, residential and institutional markets with 22 locations across western Canada.

Under Horsman’s leadership, the organization achieved platinum level status in Canada’s Best Managed Companies program, maintaining its longstanding heritage of helping the people and communities in which they work, AD noted.

Horsman is extremely involved in the electrical industry, serving as chairman of the board for the British Columbia Electrical Association and Electro-Federation Canada. He also sits on AD’s Canadian Electrical Divisional Board, has served on the AD LLC Board of Directors since 2017 and is currently AD’s chairman of the Organizational Development/Compensation Committee.

After having served on the AD Board of Directors since 2017, Jeff Hockin, CEO of Crum Electric Supply Co. is retiring and departing his post on the board.

“In my over 35 years at AD, I’ve had the privilege to serve alongside outstanding leaders who are dedicated to making the collective AD community stronger,” he shared. “Our boards and committees represent the best interests of our more than 850 independent distributor members. Each leader has brought unique perspectives and has added immense value. This is why it’s important that all members have the opportunity to serve on a board or committee if they want to. I am grateful to Jeff Hockin for his exemplary leadership and am very much looking forward to working closely with Karla Neupert Hockley as she joins the board."

The members of the 2022 AD Board of Directors are:

• Martin Deschênes, Vice Chairman, Groupe Deschênes
• Steve Drummond, President, Source Atlantic;
• Karla Neupert Hockley, President, Consolidated Supply Co.;
• Tim Horsman, President & CEO, E.B. Horsman & Son & AD LLC Organizational Development Committee Chair;
• Lenin Juarez, Managing Partner, Action Gypsum Supply;
• Dr. Don McNeeley, Chairman & CEO, Chicago Tube & Iron;
• Chrissy Nardini, President, American Metals Supply Co.;
• Jeff Pope, President and CEO, F.W. Webb Company;
• Donald Slominski, Jr., President & CEO, McNaughton McKay Electric Company & AD LLC Audit Committee Chair;
• Bill Weisberg, Chairman & CEO, AD;
• David White, CEO, Border States Electric & AD LLC Board Lead Directors; and
• John Wiborg, President & CEO, Stellar Industrial Supply, Inc. & Chair of the AD LLC Nominating & Governance and Investment Committees.

Founder of PVF Roundtable Sidney Westbrook passes away

Sidney Westbrook, founder of PVF Roundtable, co-founder of Westbrook Manufacturing passed away January 8. Westbrook was huge supporter of and pioneer in the PVF industry. His lasting influence and legacy will continue to impact the industry for decades to come.

Sidney O’Dellan Westbrook, founder of PVF Roundtable, co-founder of Westbrook Manufacturing, passed away January 8, 2022 surrounded by his children, his grandchildren and his wife Debra. Westbrook was huge supporter of and pioneer in the PVF industry. His lasting influence and legacy will continue to impact the industry for decades to come.

Sidney was born on March 11th, 1939 in Gilmer, TX (the Sweet Potato Capital of the World) to Andrew O’Dellan and Sidney Juanita Westbrook. After attending Judson High School in Longview, TX, where he was a multi-sport athlete, Sidney married and then enlisted in the United States Marine Corp, where he served for 2 years and played football.

Sidney spent his entire career in the PVF Industry… where he and bother Charles co-founded Westbrook Sales and Distributing in 1966. In 1987 Sidney also founded a PVF Industry action group called The PVF Roundtable… that organization is still serving the PVF industry today, after 35 years.

Like the PVF Industry, Sidney also had a passion for collectibles, especially sports memorabilia, of all kinds…most specifically Baseball Trading Cards.

Sidney was preceded in death by his parents Andrew and Sidney Juanita Westbrook, sisters Delores Curtis and Judy Westbrook…and first wife, mother of his 3 children, Elizabeth Westbrook.

Debra, Sidney’s wife and faithful companion of 37 years was by his side through it all, especially the last 14 years…. when his health struggles began.

Sidney is survived by his wife Debra, daughter Toni McCurley, son Danny Westbrook and wife Jill, daughter Tracy Flaherty and husband Patrick. 14 Grand Children … Taylor Long and husband Adam, Patrick Flaherty Jr. and wife Jennifer, Sidney Andersen and husband Eric, John Reese and wife Amanda, Nicole Brown and husband McKenzie, Johanna Power, Jeremiah Westbrook, Matthew Westbrook, Joshua Westbrook, Bre’anna Westbrook, Dylan Westbrook, Jonathan Westbrook, Andrew Westbrook, and Jacob Westbrook. Sidney also had 17 Great Grand Children.