FEBRUARY 15, 2007, KING OF PRUSSIA, PA - For Immediate Release

SUPPLYFORCE Announces Commitment to Excellence Awards

supplyFORCE, delivering National MRO solutions with the largest network of MRO suppliers in North America, held its Commitment to Excellence Awards ceremony for the Electrical Supply Division, Industrial Supply Division and Pipe, Valves & Fittings Division on January 30, 2007./p>

Held in conjunction with supplyFORCE’s 2007 National Meeting, the Commitment to Excellence Awards recognizes Owner-Members who have contributed significantly to the success of supplyFORCE agreements.  Two specific categories were presented by supplyFORCE’s President and CEO, John Eggleton:  Excellence in Sales Leadership (by division) and Owner-Member of the Year (by division). 

At the opening of the awards ceremony, Eggleton stated “for a business that represents the best distributors in North America – recognizing a select few was a very difficult process…I believe the ‘Best of the Best’ accurately characterizes the business relationships that we manage.  Bringing together the ‘Best of the Best’ is what we do at supplyFORCE.  We represent the best independent distributors in North America, we select and retain the best people in our industry and we form relationships only with North America’s best MRO customers.  What makes our business successful? The high levels of service and commitment that all of our Owner-Members consistently deliver.  The characteristics and examples of great service that tonight’s winners have displayed is common throughout our membership.”

Congratulations to the winners of the 2007 supplyFORCE Commitment to Excellence Awards:

Electrical Supply Division:

Excellence in Sales Leadership: Mayer Electric Supply Co. (Birmingham, AL)

For more information, please contact Heidi Levitt, at (905) 287-3531or David Duco, Vice President of National Accounts (supplyFORCE), at (513) 336-7431.

Excellence in Sales Leadership: Mayer Electric Supply Co. (Birmingham, AL)

Mayer Electric consistently exceeds expectations when working to support supplyFORCE sales and account management processes.  Their areas of support range from lead generation, participation on contract development and contract service teams, contribution to pricing strategies, and working with our key supplier partners.  Mayer regularly exceeds cost saving commitments and other contract requirements - whether they are servicing a $500K plant or a $50K plant. They approach every sF opportunity with the same passion and intensity - focused on the overall sF program benefit to the customer.  Their support of supplyFORCE and our customers is evident from the top of their organization throughout their management team and their branches.  

Mayer Picture 1 – from left to right:

Jim Summerlin, President and CEO (Mayer) & supplyFORCE Board Member Kenny Siegal, Corporate Alliance Manager (Mayer)

Mayer Picture 2 – from left to right:

David Duco, Vice President, National Accounts (supplyFORCE) Jim Summerlin, President and CEO (Mayer) Tommy Peacock, Sales (Mayer) Kenny Siegal, Corporate Alliance Manager (Mayer) Michael Holt, Industrial Sales Manager (Mayer) John Eggleton, President and CEO (supplyFORCE)

Owner-Member of the Year: McNaughton-McKay Electric Co. (Madison Heights, MI)

McNaughton-McKay has taken a leadership role in delivering and documenting TCO savings within all four programs; and has exceeded their cost savings commitments. They introduce innovative solutions that benefit their plants and the overall sF program. They are proactive on contract development teams and in working with sF supplier partners to improve contract price points. They also utilize supplier partner resources and programs to maximize TCO savings for our customers.

They set out to earn every order when they are selected on a contract service team. Early in 2006, a former sF/A-D member who was doing more than $1M with a sF customer site - was acquired by one of the chains. McNaughton-McKay worked with the sF National Account Manager and the customer to develop an effective transition plan; and committed the people and local inventory required to fully convert the facility in 90 days.

They are quick to respond to any customer concerns or opportunities that sF presents. The customer concerns are few because they are proactive in identifying and resolving plant service issues.

McNaughton-McKay Picture 1 Dan Murphy, National Accounts Manager (McNaughton-McKay)

Industrial Supply Division:

Excellence in Sales Leadership: The Bostwick-Braun Company (Toledo, OH)

Bostwick-Braun was instrumental in securing a major supplyFORCE Safety Contract in 2006. Their sales management team participated on the contract development team and in the presentation to the Selection Committee. They represented not only their organization, but all the Owner Members of supplyFORCE as they showcased their professionalism and technical expertise to the committee. After successfully implementing the Safety program, Bostwick-Braun hosted the customer’s sourcing team and key safety suppliers at their facility to develop standardization and cost savings programs. This effort became the catalyst for additional standardization strategies across this agreement – and has been implemented successfully with other sF customers. Sales management with Bostwick-Braun is very active in the overall strategy development and execution for both sF and A-D’s Industrial Division.

Bostwick-Braun Picture 1 Chris Beach, Vice President, Industrial Division (Bostwick-Braun)

Bostwick-Braun Picture 2 – from left to right Dave Achtemeier, Industrial Supply Division Manager (supplyFORCE) Mike Deerwester, Key Accounts Manager (Bostwick-Braun) Chris Beach, Vice President, Industrial Division (Bostwick-Braun) John Eggleton, President and CEO (supplyFORCE)

Owner-Member of the Year: The Mallory Company (Longview, WA)

The Mallory Company supports sF contracts and their unique product and service needs; whether they are positioned in a primary or secondary service role. They support sF opportunities regardless of size or product mix.

They have provided strong leadership in developing supplyFORCE’s Safety Category. They have committed time and insight towards the build-out of the sF safety Division for the past five years. They were our original safety member and helped recruit other safety distributors into both A-D and supplyFORCE.

The Mallory Company has also been a strong contributor on the ISD Steering Committee.

Mallory Company Picture 1 Tim Loy, President (The Mallory Company)

Mallory Company Picture 2 – from left to right Dave Achtemeier, Industrial Supply Division Manager (supplyFORCE) Marc Maher, Territory Manager (The Mallory Company) Tim Loy, President (The Mallory Company) John Eggleton, President and CEO (supplyFORCE)

Pipe, Valves & Fittings Division:

Excellence in Sales Leadership: Central States Group (Omaha, NE)

Central States has delivered consistently for supplyFORCE since our inception. This management team and their branches have worked proactively in securing, implementing and servicing supplyFORCE PVF contracts. They are always present for supplyFORCE Contract Development Team and Contract Service Team meetings and consistently deliver high service levels regardless of the sF opportunity - working their assigned plants to address any issues or customer needs. Central States provides strong competitive intelligence for new opportunities and can always be counted on to contribute to pricing strategy and development. They have worked diligently with supplyFORCE to improve manufacturer pricing and they seize every opportunity to expand product offerings on supplyFORCE contracts. Central States Group made significant contributions towards a major food processing contract award in 2006.

Central States Picture 1 (from left to right) Mike Vita, PVF Division Manager (supplyFORCE) Todd Ford, Vice President of Sales (Central States) Patty Lundgren, PVF Sales Manager, Nebraska (Central States) John Eggleton, President and CEO (supplyFORCE)

Owner-Member of the Year: Gulf Coast Marine Supply Co. (Mobile, AL)

Gulf Coast Marine Supply is always ready to consider new innovative ways to meet or exceed their customer’s needs. They are a "go to" member for competitive and market intelligence. They have participated on numerous contract development teams – for customers that they do not even service. Gulf Coast knows what it takes to service large customers. They have been very supportive of handling product beyond traditional PVF and they provide excellent on-site customer support and unique services; pioneering the supplyFORCE POU vending machine program. Gulf Coast Marine Supply sets the bar relative to responding timely and accurately to sF requests. Their leadership has commits significant time and resources to supplyFORCE’s success.

Gulf Coast Picture 1 – from left to right Mike Vita, PVF Division Manager (supplyFORCE) Jack Mostellar, President (Gulf Coast Marine) & supplyFORCE Board Member John Eggleton, President and CEO (supplyFORCE)

ABOUT supplyFORCE’s National Meeting:

supplyFORCE held its 2007 National Meeting for its Owner-Members on January 30-31, 2007 in Atlanta. The meeting was well attended. This year’s meeting was focused on a combination of Contract Service Team Meetings, Division Meetings, supplyFORCE Workshops and Industry related sessions. Key customers participating in the meeting were: Boeing, Chemtura, Daimler Chrysler (EDS), Louisiana Pacific, MeadWestvaco, Temple-Inland, Tenneco and Weyerhaeuser.

The highlight of the meeting was the Commitment to Excellence awards where supplyFORCE’s President and CEO, John Eggleton recognized superior performance across their membership.

supplyFORCE Customer Pictures:

Temple-Inland Picture – from left to right Todd Wray, Contract Manager (supplyFORCE) Ray Lamy, Director, National Accounts (supplyFORCE) Mark Shepherd, Director, Strategic Sourcing (Temple-Inland) Allen Young, Contract Manager (supplyFORCE)