Associated Co-Operative Wholesale Distributors (ACWD) recently established a charter and made itself an official buying group. It currently consists of 17 supply houses in the Northeast. Members gathered for an all-day conference at the Mohegan Sun Casino where they voted in the charter and set up 2010 vendor deals.

Pictured, front row seated (L-R): Bob Barry, R & R Supply; Russ Vaclavik, Watertown Supply; Brad Carstensen, Boston Pipe & Fittings; Paul St. Pierre, New Bedford Supply; Kevin Cunningham, Cunningham Supply; and back row (L-R): Steve Berger, Modern Plumbing Supply; Andy Matrundola, Murray Supply; John Corcoran, Te Corcoran Supply; Robert Betts, Betts Supply; Dale Duby, Cunningham Supply; David Berger, Modern Plumbing Supply; Jim Godett, Joe Young Co.; John Kindelan, Viking Supply; Steve Durej, Bay State Supply; Jim Baker, State Supply; Bob Morris, Ace Supply; Jesse Ritz, R & R Supply; and John Henri, Northshore Heating. Not pictured: Mark O’Brien, George O’Brien Supply, and Kim Betts, Betts Supply.

The group meets quarterly and was founded with the help of the late Brad Sell more than seven years ago. New officers were elected at the meeting: David Berger of Modern Plumbing Supply (New Milford and Berlin, CT) is president, succeeding Steve Berger, also of Modern, who served in that role for the past four years; John Henri of Northshore Supply is vice president; Steve Durej of Bay State Supply is secretary; and Bob Barry of R & R Supply is treasurer.

“We are looking to grow in membership and spread beyond New England,” said Steve Berger of Modern Plumbing Supply, past president.