Our focus this month is on Michael Abeling, president & CEO of Consumers Pipe & Supply in Los Angeles. Consumers, which distributes industrial pipe, valves and fittings, was established in 1965 by Joseph and William Abeling, Mike's grandfather and father, respectively. The company operates four branches with over 90,000 sq. ft. of inventory in Southern California and Southern Nevada, and services customers throughout the Western U.S., Central and South America and the Pacific Rim.

The company prides itself on its professional sales force, which is aided by the company's technology network that allows them access to the information they need to effectively serve their customers, no matter where they are. In fact, Consumers was the first PVF company to offer an interactive, CD-ROM-based electronic catalog in the early '90s.

Following his education in business administration and finance, Mike has spent the past 23 years involved in sales, marketing and purchasing for the company. Upon his father's retirement in 1994, Mike was named president & CEO of the firm.

Mike is currently the chairman of ASA's Industrial Piping Division, and looks forward each year to the interaction his involvement brings with other ASA members. "The IPD brings together such a wealth of knowledge in the industry from a diversified group of people," said Mike. "I truly hold valuable the friends and associations we've formed through our participation, and I hope to be able to give something back through volunteering my time."