The American Supply Association's Industrial Piping Division is pleased to announce Cleveland-Ohio-based Merit Brass Co-Chief Executive Officer Alan Lipp is the recipient of the 2025 IPD Award of Excellence.

The IPD Award of Excellence is given to individuals with a record of significant accomplishments and a long-standing history of service to the industrial and mechanical PVF segment of the PHCP-PVF industry, as well as a history of dedicated service to ASA and its Industrial Piping Division. The award is voted on by the ASA IPD Award of Excellence Nominating Committee and approved by the IPD Advisory Council.

Lipp started his career at Merit Brass in inside sales in 1983 and has held a variety of roles, including product manager, marketing manager, vice president of purchasing and chief operating officer before becoming co-CEO. Merit Brass is now in its 88^th year of operation and has remained privately held by the Schlessinger-Lipp families.

Known for his people-first philosophy and steadfast commitment to the PVF industry, Lipp has developed lifelong partnerships with major customers and suppliers. He served both on the ASA Industrial Piping Division Advisory Council as well as the AD Supplier Advisory Council.

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"I am so excited for Alan Lipp and his family in that he will be receiving ASA's Industrial Piping Division Award of Excellence," said Eastern Industrial Supplies Chief Sales Officer Richy Milligan, who also serves as the chairman of ASA's IPD Advisory Council. "This recognition of achievement is not presented lightly, nor annually. Alan is one of the ‘good guys' in our industry, serving manufacturers, distributors and masters with market newsletters, trends and valuable words of wisdom. He is also the wonderful leader of his family, whom he loves very much, as well as a positive inspiration to many of us. I have had the honor of calling Alan friend for many years. He has made me a better distributor and servant to our industry, Today, I congratulate my friend, Alan Lipp, on this important achievement. Well done."

Lipp, a 1983 graduate of the University of Arizona, has been married to his wife, Peggy, since 1985. The couple has three children, Jordan (a sales executive with Microsoft), Kevin, who joined Merit Brass nearly 14 years ago and currently serves as director of pipe sales, and Alison, who is a doctor of audiology. Each child is married and has two children, the centers of Alan and Peggy Lipp's universe.

Lipp will be honored during the All-Industry Breakfast (sponsored by ASA Platinum Supplier Partners A. O. Smith, Bradford White, InSinkErator, Kohler, LIXIL, NIBCO/Milwaukee Valve, Watts and Zurn Elkay) on Thursday, Nov. 13 during NETWORK2025 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida at the Ft. Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort.

Previous winners of the IPD Award of Excellence include Brian Tuohey (The Collins Companies, 2023), Johnny Seder (Milwaukee Valve, 2020), Gerald Slattery (Merfish Pipe and Supply, 2019), Gary Stratiner (Puget Sound Pipe and Supply, 2018), Larry Dildine (The Phoenix Forge Group, 2017), Ernie Coutermarsh (F.W. Webb, 2016), Robert Vick (Industrial Valco, 2014), Patrick Adams (MKS Pipe and Valve, 2013), John E. Martin (Anvil International, 2012), Morris Beschloss (2011), Dr. Don McNeeley (Chicago Tube and Iron, 2010), Gary Cartright (Piping & Equipment, 2009) and Tim Arenberg (Columbia Pipe and Supply, 2008).