The Refrigeration Service Engineers Society named five Johnstone Supply store owners as 1998 Wholesalers of the Year: Jack Tinsley of Naperville, Ill.; Peter Danos of Gurnee, Ill.; Don Plansky of Chicago; Robert and Kathy Huestis of Crestwood, Ill.; and Tony Sullivan of Elk Grove Village, Ill.

The award is presented to the wholesaler who best supports the efforts of RSES by expanding its members' technical and product knowledge, training them in new technologies and demonstrating superior customer service, as well as working for social efforts in the community.

RSES Treasurer Ted Law noted that in 25 years, the Chicago-area Johnstone Supply stores grew from one branch to seven and have become major HVACR industry players.