The Executive Council of the American Supply Association’s Plumbing Division recently announced the 2015 Plumbing Division Award of Excellence will be presented to Randy Tice of Lebanon, Pa.-based APR Supply Co., at the Plumbing Industry Educational Forum & Breakfast at Network2015 on Thursday, Oct. 29 at the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile.

To be considered for the award, an individual must have a history of accomplishment and recognition in the PHCP industry as well as an overall influence on the current status of the channel. In 2012, ASA’s Plumbing Division Executive Council established the Award of Excellence to recognize outstanding achievements specifically related to the plumbing sector of the industry. Those who have been honored with the award have projected a positive industry image and have been responsible for positively affecting the industry as a whole. Previous award recipients include Wally Gumm of Embassy Group, Rick Schwartz of WinWholesale, Joe Poehling of First Supply and Joe Maiale of InSinkErator.

Tice first joined the ASA Board of Directors in 1981 representing the Mid?Atlantic Wholesalers and rose through the ranks as a volunteer of the national association until he was elected to serve as its president in 1991. He is one of only a select few to have served as both president of ASA and HARDI. When Tice became ASA president, his firm, APR Supply Co., was the smallest independent distributor to have been selected to serve the national association. ASA noted while APR was not one of the largest firms, Tice’s vision has always been large.

During Tice’s tenure as ASA president, several major decisions were made that had a considerable effect on the way ASA handles membership today. Perhaps the most significant of those decisions was the association’s approval of manufacturers through a formal dues process. ASA noted that visionary leadership today has resulted in a significant amount of dues revenue from manufacturer members, greatly contributing to the growth and resurgence of ASA.

More than two decades later, Tice continues to volunteer his efforts with his service to ASA’s emerging Hydronics Division and ASA’s role in the hydronics marketplace. ASA added his love and devotion to the PHCP industry keeps bringing him back to pitching in and helping to build the national association with the same fervor and dedication he had in the earlier years.

Tice’s son-in-law, Scott Weaver, is APR’s current CEO and a past ASA president. Tice and his wife, Sarah, have two children, John Tice, and Debbie Tice Weaver, who also work in the company.

“Randy was fully dedicated to anything that he was involved in,” said Earl Zarbock, who served on ASA’s Executive Committee with Tice. “In the early years, there were a lot of skeptics regarding some major decisions that were being debated and much doubt they would pan out. Because of Randy’s spearheaded mindset, we had success and accomplishments, and industry advancements were achieved.”