BSA presents Lifetime Achievement Award

Hilton Head Island, SC — Andrew Hall Nations, president and CEO of B&D Industrial, is the latest recipient of the Bearing Specialists Association (BSA) Lifetime Achievement Award. The presentation was made at the association’s 2013 annual convention, held May 4-7 at the Westin Hilton Head Island Resort at Hilton Head Island, SC.

Nations is the first second-generation Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. His father, John Nations, was presented with the award in 2004. 

B&D Industrial (known to many as Bearings & Drives) was founded in 1947, when Nations’ father, John, purchased Travis Belting & Supply in Griffin, GA, for $9,000. Nations literally grew up in the company, learning the ropes by working in various positions, starting with shipping and delivery for Bearings and Drives, before he graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in finance in 1971. From implementing the company’s first computer system in 1975 to managing various acquisitions and record growth in the 1990s, Nations has brought B&D to a new level. 

Nations has been an active BSA participant since 1974, serving on many committees over the years and as president in 1992-93. He was the 2013 convention committee chairman.

Also at the conference, BSA’s Past Presidents Council recognized the many contributions and support of participating manufacturer Bob Daniel, formerly general sales manager – North American Distribution at The Timken Company and currently its general manager – business communications.

The convention heard the results of BSA’s 2013 Distributor Survey from Jack Simpson of Applied Industrial Technologies, who is the newly elected BSA president for 2013-2014. The survey documented a 5% increase in 2012 aggregate sales of all bearing products over 2011 aggregate sales. Total sales for 2012 surpassed the pre-recession high in 2008. In addition, survey participants estimated that 2013 will continue with an additional gain of 7% aggregate sales of bearings products over 2012, Simpson reported.

BSA is an international service and educational organization of almost 100 companies distributing factory-warranted, anti-friction bearings, and invited manufacturers of bearings and related products. 

For more information, visit the website at www.bsahome.org.  

Visit www.mromagazine.com/gallery to view additional photographs from BSA’s 2013 convention.