LAS VEGAS—Industry veteran Sam Petillo, president of Singer Equities Inc., took over the reins as president of NAHAD, the Association for Hose and Accessories Distribution, during the group's annual convention in Las Vegas. He will preside over the organization until its 2020 convention.
He succeeds Karen Brandvold, vice president and chief financial officer of Omni Services Inc., who was the first woman to lead the association.
"I am honored to be a part of NAHAD and to serve as president this year," Petillo said in a statement. "I served on the NAHAD board both as a manufacturer and a distributor, and I feel I bring a unique perspective on the value NAHAD provides related to networking, education and, most importantly, our commitment to hose safety and the Hose Safety Institute.
His career in the rubber and hose industry spans 20 years. He previously served as director of North America for Goodyear's industrial hose and hydraulics business unit, and held product and marketing manager roles for Saint-Gobain's Fluid Systems division. He joined Singer Equities in 2013 as vice president and Midwest regional manager. He was promoted to president and CEO and 2016, where he focuses on driving strategy, growth plans and acquisitions for Singer. The Houston-based company is a decentralized group of value-added distributors in the industrial rubber products industry, with 13 platform companies.
"Sam's commitment to NAHAD is a true testament to his leadership style and his dedication to the industry," said Molly Alton Mullins, NAHAD executive vice president. "Sam brings a wealth of industry knowledge to the table and is truly one of the most respected leaders in the business."
The annual convention at the Bellagio Resort and Casino drew total attendance of 1,016, Mullins said. That included representatives from 150 distributor member firms and 142 manufacturer companies. The Showcase of Hose Solutions drew 154 exhibits.