Mike Huckabee, Former Governor and Presidential Candidate – and Now 2016 GOP Convention Speaker ‒ Keynoting GAWDA Annual Conference
Hollywood, FLA — Mike Huckabee — former Arkansas governor, two-time presidential
candidate and now an announced speaker at next week’s Republican National Convention —
will be a keynote speaker for the 72nd annual convention of the Gases and Welding Distributors
Association (GAWDA) annual meeting, the Association has announced.
Huckabee will address an estimated 500-600 GAWDA representatives during a business session
when the group meets in Maui, Hawaii, September 25-28. The theme of the conference is,
“Disruption: Threats and Opportunities.” Governor Huckabee will speak to the group on
Wednesday, September 28 on the topic, “The Pursuit of the Presidency and the Perfectly Insane
American Process,” according to GAWDA Executive Director John Ospina.
Huckabee served as the 44th governor of Arkansas from 1996-2007, disrupting the status quo
and creating a legacy of tax cuts, job creation, state road system reconstruction and K-16
education reform. He led a nationally-heralded and duplicated health initiative based on
prevention versus a costlier intervention approach, and his administration fought long-standing
political corruption. He ran twice for the Republican presidential nomination, in 2008 and again
earlier this year. He ended his 2016 race in February and returned to Fox News in April,
resuming his career as a top-rated weekend show host. He previously hosted a nationally
syndicated radio commentary show; and he is an avid musician and a New York Times
bestselling author.
Also speaking at the convention are Seifi Ghasemi, chairman, president and CEO of Air
Products; and Dave Nelsen, CEO of Corporate Visions, a social media strategy consulting firm.
Registration for GAWDA members and their guests is available online at: http://bit.ly/29C1q0R .
About GAWDA
The Gases and Welding Distributors Association (GAWDA) is comprised of independent
distributors and supplier firms serving the gases distribution and welding industry that are
located throughout the United States, and some internationally located members.
The Association promotes the safe operation and economic vitality of distributors of industrial
gases and related welding equipment and supplies. It provides high-impact educational and
training opportunities and meetings for the industry, develops and publishes information for
safety and environmentally responsible practices, and monitors legislation that affects the
industry and members’ operations.
Through its charitable foundation, GAWDA annually awards a number of scholarships to high
school seniors who plan to enter areas of study related to the industry. It also has awarded $1.8
million over the past 15 years to selected non-profit organizations as a way to leave resources
behind in the communities where members gather for their yearly conference. This year, those
GAWDA Gives Back funds, which are contributed by GAWDA members through the year’s
organizational fundraising activities, are being presented to The Boys and Girls Clubs of Maui
and The Neighborhood Place of Wailuku.