FAIRFAX, Va. -- Steve Shing of GSC Enterprises Inc. and James Colucci of Altadis U.S.A. will be the first recipients of the American Wholesale Marketers Association's newly established AWMA Hall of Fame Awards during a special ceremony at the AWMA Show in Las Vegas on February 16.
The Hall of Fame Award, AWMA's highest honor, is designed to recognize individuals at both distributor and manufacturer companies who have demonstrated a lifetime of service to AWMA and the industry at the very highest level.
Shing began his career with Grocery Supply Co. in 1975. He has held several sales and management positions during his 37 years. Currently, he is corporate vice president, sales and marketing at GSC Enterprises Inc., a full-service distributor of grocery and convenience products to a diverse customer base within Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana. Shing is a former AWMA member and chairman of the board of directors, as well as past chairman of the Southern Association of Wholesale Distributors (SAWD).
Colucci retired in July of 2011 as Altadis U.S.A. executive vice president of sales and marketing. He spent 34 of the past 37 years with cigar maker Altadis and its predecessor company, Consolidated Cigars. In his role Colucci oversaw the sales and marketing plans for the many brands owned by Altadis U.S.A. He served on the board of directors of the AWMA and the SAWD, as well as on the associate board of the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association.
In 2011, the AWMA board voted to establish a Past Chairman's Advisory Council. One of the first tasks the board delegated to the council was planning and developing an awards program. The Past Chairman's Advisory Council recommended to the AWMA board that AWMA establish the AWMA Hall of Fame award program, to recognize lifetime service to the industry and AWMA. The Past Chairman's Advisory Council also recommended the reactivation of the AWMA Dean Awards, which are designed to recognize ongoing support of and service to AWMA and the industry.
An additional AWMA Hall of Fame Award and the first AWMA Dean Award will be presented at the AWMA Summit & Business Exchange (ABX) in September, at the Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, Fla.
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