NetPlus Chairman Dan Judge Wins Lifetime Achievement Award
The Industrial Supply Association named Dan Judge, NetPlus Alliance Co-Founder and Chairman, the recipient of the John J. Buckley Lifetime Achievement Award on April 22 at the ISA 2017 Convention in Denver.
The John J. Buckley Lifetime Achievement Award is named after the former executive vice president of the Industrial Supply Association.
“I thought of what has guided me through my lifetime in industrial distribution,” Judge said in his remarks at ISA. “I came up with three things: change, networking and relationships.”
Judge started NetPlus Alliance in 2002. NetPlus began with 38 distributors, 20 suppliers and less than $20,000 in total purchases. NetPlus now has more than 375 industrial and contractor supplies distributor members and 185 suppliers, and facilitated more than $180 million in purchases through the buying group through 2015.
NetPlus Alliance’s founding was the culmination of a long career in industrial distribution. Judge began his career in 1969 in the family-owned Ward Brothers Mill Supply Company in Lockport, N.Y. In 1993, after the business’s sale, Judge took over management of the buying group I.D. One, which he co-founded with five other distributors.
“NetPlus Alliance is built on five generations on family leadership,” Judge said. “As you can imagine, we wouldn’t be here today if we hadn’t learned to embrace and adapt to change.”
Judge was succeeded as president in 2015 by his daughter Jennifer Murphy. “My father’s success speaks to the importance of the Industrial Supply Association in cultivating the deep relationships that we have in this industry,” Murphy said. “I am so proud of the contributions that he has made alongside many others to ensure the continued success of the association and its members.”
Judge has served in leadership roles in ISA and its precursors throughout his career.
“ISA has a different mission than NetPlus and the other buying groups,” Judge said. “The distributors and manufacturers in this industry need both for the networking, relationship building and change opportunity they provide. We value our relationship with ISA.”
A Vietnam veteran, Judge was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal and the Army Commendation Medal. He holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial distribution from Clarkson College of Technology and a master’s in business administration from the University of Buffalo’s Graduate School of Management.
About NetPlus Alliance
With more than 100 years of combined industrial distribution experience, NetPlus Alliance negotiates improved pricing, rebates and terms with 185 product and service providers on behalf of more than 375 industrial and contractor supplies distributor members. Learn more about NetPlus Alliance at netplusalliance.com or call 716-438-2014.
For additional information or to arrange an interview with Dan Judge, please contact Zach Brado, 716-438-2014, zach@netplusalliance.com
