Glen Ellyn, IL—The Bearing Specialists Association (BSA) presented its 10th Lifetime Achievement Award to Peter Negri, president and CEO of Jamaica Bearings Company, Inc. The presentation was made at the 2012 BSA Annual Convention April 29-May 1 at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa in Bonita Springs, Florida.

Negri is a graduate of Boston College and the Amos Tuck School, the Graduate School of Business at Dartmouth College. Following his honorable discharge from the Army, Peter began working full time for Jamaica Bearings in 1971, the family business where he had worked part time and summers since 1960. The company was then owned and run by Negri’s father, Frank, who took it over from his older brother John in 1934. During Peter Negri’s tenure at Jamaica Bearings, annual sales have grown from approximately $1,800,000 to exceed $100,000,000. The company that once employed 15 people at a single location in Jamaica, Queens, New York, now employs over 135 people at locations in New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, and California, with employees around the world, including Canada, Singapore, China, Italy, Great Britain, France, and Australia.

Negri’s involvement with BSA dates to his early years with Jamaica Bearings. He has chaired the Membership, Young Executives, and Manufacturer/Distributor Relations Committees, and after serving on the Board of Directors was elected president in 1986. Negri has served as BSA’s Convention Chair a record four times. Beyond BSA, Negri has served his community as a Village Trustee, as various commissioners, and in a number of roles to preserve the community’s historic status. He supports Boston College as head of the Alumni Admissions Council for Long Island. Negri and his wife Kaye have been married for almost 41 years and are the proud parents of Brian, Liz and Christine and six grandchildren.

BSA created the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001 to recognize lifetime achievement within the industry and the association. Recipients must have been a member or participating manufacturer of BSA for at least twenty five years, attended BSA events, been actively involved in the affairs of the association, and demonstrated a leadership role within the industry.

In 2001 BSA awarded the first Lifetime Achievement Award to Wendy McDonald of BC Bearing Engineers. In 2004 two additional Lifetime Achievement Awards were given to Jim Fitzpatrick, Sr. of Bearings Specialty Company and John Nations of Bearings & Drives. In 2006, a Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to James Martin III, who retired in late December 2005 as Director-Distribution, Marketing Services & Integration, The Timken Company. It marked the first time the award was presented to a manufacturer. In 2007, BSA honored Dennis B. Clark, who retired in 2003 as president of North American Industrial Distribution, SKF, and Richard Gipson, Gipson Bearing Co. In 2009 it was awarded to William H. Allen, Jr., Allied Bearings Supply Co., Inc., and in 2010 BSA honored long-time legal counsel William Ives.

In a second presentation, BSA recognized Gus Kontonickas as an active BSA participating manufacturer for more than 20 years. Although he changed manufacturer “hats” more than once during that period, Gus was steadfast in his support of BSA and the industry. Wearing his hats from Thomson and The Timken Company, Gus served on the Industry Communications Committee from 1989 to 1998 and the 1996 Convention Committee. He also served on the 2000 Convention Committee wearing his Loctite hat and then with NSK Limited, Gus served on the Educational Services and the Long Range Convention Planning Committees from 2004 – 2008. He served on a third Convention Planning Committee in 2008.

During the past year Honorary memberships were awarded to the following BSA members who recently retired: Dave Hooser, BDI; Cam Lawrence, BDI Canada, Inc.; Robby MacPherson, BC Bearing Engineers and John Timble, Bearing Headquarters Company.

BSA is the “must belong to organization for authorized bearing distributors.” An international service and educational organization of distributors representing a total of almost 100 companies distributing factory-warranted, anti-friction bearings and invited manufacturers of bearings and related products, the association’s mission says, “BSA is the forum to enhance networking and knowledge sharing and promote the sale of bearings through authorized distributors.” For more information on BSA contact the BSA office at (630) 858-3838; fax (630) 790-3095; email info@bsahome.org or visit the association website at www.bsahome.org. ###
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