Bel Air, MD " March 6, 2013
Perry Parks, Wolverton, Inc., Lansing, Michigan, was elected as chairman of the PIDA Board of Directors during the association’s annual Management Conference in January. He becomes the third member of his family to take on PIDA’s chief elected position, following in the footsteps of his father Leonard Parks (PIDA president, 1973-74) and brother Jerry Parks (1996-97). Wolverton was one of 32 charter members that founded PIDA in 1968 and is one of only two companies from that group to survive as an independent distributor today.
“”I am privileged to follow in my father and brother’s footsteps to lead PIDA,”” Parks commented. “”We have valued our participation in this organization for 45 years, and I look forward to working with my fellow board members to continue PIDA’s tradition of providing programs and services that benefit pet product distributors.””
In addition to Parks, PIDA members elected Randy Reber, Animal Supply Co., as vice-chairman and Scott Rath, Central Pet Distribution as secretary-treasurer. Bob Johnson, Pet Food Wholesale, Inc. was re-elected to a second three-year term on the Board of Directors. Two new Board members were also elected: Ced Damby, Pet Food Ltd, Inc. and Steve Thoeny, RFG Distributing. Remaining Board members include Immediate Past Chairman Fred Schober, Phillips Feed & Pet Supply; Mark Smith, Frontier Distributing, Inc.; and Bob Merar, General Pet Supply.
Retiring from the Board were Rob Chouinard, Gardner Distributing Co., and Mike Copeland, Summit Pet Product Distributors.
PIDA has represented the interests of pet product distributors since 1968. The mission of PIDA is to enhance the well being of the wholesaler-distributor, to promote partnerships with their suppliers and customers and to work cooperatively with other organizations in fostering the human-companion animal bond.