NAPED Merges with NAUMD Public Safety Suppliers & Retailers Division

New Bern, N.C. (July 2019) – The National Association of Police Equipment Distributors (NAPED) and North American Association of Uniform Manufacturers and Distributors (NAUMD) announce the merger of NAPED within NAUMD’s Public Safety Suppliers & Retailers Division effective August 1, 2019.

“As I stated to our membership in a letter sent last week, we see this an opportunity to double the size of our membership and offer more networking and business opportunities,” James Witmer, president of the board of directors for NAPED and CEO of Witmer Public Safety Group, Inc. commented. “Both of our memberships are made of the same types of companies and distributors so this merger is a more effective way to communicate to and within the same community. This merger will advance our goals to make our industry a stronger, more viable and profitable business sector.”

“We at NAUMD welcome the NAPED membership into the Public Safety Suppliers & Retailers Division,” Steve Zalkin, president of NAUMD added. Our expanded association will continue its mission to improve business practices within the public safety market for both distributors and manufacturers. We look forward to growing the PSSR division and making our annual conference & exhibition the singular event in our industry.”

As part of the merger reorganization, several NAPED members will serve on the NAUMD executive committee and board of directors to ensure a smooth transition for the membership and take an active role supporting the needs of the public safety membership. Eldon Griggs, VP of Business Development for GALLS, currently serves on both NAUMD executive committee and NAPED boards and will remain on the NAUMD executive committee. Tim Brown, COO of GT Distributors and former president of NAPED and James Witmer, CEO of Witmer Public Safety Group, Inc. and current president of NAPED will join the NAUMD board of directors. Daniel Rice, Senior Director of Sales, Tactical Business Unit Vista Outdoors, will join the board of directors and Sean Conville, VP & GM of Distribution for Atlantic Tactical will serve on the PSSR Committee.

NAPED was founded 35 years ago to provide face-to-face networking solutions for businesses within the public safety sector. In the current digital marketplace, while information moves at the speed of a button and sales cycles are 24/7/365, the merger represents the PSSR’s focus on providing the latest business and industry sector information, tools to build and grow businesses and a unique networking opportunity within their annual conference and exhibition. In 2020, the NAUMD and PSSR division event will be held April, 26 – 28 at the Hyatt Regency in Reston, Virginia.

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About National Association of Police Equipment Distributors (NAPED):

NAPED was created by bringing together law enforcement distributors, industry professionals and manufacturers to form a network for the purpose of mutually sharing the vast amounts of market experience, resources and product knowledge comprised within its membership. NAPED acts as a forum for member manufacturers and distributors to form long-term, profitable relationships. www.naped.com