OAKBROOK TERRACE, IL – Over 500 members met last night at the Annual Awards Dinner & Reception to kick off the 2016 43rd Expo & Annual Meeting of the National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers (NASGW). Pete Brownell, NASGW Chairman, welcomed the members and set the stage for three days of productive meetings as distributors, manufacturers, manufacturer's reps and media prepare for the coming sales year.

Each year at this event, NASGW Awards the top optics, accessory, ammunition and firearms manufacturers who best demonstrate a commitment to the two-step distribution process, and who provide outstanding value and service. Wholesaler members evaluate the performance of manufacturers on four key criteria; distribution policy, marketing, sales and promotion; logistics and operations and NASGW and industry support. This comprehensive assessment of manufacturer performance has been designed to provide a more balanced appraisal that truly recognizes the best of the best according to NASGW distributor members.

"We are excited to recognize these great companies for their support of both the industry and 2-step distribution," said NASGW President, Kenyon Gleason.

This year's Leadership Award recipients are:

2016 Optics Manufacturer of the Year:
Leupold & Stevens, Inc.

2016 Accessory Manufacturer of the Year:
Birchwood Casey & Magpul

2016 Ammunition Manufacturer of the Year:
Hornady Manufacturing

2016 Firearms Manufacturer of the Year:
Sturm, Ruger and Company, Inc.

2016 Importer of the Year:
Aguila Ammunition

2016 Inovator of the Year
Sturm, Ruger and Company, Inc.

NASGW Chairman, Pete Brownell presented Sturm, Ruger CEO, Michael Fifer with the NASGW Chairman's Award. "Michael has had a huge impact in our industry. He is a true leader and I was proud to present the 2016 NASGW Chairman's Award to him," added Brownell.

In conjunction with the annual awards, a donations of $20,000 was made to the Youth Shooting Sports Alliance by NASGW. Earlier this year NASGW donated $25,000 to the National Shooting Sports Foundation and the Congressional Sportsman's Foundation, and a donation of $100,000 was made to the NRA-Institute for Legislative Action.

For more information about the annual NASGW Industry and Leadership Awards, contact:

Kenyon Gleason, President
National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers
1 Parkview Plaza, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181
www.nasgw.org
e :info@nasgw.org
p: 630-596-9006

About NASGW

The National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers is comprised of wholesalers, manufacturers, independent sales reps, media and service providers - both national and international - all of whom are primarily focused on shooting sports equipment and accessories. As a trade association representing the business interests of its members, NASGW's mission is to bring shooting sports buyers and sellers together. For more information about the NASGW, visit the association's website at www.nasgw.org.

For More Information Please Contact Us At:
Ryan Foster
National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers
630-596-9006, ext. 2317
>rfoster@nasgw.org