(Lynchburg, Va.) Oct. 14, 2005 – N.B. Handy Company of Lynchburg, Va., one of the country’s leading distributors of HVAC equipment and supplies, commercial roofing products, and sheet metal fabrication and fabricating equipment, has been awarded the 2004 New Distributor of the Year Award by Nordyne, Inc. of St. Louis, Mo.

The award was presented to Dave Wadsworth, general manager of equipment sales for N.B. Handy Company, by Doug Jones, Nordyne’s vice president of residential and light commercial sales division, at the recent Nordyne National Premium Brand distributor meeting in San Francisco.

"Besides their sales accomplishments, N.B. Handy demonstrated enthusiasm with growing the business through solid marketing efforts, dedicated personnel and resources. It's a combination of these characteristics that makes them deserving of Nordyne's New Distributor of the Year Award," says Jones.

Chris Johnson, eastern director of Nordyne’s residential and light commercial sales division added, "N.B. Handy came to us with a plan and the desire to get into this [HVAC] business, and has done a fantastic job in their first year as an HVAC distributor in their market. We expect even greater things from them in their sophomore season."

Nordyne is the manufacturer of central heating and cooling products marketed under the brand names of Frigidaire, Tappan, Philco, Westinghouse, Kelvinator and Gibson. N.B. Handy Company received the award for exceptional performance for implementation of the Kelvinator and Gibson lines of residential and light commercial equipment to the mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States.

The award was given to N.B. Handy following an exceptional implementation of an aggressive sale initiative launched in February 2004, when N.B. Handy Company partnered with Nordyne to introduce the Kelvinator and Gibson lines of HVAC equipment, such as air conditioners, heat pumps, gas and oil furnaces, air handlers, air cleaners, and other products. The company’s successful first year was followed by impressive sales growth in 2005.

In accepting the award, Wadsworth credited his sales team for the impressive launch. “Our employees have put forth a lot of effort over the past year and a half to make this award possible,” he says. “This is a team effort and always will be if we are to be successful.”

N.B. Handy is one of the country’s largest wholesale distributors of HVAC Equipment and Supplies for Residential, Commercial, and Industrial use, Commercial Roofing and Waterproofing supplies, and Precision Metal Fabricating Machinery, including on-site repair and service. Headquartered in Lynchburg, Va. and privately held since 1891, the company has 13 strategically located, full service sales and distribution facilities in Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Tennessee. For more information about N.B. Handy Company sales and service, call 800-274-6244 or log on to www.nbhandy.com