LYNCHBURG, Va. (Jan. 31, 2007) -- N. B. Handy Company of Lynchburg, Virginia, one of the nation's leading distributors of HVAC equipment and supplies, has announced the 2006 Dealers of the Year for its Westinghouse and Kelvinator product lines for heating and air conditioning equipment.

Guy Brantley of TNA Services in Wingate, North Carolina was recognized as the 2006 Dealer of the Year for Westinghouse products in the Southern region, which includes North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and Florida. Randall Pilkenton of R & R Heating and Cooling in Eagle Lake, Florida received the award for the Kelvinator product line.

The awards were presented by David Wadsworth, N. B. Handy's Manager of Equipment Sales, at the first Southern Region dealers' meeting held at the Marriott Golf and Tennis Resort in Hilton Head, South Carolina.

Also recognized for Outstanding Sales Performance for Westinghouse brand products in 2006 were Brian Rape of Jerry's Mechanical in Monroe, North Carolina and Chris Coleman of C & C Heating and Air Conditioning in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. Kelvinator 2006 Outstanding Sales Performance awards were presented to Debi Lockman of Tempmaster Heating and Cooling in Orlando, Florida and Mark Griffeth of Griffeth Mechanical in Conyers, Georgia.

N. B. Handy Company is an exclusive distributor for the extensive Westinghouse product line, which is manufactured by Nordyne, Inc. of St Louis, Missouri. Nordyne also manufacturers the Kelvinator and Gibson product lines carried by N. B. Handy Company in the mid-Atlantic and Southeastern states.

According to Sam Meeks, N. B. Handy Vice President of Sales & Marketing-HVAC, the two-day meeting gave the company an opportunity to recognize and reward the outstanding efforts by its dealers, as well as educate them on new products, services, and marketing strategies for 2007. The company's Westinghouse and Kelvinator dealers and guests attended the event.

"We have an exceptional network of independent dealers whose commitment to the Westinghouse and Kelvinator product lines is evidenced by the quality of service they provide to their customers," said Meeks. "N. B. Handy Company is proud they represent us in their communities."

Chris Johnson, Director of Sales for Nordyne, Inc., also recognized the dealers for their aggressive sales in 2006, which resulted in increasingly strong residential and commercial sales despite a soft housing market.

"Through your exemplary work, you reflect the quality that we try to build into the Westinghouse and Kelvinator brands to the consumer," Johnson told the dealers. "It's your dedication and commitment to quality sales and service that keep these brands strong."

N. B. Handy is one of the country's largest wholesale distributors of HVAC equipment and supplies for residential, commercial, and industrial use. The company also specializes in the sale of commercial roofing products, waterproofing supplies, and precision metal fabricating machinery as well as on-site machinery repair and service. Headquartered in Lynchburg, Virginia, the company has 15 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.