The award is given to a manufacturers representative who exemplifies the legacy and winning spirit of Bob Bender, a trailblazing member of the Oatey sales organization for more than 40 years
CLEVELAND, June 6, 2023 — Oatey Co., a leading manufacturer in the plumbing industry since 1916, today announced that Skipper Joyce, founder of manufacturers representative group The Joyce Agency, was selected as the second annual winner of the Bob Bender Legacy Award. The award celebrates the legacy of the late Bob Bender, a 42-year veteran sales leader at Oatey who forged indelible relationships with customers and industry partners throughout his tenure.
“Bob paved the way for Oatey’s Wholesale Sales success. He was passionate, determined, inspiring, and if you ever met him, you would not forget him,” said Patrick Aquino, Vice President, Wholesale Sales at Oatey. “The Bob Bender Legacy Award honors someone who shares Bob’s winning spirit, and there is no one who better fits that description than Skipper Joyce.”
Joyce is known throughout the plumbing and mechanical industry as a passionate, driven leader who is committed to delivering excellence and making everyone around him great. Since founding The Joyce Agency in 1982, he has shown consistent dedication to building a winning organization and team, all while putting his family, team and customers first.
According to Joyce, his personal relationship with Bender makes this recognition all the more meaningful. “When I think about Oatey, I immediately think about Bob Bender. Bob was a person who changed how I approached this business. He reinforced my commitment to relationships. He subscribed to the same moto as I do: ‘I never saw anyone get fired with an order in their hand.’ But it’s much more than that. It’s the depth of the relationships he forged with the Oatey reps and customers. It’s the excitement he brought to the business. It’s the sincerity of his commitment to Oatey and to their customers.”
Joyce’s name was added to the Bob Bender Legacy Cup, which commemorates the list of winners, alongside Chase Freeman of Spirit Group, who won the inaugural award last year.
ABOUT OATEY CO.
Since 1916, Oatey has provided reliable, high-quality products for the residential and commercial plumbing industries, with a commitment to delivering quality, building trust and improving lives. Today, Oatey operates a comprehensive manufacturing and distribution network to supply thousands of products for professional builders, contractors, engineers and do-it-yourself consumers around the world.
Oatey is based in Cleveland, Ohio, and has locations in the United States, Canada, Mexico and China. For more information, visit www.oatey.com, call (800) 321-9532 or follow Oatey on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram.
CONTACT:
Amanda Keiber
Director, Corporate Communications
Oatey Co.
216.339.0120
John O’Reilly
Greenhouse Digital + PR
815.469.9100