The Bearing Specialists Association (BSA) elected Linda Miller, Bearings & Drives, Inc., as president for 2012-2013. In addition to Miller, the following industry leaders were elected to serve BSA in 2012-13: James Webster, DXP Enterprises, Inc., as chairman of the board; Jack Simpson, Applied Industrial Technologies, as vice president; and Brian Negri, Jamaica Bearings Company, Inc., as treasurer. The elections were held in conjunction with the association's 2012 Annual Convention held April 29-May 1 at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa in Bonita Springs, Florida. BSA also elected the following industry leaders to serve three-year terms on the board of directors: Brian Davis, Bearings & Drives, Inc.; Mitch Bouchard, General Bearing Service Inc.; and Tom Armold, Applied Industrial Technologies.

Additionally, the BSA presented its 10th Lifetime Achievement Award to Peter Negri, president and CEO of Jamaica Bearings Company, Inc. Negri is a graduate of Boston College and the Amos Tuck School, the Graduate School of Business at Dartmouth College. The company that once employed 15 people at a single location in Jamaica, Queens, New York, now employs over 135 people at locations in New York, Pennsylvania, Florida and California, with employees around the world, including Canada, Singapore, China, Italy, Great Britain, France and Australia.

Negri's involvement with BSA dates to his early years with Jamaica Bearings. He has chaired the Membership, Young Executives, and Manufacturer/Distributor Relations Committees, and after serving on the board of directors was elected president in 1986. Negri has served as BSA's convention chair a record four times. Beyond BSA, Negri has served his community as a village trustee, on various commissions, and in a number of roles to preserve the community's historic status. He supports Boston College as head of the Alumni Admissions Council for Long Island. Negri and his wife Kaye have been married for almost 41 years and are the proud parents of Brian, Liz and Christine, and they also have six grandchildren.

In a second presentation, BSA recognized Gus Kontonickas as an active BSA participating manufacturer for more than 20 years. Although he changed manufacturer "hats" more than once during that period, Gus was steadfast in his support of BSA and the industry. Wearing his hats from Thomson and The Timken Company, Gus served on the Industry Communications Committee from 1989 to 1998 and the 1996 Convention Committee. He also served on the 2000 Convention Committee wearing his Loctite hat and then with NSK Limited, Gus served on the Educational Services and the Long Range Convention Planning Committees from 2004-2008. He served on a third Convention Planning Committee in 2008.