• Gale Rhine, owner and president of Lone Star Safety — With more than 40 years in the safety industry Gale has built Lone Star Safety to be a leader in the industry.

• • Jim Golay, owner and president of Rocky Mountain Industrial Supply — Jim started Rocky Mountain Industrial Supply back in 2007 and had more than 30 years in the safety industry.

SMG also announced that James Green has been named marketing communications manager. James will be responsible for helping SMG and its members increase their digital presence, help develop marketing ideas, as well as help out with some of the more technical aspects of SMG’s website and back-end software.

James has been working part-time behind the scenes for the past couple of years for SMG, and the group decided to bring him on full time to help out with some marketing for both SMG and its members.

James is in his final semester of obtaining his masters in Web Development and Online Communications as well as starting a second masters in Software Engineering. He has more than 10 years of marketing and management experience. Along with a background in digital media development, James also has a passion for the latest technology and trends.

“We are excited to add James to the SMG Advantage team! He will bring a much needed marketing presence that will help elevate the SMG brand and message top/down throughout our Distributors’ and Suppliers’ organizations. I look forward to working more closely with him,” explains Jennifer Hogeland, operations manager.

Mike Smeaton, president of SMG says, “I am personally excited to bring James Green on to our team! James brings a fresh perspective and is very fired up to join us and to potentially assist our distributors and suppliers. James has already come up with some great ideas to keep laser focused on our Suppliers’ growth objectives.”

James can be reached at james.green@smgna.com or (352) 593-2147.