Click here to download the catalog as a PDF file. To view this site you need Adobe Flash Player and your browser must allow javaScripts. Go here to get the latest Flash Player. Academy Of Excellence Selects Service Nominees he Shooting Industry Academy of Excellence has announced the 2008 nominees for its four “service” awards. These awards recognize companies for manufacturing, distribution and citizenship, plus an individual is honored with the Shooting Industry Award. At press time, the academy’s 2008 nominees for its 10 product awards were still undergoing the verification phase to ensure they are “in production,” as required by the academy. (They will be announced in the June issue of Shooting Industry and on www.shootingindustry.com.) The academy considered 37 entries in the four service award categories, before selecting 12 nominees for the 2008 Final Ballot. The academy uses a two-step voting process. Academy members consider all entries in each category, casting votes to determine who will be placed on the ballot. They then cast a second, final vote to determine who will receive the annual awards. The award recipients will be kept secret and revealed during a special Academy of Excellence reception to held July 25 in Windsor, Conn., in conjunction with the Shooting Industry Masters. The 2008 service award nominees are: • BLACKHAWK! Products Group: For reinvesting its profits in U.S. capabilities by opening three new factories in the U.S. in the past three years, which helps inventory management and quickly responds to customer demands. For rehiring all the American workers when buying the Boise, Id., facility from a competitor, while the competitor shipped jobs overseas. • Ruger: For remaking the company to better serve the firearms industry, including creating new firearm and ammunition combinations that eclipse current performance standards, such as Ruger Compact Magnum rifles and the Ruger SP101 .327 Federal Magnum revolver. For the Voice of the Customer program seeking input from consumers and resulting in the M77 Hawkeye rifles, Charger pistol, the SR9 and the LCP. For enhanced dealer offerings including co-op advertising, special order programs and expanded Web site content. • Smith & Wesson: For being a leader in the firearms industry and shooting sports, supporting at the highest levels the NSSF, NRA and USA Shooting Team, and playing an instrumental role in the NRA’s Insure Your Gun Rights and HAVA. For the introduction of 71 new firearms featuring several new M&P series products and the Night Guard revolver series. For the largest dealer and distributor incentive program in the industry’s history, Shooting for Hawaii, with a new program for 2008, Aiming for Alaska. • AcuSport: For hosting an annual dealer show that strengthens the independent retailer by providing educational seminars, simulated retail space, an ammunition price protection program and inventory planning. For the support of independent retailers through extensive product knowledge, business planning and promotional support. For partnering with vendors such Continued on page 10 lawsuits filed against our industry.” In 2004, Sanetti received the Shooting Industry Award from the Shooting Industry Academy of Excellence for his fight against the “big city” lawsuits and other anti-gun campaigns. About his new position, Sanetti said that despite his years in the industry and experience with NSSF, “the challenges we all face will be new and constantly changing.” “The only way we will survive and prosper is to be flexible in our thinking and creative in our problem-solving,” Sanetti said. “I am excited to begin this new phase of my career at a place where I can have a positive and lasting impact on the future of hunting and shooting.” www.shootingindustry.com T Different By Design Manufacturer of the Year Distributor of the Year Painter requested the change in his role at NSSF in late April. “Recognizing the many challenges we face down the road, I felt the time had come after 35 years to give more focus to building strategic alliances and partnerships that will continue to strengthen the extraordinary unity of our industry that has been at the core of our success,” Painter said. Painter will be the primary spokesman for NSSF’s outreach to build participation and strengthen the industry’s political voice. “We are happy that Doug will continue to be the voice of the foundation and build upon our key alliances in this industry,” Scott said. Circle No. 209 on Inquiry Card MAY 2008 9