Right now at Airgas, we are ready to shift into high gear. We're an established leader in the industrial, medical and specialty gases market in the United States, very well positioned to capitalize on the numerous opportunities ahead resulting from what many believe will be a sustained industrial resurgence. The sluggish economy in the past year may have kept us from stepping on the gas pedal, but that doesn't mean we stopped moving forward. At Airgas, we make things happen.

This past year, we enhanced our operating structure, strengthened our sales channels, invested in technology, and renewed our focus on the development of our greatest assets —­ our people — all with an eye toward better serving our more than 1 million customers. We stayed the course with our strategic growth initiatives to create value for our shareholders in a difficult environment and further position Airgas for long-term success. Now, when the road ahead opens up, and the economy improves, we'll be moving at full speed to deliver greater growth, value and returns.