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Melissa Buckwalter was named vice president, Financial Services and chief information officer in 2004. She is responsible for accounting services in North America that support multiple business units. She also is responsible for corporate information technology services as well as for global information technology strategy, standards and integration of information systems. Buckwalter joined Praxair in 1995 in corporate Financial Planning & Analysis and subsequently held the positions of controller for the Helium business and director, Corporate Audits & Security. She was named director, Financial Services, for North American Industrial Gases in 2000. Prior to joining Praxair, Buckwalter spent 14 years in various financial-management positions. She holds a bachelor of science degree in business administration from the University of Nebraska and is a certified public accountant. Praxair is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, and one of the largest worldwide, with 2006 sales of $8.3 billion. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric, process and specialty gases, and high-performance surface coatings. Praxair products, services and technologies bring productivity and environmental benefits to a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, chemicals, food and beverage, electronics, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, metals and others. More information on Praxair is available on the Internet at www.praxair.com. | 