Fairmont Supply Co. (Canonsburg, Pa.): Van Compagni has been promoted to vice president of operations. The 30-year industry veteran was previously general manager of Western operations with Fairmont Supply.
Affiliated Distributors (A-D, King of Prussia, Pa.): Maura Wheeler has been appointed marketing manager, bringing seven years of experience with the plumbing and PVF industry as well as a marketing background that will benefit all divisions of A-D.
Distribution Research and Education Foundation (DREF, Washington, D.C.): Adam J. Fein, president of Pembroke Consulting, Philadelphia, has been named to a second four-year term as DREF fellow. DREF fellows work with the foundation to develop and bring new research studies to the wholesale distribution industry.
Electro-Federation Canada (Mississauga, Ontario): Bob Brews, president, R.L. Brews Ltd., was elected chair of Electro-Federation Canada (EFC) at the annual general meeting, held April 1 at the Pearson Convention Center in Brampton, Ontario. Brews succeeds Paul Frew, vice president, government relations, Motorola Canada Ltd., who will continue to serve on the board as past chair.
Streamlight Inc. (Eagleville, Pa.): Mitchell Poe joins the company as a regional sales director in the industrial/fire division. Previously employed at Standard Abrasives as the Southeastern regional sales manager, Poe brings with him 23 years of marketing experience.
Universal Lighting Technologies (Nashville, Tenn.): Tom Grantz joins the company as regional sales manager of the Southern region. With more than 18 years of lamp experience, Grantz has extensive vertical market and energy service company (ESCO) experience. Before joining Universal Lighting, Grantz served as senior sales manager and most recently, national account manager at Philips Lighting Co. In another personnel change, Glenn Mitchell joins Universal Lighting Technologies as regional sales manager of the Southeast region. Most recently, he was director of sales for Sales Plus in Stockholm, Sweden.
Joslyn Manufacturing Co. (Chicago): David A. Nies has been named president. Most recently, Nies was vice president sales and marketing for Joslyn and has been involved in the utility industry throughout his 28-year career.
The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW, Washington, D.C.): NAW’s Distribution Research and Education Foundation (DREF) has announced the election of a new chairman and the addition of two members to its board of directors. Moving into the chairman’s seat is Byron Potter, president/CEO, Dallas Wholesale Builders Supply Inc., DeSoto, Texas. Potter fills the position vacated by the retirement of J. Michael Moore, Applied Industrial Technologies, who was named honorary DREF director for life. Joining the DREF board are Mark W. Kramer, CEO of Laird Plastics, West Palm Beach, Fla.; and Randy Lindberg, president/CEO of Nature’s Best, Brea, Calif. The balance of the DREF board includes: Mary Sue Lyon, executive vice president, Power Transmission Distributors Association, Chicago; Andrew Berlin, president/CEO Berlin Packaging, Chicago; Inge Calderon, executive vice president, American Supply Association, Chicago; Charles Cohen, president, Benco Dental Co., Wilkes Barre, Pa.; Don Frendberg, executive vice president/CEO, Heating, Airconditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International, Columbus, Ohio; Tim Holt, president/CEO, National School Supply & Equipment Association, Silver Spring, Md.; Julia Klein, president, C H Briggs Hardware Co., Reading, Pa.; Richard McCarten, vice president, Electro-Federation Canada, Mississauga, Ontario; Robert N. Renkes, executive vice president, Petroleum Equipment Institute, Tulsa, Okla.; James K. Risk III, CEO, Kirby Risk Corp., Lafayette, Ind.; Bob Roberts, president, Roberts Oxygen Co., Rockville, Md.; Raymon A. York, CEO, Ewing Irrigation Products, Phoenix; Douglas R. Young, president/CEO, The Behler-Young Co., Grand Rapids, Mich.
W.W. Grainger Inc. (Chicago): Wesley M. Clark, president and chief operating officer, announced his plans to leave the company to pursue other opportunities. Clark’s decision to leave the company is effective June 1. Grainger is realigning its operations to better focus on sales and service goals. Executive Vice President James T. Ryan has been selected group president of the Grainger-branded businesses in the United States. (See page 1 for additional details.) In another personnel change at Grainger, Y.C. Chen, senior vice president, supply chain management will expand his role to include product management and merchandising. By combining Product Management with the logistics structure, the company more closely integrates the two functions, enhancing the ability to deliver the right products at the right time with the right information to customers. Chen joined Grainger in July 1996 as vice president, Asia Pacific, where he established Grainger Global Sourcing. He also served as vice president, international Internet commerce, and as vice president, supply chain services.
Summit Electric Supply (Albuquerque, N.M.): J. Brad Steward has joined Summit as senior vice president of finance and chief financial officer. Steward comes to Summit from Boeing-SVS Inc. where in 2000 he oversaw the sale of SVS to the Boeing Co. and remained with SVS as a director of finance after the sale.
Schneider Electric (Palatine, Ill.): Howard E. Japlon has been appointed senior vice president, general counsel and secretary for Schneider North American Operating Division. Japlon was named deputy general counsel in 2003 and assistant general counsel in 1995.
Westinghouse Lighting Corp. (Philadelphia): Barton Pasternak has been appointed executive vice president, with responsibilities that include corporate development, marketing, product development and human resources, in addition to his role as the company’s chief legal counsel. Westinghouse Lighting Corp., formerly Angelo Brothers Co., began its transition to the Westinghouse brand under Pasternak’s guidance. He created the licensing agreement that allowed for the use of the Westinghouse brand name on products and the company name change to Westinghouse Lighting Corp.