Kirby Risk (Lafayette, Ind.): Mike Plaster was promoted to the new position of director, contractor management. He will take the lead in formulating a strategy and an operating plan for the contractor commercial markets. The five-year Kirby Risk veteran most recently was manager of the regional distribution center. Doug Gutridge has accepted additional duties of managing the regional distribution center in Indianapolis. Gutridge, who joined the company in 1980, will continue his current responsibilities as vice president, human resources. Ed Zink has been appointed area sales manager of Indianapolis. Zink, a 13-year Kirby Risk veteran, was most recently branch manager at the Crawfordsville, Ind., location. Rick Orbik has been appointed area sales manager for the following Indiana locations: Columbus, Muncie, New Castle, Richmond and Connersville. The 10-year Kirby Risk veteran most recently served as branch manager of the Richmond location. Russ Brummett has accepted the position of branch manager for the Indianapolis and Shelbyville, Ind., locations. In January 2002, Brummett joined the distributorship as branch manager for the Columbus branch.
United Electric Supply Co. (New Castle, Del.): The employee-owned distributorship has announced several key promotions by its board of directors. United Electric President and Chief Executive Officer Thomas Cloud has assumed the position of chairman and CEO. With 29 years of United Electric financial and operational experience, Cloud is also the incoming chairman of the National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED). Gene Bruni was unanimously approved as the new president of United Electric. Former positions during his 30-year tenure at United Electric include warehouse, counter, inside sales, outside sales and sales management. Most recently, he was senior vice president of sales and marketing. Bob Crawford was promoted to vice president, operations. Crawford is now responsible for branch operations in Wilmington, Fenwick and Dover, Del.; Lancaster, Pa.; and Baltimore, Beltsville, Waldorf and Rockville, Md.
Cooper Industries Ltd. (Houston): Martin Pint has been appointed vice president, strategic accounts, Cooper Connection. Pint will coordinate the sales and marketing initiatives directed at major customers for Cooper’s North American Electrical Products divisions, which comprise the Cooper Connection program. These divisions include Cooper Lighting, Cooper Crouse-Hinds, Cooper Bussmann, Cooper Wiring Devices, Cooper B-Line and Cooper Power Systems. Pint brings to Cooper nearly 20 years of sales and marketing experience in the electrical and industrial products industries.
National Association of Manufacturers (Washington, D.C.): Patty Davitt Long has been promoted to divisional assistant vice president for advocacy, a new position at NAM. She will have prime responsibility for ensuring the continued further integration of NAM’s policy, communications and public affairs programs and activities inside and outside of Washington. Long, a 13-year NAM veteran, most recently served as assistant vice president of public affairs. Tiffany Adams has been promoted to vice president, public affairs. With 10 years at NAM, Adams most recently served as assistant vice president, public affairs. In another personnel change, Michael Aylward joins NAM as vice president of its national division, where Aylward will be responsible for developing and implementing strategic plans to achieve the membership goals for small and medium-sized manufacturers. Aylward brings considerable experience in direct sales, operations, strategic business development and a broad range of management sales. Prior to joining the NAM, he was vice president of regional sales for Ruesch International.
Vanguard Distribution Group LLC: Vanguard Distribution Group, a collaboration group of 18 independent Rockwell Automation Distributors, confirmed its officers and board of directors in late July. Barry Boyer, newly named president of Van Meter Industrial, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was named chairman. Michael Fromm, president of Fromm Electric Supply Co. of Reading, Pa., was named vice chairman. Dick Wilson, chairman, Horizon Solutions, Rochester, N.Y., was named treasurer. Jack Lawson, president of Electric Equipment Co., Richmond, Va., remains as secretary. Richard Dahlstrom, vice president of sales for McNaughton-McKay Electric Co., Madison Heights, Mich., was confirmed as a board member. Bill French, president of French Gerleman, St. Louis; and Sam McCamy III, president of Roden Electrical Supply Co., Knoxville, Tenn., continue as board members at large. Jim Schmitt, former president of Van Meter Industrial, retired his Vanguard chairman’s post and from full time employment with Van Meter. Schmitt is pursuing educational and consulting interests.
GE Supply (Shelton, Conn.): Lou-Anne Annino has been named national sourcing manager for its electrical distribution business and will be responsible for sourcing, operational quality and cost/catalog. A 23-year GE Supply veteran, Annino most recently served as the distributor’s operational quality leader, leading initiatives focusing on improved inventory and purchasing processes.