Cooper Lighting (Peachtree City, Ga.): Neil Schrimsher has been appointed president of Cooper Lighting. He succeeds David Feldman, who is leaving the company to pursue other interests. Schrimsher joins Cooper Lighting from Siemens Energy & Automation where he spent the last five years of his career, most recently as vice president of its power distribution and controls business.
Ametek Solidstate Controls (Columbus, Ohio): Greg Abbott has been appointed director of sales, responsible for the management and direction of Solidstate Controls’ worldwide sales force. Most recently, Abbott was national sales manager.
A. O. Smith Corp. (Milwaukee): A. O. Smith has announced the following executive appointments. Patricia K. Ackerman has been named vice president and treasurer. Ackerman had served as assistant treasurer since 1995. Kenneth J. Maciolek has been named vice president, associate general counsel and assistant secretary after serving as a member of the company’s law department since 1990. Jane M. Sanford has been appointed vice president - global human resources and organizational development. Sanford had served as corporate director of human resources since January 2005. Additionally, Craig R. Watson has been named vice president - investor relations. He had been director - investor relations since 1996.
Venture Lighting (Solon, Ohio): Ken Kerschner has joined Venture Lighting as senior product manager. He brings more than 20 years of marketing, strategic management and professional sales experience.
Griffith Electric Supply Co. Inc. (Trenton, N.J.): Margaret Kline, executive vice president and a 15-year Griffith veteran, has been elected to Griffith’s board of directors.
National Association of Independent Lighting Distributors (NAILD, Buffalo, N.Y.): Bill Hurd, Nova Lighting, Charlotte, N.C., was elected president of NAILD at the association’s 29th annual conference held in San Diego March 26 - 30. Other officers elected include President Elect Gordon Hunt of Illuminating Technologies Inc., Greensboro, N.C.; Secretary/Treasurer Wendell Strong of Stitzell Electric Supply Co. Inc., Des Moines, Iowa; and John Devereux of Northwestern Lighting and Supply, Elgin, Ill., who will serve as immediate past president of the association on the executive committee and on the board. Newly elected directors include Wanda Barnett of topbulb.com (doing business as Gray Supply Co.), East Chicago, Ind.; Robert Black of Light Bulbs Etc., Lenexa, Kan.; Jim Coykendall of Budget Lighting, Minnetonka, Minn.; Steve Espinoso of The Lighting Co., Irvine, Calif.; and Steven J. Robinson of Wattsaver Lighting Products Inc., East Hartford, Conn. W. Clay Otto of Starbeam Supply, St. Louis, will serve as past president council representative. Vendor member representatives include George Mabin of Radiant Lamp Co., Philadelphia; and Derral Ward of Howard Industries Inc., Laurel, Miss.
Stahlin Non-Metallic Enclosures (Belding, Mich.): John Hoelz has joined the Stahlin organization as market development manager, managing Stahlin efforts to develop and build new business in the central region of the United States.
Onset Computer Corp. (Bourne, Mass.): Onset Computer, a supplier of battery-powered data loggers and weather stations, has appointed Jack Sample as president. He brings more than 28 years of sales, marketing, and operations management experience to Onset, having most recently served as the company’s director of sales and marketing.
Industry Data Exchange Association (IDEA, Rosslyn, Va.): The IDEA board of directors re-elected Tim Powers, chairman, chief executive officer, and president of Hubbell Inc. as chairman of IDEA’s board for a third consecutive term. The other IDEA officers for 2006-2007 are: IDEA Vice-Chairman Todd Kumm, president and COO of Dakota Supply Group, IDEA President Mike Rioux; IDEA Treasurer Mike Gambino, president and CEO of Pass & Seymour/Legrand and Wiremold/Legrand; and IDEA Secretary Dave Crum, CEO of Crum Electric Supply.
Robroy Industries (Verona, Pa.): Jeff McIlroy has been appointed vice president Robroy Industries and elected to the corporation’s board of directors. McIlroy has 15 years of experience at Robroy Industries, most recently as international business manager for Robroy Industries’ Stahlin Non-Metallic Enclosures business.
W.W. Grainger (Lake Forest, Ill.): Grainger has announced several senior-level appointments in the last couple of weeks. James T. Ryan has been promoted to president of Grainger. The 25-year Grainger veteran has held many executive positions within the company including the president of the parts business, chief information officer, president of the company’s Internet business and most recently group president for the U.S. branch-based business. Y. C. Chen has been promoted to a newly created position as group president, responsible for Canada and Mexico. The company plans to grow and improve the businesses of Acklands-Grainger, the company’s Canadian operation, and Grainger S.A. de C.V., the company’s Mexican operation. Chen joined Grainger in 1996 as vice president for Asia Pacific, where he established the company’s global sourcing operation. He most recently served as senior vice president for the supply chain of the U.S. branch-based business. Deb Oler has been promoted to vice president, sales with responsibility for driving sales growth in the United States. Oler joined Grainger in May 2002 as regional sales vice president. Additionally, Kevin Peters has been promoted to senior vice president, supply chain with responsibility for product availability, transportation, logistics, and supplier relationships. Most recently, Peters served as vice president, supply chain operations.
DAP Technologies (Quebec City, Canada): Benoît Masson has been appointed director of marketing, and Brian Aldham has been appointed director of public utility sales. DAP Technologies manufacturers rugged mobile computing solutions and services for any setting, including harsh environments.
Service Wire Co. (Culloden, W. Va.): Chuck Oldaker has been appointed vice president of finance. Prior to joining Service Wire Co., Oldaker worked for nine years with a regional accounting firm in Huntington, W. Va., as vice president of its audit and business taxation department.
W.A.C. Lighting (Garden City, N.Y.): Courtney Warren has been appointed marketing manager. Most recently, Warren was assistant vice president and marketing officer for New York Community Bank.