Leviton Manufacturing Co. Inc. (Melville, N.Y.): Nick Blodis is now regional sales manager for the Upper Midwest market area of Leviton’s Security & Automation business unit. In his position, Blodis will lead Leviton’s efforts in growing revenue; formalizing and enlarging Leviton’s dealer and installer network; and ensuring Leviton becomes a more important supplier to the distributors in the Upper Midwest market geographies. Blodis comes to Leviton with a focus on the security space, builder sales and the integrator dimensions of the business. He will report to James Barton, director of security and automation sales at Leviton.
Summit Electric Supply (Albuquerque, N.M.): Gene Mendez is the new service center leader at the company’s El Paso, Texas service center. He previously led the El Paso location’s projects department for four years. Mendez has 20 years of industry experience, including time spent working for an electrical contractor.
Blue Ridge Wire & Cable (BRWC) (Ottawa, Ontario): Terry Atkinson is a new sales rep for BRWC in Ottawa. The company is also working with Leo Valladares Pineda, president, international business development manager and consultant, at KMKZ(E) in Santiago, Chile. BRWC is also working with Stephen Parkes at Mine Cable Services, Ankara, Turkey. He offers quoting on wire and cable requests from Africa, Finland, Norway, Finland, Europe, Asia and Kazakhstan, and Mongolia.
Nora Lighting (Commerce, Calif.): Tom Andersen is the company’s new national accounts sales manager for the United States and Canada and will oversee product sales and introductions for both Nora Lighting and NSpec, the architectural lighting division of Nora. Andersen has more than 20 years of experience in the lighting industry and most recently was affiliated with Self Electronics as strategic account manager for sales and marketing.
In other news at Nora Lighting, company sales managers Doug Boughton and Rick Satterfield announced they are retiring. Boughton, who has worked with Nora since 2011, is national accounts sales manager. Satterfield, affiliated with Nora since 2002, is Southeast regional sales manager. Boughton directed all national accounts sales activities and Satterfield handled Nora sales activities in the southeastern U.S. and Puerto Rico.
National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED) St. Louis: NAED gave out awards to several industry leaders at its recent annual conference in Chicago. Jack Henderson, executive V.P. of Oklahoma-based Hunzicker Brothers, Inc., was the recipient of the NAED’s highest honor, the 2015 Arthur W. Hooper Achievement Award. This honor is presented to an individual who has led an exceptional career in electrical distribution spanning many years. Henderson has been with Hunzicker Brothers for his entire 45 years in the industry. He has also been involved with NAED for many years serving in numerous roles including Western Region vice president, Government Affairs Committee chair and NAED Board Chair. Todd Kumm, CEO of Dakota Supply Group, Fargo, N.D., is the recipient of the 2015 NAED Distributor Distinguished Service Award, in recognition of outstanding and dedicated service to NAED and the industry. Kumm is a veteran volunteer for the NAED and has participated on numerous NAED committees.
Manufacturer recipients were David Bucklew, senior V.P of North American sales at Eaton, was the recipient of the 2015 NAED Associate Service Award given to an individual at a manufacturing firm who has consistently promoted and supported the tenets and goals of the NAED. Bucklew has been involved with NAED for 20 years in many aspects of the association, including serving as one of the original members of the Channel Advantage Partnership (CAP) Council.
Southwire got the 2015 NAED Industry Award of Merit for a company or individual in electrical manufacturing that has been active in promoting and supporting the electrical distribution industry. Southwire is receiving this award for its dedication and commitment to both the NAED and the industry. Springfield Electric Supply and RAB Lighting also were recognized for their employee training efforts with the Excellence in Training Awards.