People Dec. 23, 2005

3M Electrical Markets Division (Austin, Texas): Bob Custer has been named national sales manager for commercial and industrial markets. Custer also heads the 3M Sales Connection for New Orleans, a quarterly information-sharing gathering of all 3M salespeople in a geographic area. Custer has worked in the electrical division at 3M for 24 years.

Leff Electric (Cleveland): Bill Better has been appointed vice president of sales and marketing. Better comes to Leff with 20 years of experience in the industry. He previously was vice president of operations for Rexel USA. Jim Milligan joins Leff Electric as national accounts manager with 12 years of electrical industry experience. Most recently, he was regional national accounts manager for Lithonia Lighting. Ben Austin has been promoted to corporate IT manager. He previously was IT manger for Leff Akron Electric. Angela Svadba, marketing manager, has added internal marketing to her responsibilities. She will manage employee recruitment, development and retention.

Siemens Energy & Automation Inc. (Alpharetta, Ga.): James S. Vanden Hoek has been promoted to vice president, channel management and development. Previously, he was director of that group. Vanden Hoek joined Siemens Energy & Automation in 2002.