Leviton (Melville, NY): One of the most familiar faces in the electrical market over the past few decades, Bill Marshall, senior VP of distribution sales and marketing, is retiring on Dec. 31. He has served the lighting, electrical and data communications industries in various sales and marketing roles for more than four decades, including the last 26 years with Leviton.
Over the years, Marshall has received several prestigious industry awards, including the Edison Reports Lifetime Achievement Award, presented annually to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the lighting industry over their careers, and the National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED) Associate Award for his efforts on behalf of the electrical distribution industry and NAED.
Additionally, Randy Mortensen was hired to serve as Leviton’s new senior VP of global distribution sales and marketing. In this newly created position, Mortensen will be responsible for the company’s U.S. distribution channel, all international sales and the e-business channel.
Mortensen brings more than 25 years of experience in the electrical and network solutions industries. Most recently, he held several senior executive positions at Anixter International, where he was responsible for technology strategy, global marketing solutions, network solutions marketing and supplier relations.
G&G Industrial Lighting (Clifton Park, NY): Chris Carpenter and Konner Kappelman have joined the team as regional sales managers. With its team’s expansion, G&G aims to penetrate markets such as auto wash, food processing, transit, automotive services and industrial applications.
Carpenter most recently served as regional sales manager for Dialight, with a focus on providing LED lighting to heavy industrial and hazardous locations customers. Kappelman comes to G&G with a background as a lighting controls specialist for The Foley Group, a lighting-focused manufacturers’ rep agency. Their knowledge base and history servicing customers similar to G&G’s target market will be beneficial in propelling the G&G brand forward.
Turtle & Hughes (Linden, NJ): The company promoted three of its branch managers to VP — Brian Fitzgerald, Jeff Smith and John Donohue. Fitzgerald joined Turtle & Hughes in 2008. He manages one the company’s largest electrical distribution branches in Bridgewater, NJ, as well as the company’s New York City location. In addition, he directs the company’s Data Communications specialty group, which provides network design, architecture and support. In his first five years managing the New York City location, he doubled sales. Under his leadership, the Bridgewater branch has experienced +15% sales growth over the last five years with significant growth at its busy counter. Fitzgerald is also leading the company’s CRM integration.
Jeff Smith was named branch manager of the Hauppauge, NY, location in 2019. In addition to maintaining all of his original sales accounts, he also co-manages the company’s New York lighting department. Smith joined Turtle & Hughes following the company’s acquisition of Mid-Island Electrical Supply in 2013, where he worked for 10 years and served in an outside sales role. Previously, he spent five years at Graybar. He started his career as an electrician for IBEW Local 25.
Donohue joined Turtle & Hughes in 2015 as Levittown, NY, sales manager and was named branch manager in 2016. He had previously spent over a decade in outside sales at Valley Power Lighting Center and Electric Supply, where he rose to VP.
Sonepar USA (Charleston, SC): Vallen a subsidiary of the Sonepar Group, announced that Jim Brzezinski has been named VP Finance. Brzezinski will be responsible for leadership, strategy and oversight of Vallen’s finance team and operations. With over 30 years of experience, he is well-versed in leading finance organizations and providing business partnership in distribution and supply chain businesses.
Cerrrowire (Hartselle, AL): Darrin Tyre is the company’s new director of human resources. With more than 20 years of human resources management experience, Tyre brings to the position a strong understanding of HR in the manufacturing environment. Previously, he served as the regional human resources manager for West Fraser Lumber Manufacturing; senior employee relations specialist for Hino Motors Manufacturing; chief human resources officer for Support Solutions; and manager of human resources at MINACT.
Omni Cable LLC (OmniCable) (West Chester, PA): Gus White was promoted to Atlanta regional manager. In this role, he will manage the day-to-day operations and leadership of OmniCable’s Atlanta branch, which services electrical distributors in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, and western Tennessee. White brings more than 10 years of electrical distribution experience and has held several positions at OmniCable, most recently Atlanta sales manager. “Gus’ exceptional sales skills, customer and vendor relationship strategies, and peer development make him an excellent fit for the Atlanta regional manager,” said Bryan Dabruzzi, OmniCable’s Eastern regional VP.
OBITUARIES
Allen Ray, best known for his work with Trade Service Corp., consulting with David Gordon’s Channel Marketing Group, articles in Electrical Wholesaling and love for his alma mater, Texas A&M University, passed away on Feb. 14 at the age of 81. Gordon said in his Electrical Trends blog that Ray retired from the industry in July 2016 to spend more time with his wife Carole, whom he called “his partner and best buddy.” Ray helped many companies with his expertise in pricing and profitability and operational improvement strategies, and used this insight to co-found Electrical Trends and work with Gordon at Channel Marketing Group.
Donald Courtney, a member of the Encore Wire Corp.’s board of directors since 1989, McKinney, TX, passed away recently. He served on various board committees, including the audit, governance and compensation committees.