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NSI Industries (Huntersville, NC)
Industry veteran Joe Saganowich (photo above) was appointed as the company’s Electrical Division president. This is a new position created to support the company’s growth in the electrical market through its Bridgeport, Polaris, Tork, Metallics and Remke brands.
Saganowich joins NSI from Ideal Industries, where he held positions as VP of sales and marketing for Ideal’s North American Electrical Group. He also has worked as VP and general manager of SK Hand Tool, a division of Ideal, and was its Southeast regional sales manager for the electrical group. Saganowich, who has a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Pennsylvania State University, has led sales teams for commercial and industrial lubrications groups of Pennzoil-Quaker State Products, SouthChem and SUNOCO.
Cembre Inc. (Edison, NJ)
Joseph Bridges joined the company as Northeast regional sales manager and Jeff Hranicka is now Midwest regional sales manager. Bridges comes to Cembre with more than 20 years of domestic, international and global experience in the industrial automation industry. Hranicka comes to Cembre with more than 20 years of experience leading a global industrial distributor of electrical, MRO and OEM products. Cembre manufactures identification and labeling solutions, terminals, power connectors, cable glands, tools and other products for the electrical, power utility and railroad industries.
DMF Lighting (Carson, CA)
This manufacturer of modular LED downlighting systems announced the appointment of Nathan Hagemeier as the company’s VP of sales. Hagemeier will develop and execute sales strategies to drive continued growth across the commercial and industrial segments of the organization. Hagemeier’s most recent positions include managing director for Lutron Electronics’ Europe and Africa division. He was previously was the company’s director of sales operations overseeing all North American sales. Hagemeier also served as vice president of Lonestar Electric Supply, Houston.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management from the University of Florida Warrington College of Business. He also attended The University of Chicago Booth School of Business where he completed the sales management program. Prior to his tenure in the electrical industry, Hagemeier served as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army and served two tours in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Hagemeier will reside in Austin, TX.
Kichler Lighting (Solon, OH)
Emily Anthony and Brian Harvanec joined the company’s landscape lighting team. As channel marketing manager for the landscape division, Anthony will manage the company’s professional landscape product portfolio by generating strategic brand development activities. Anthony has a history of strategic brand development for companies like Fresh Mark, Barnes & Noble and Shearer’s Foods.
Harvanec joins the Kichler Lighting landscape team as senior product manager, where he will lead product marketing activities for new product introductions. Harvanec brings more than 20 years of product management and marketing experience to Kichler Lighting.
Affiliated Distributors (Wayne, PA)
Karen Baker will be joining Affiliated Distributors as president of its U.S. Electrical Division. Baker, Horizon Solutions’ former COO, led several strategic functions and held multiple positions with increasing responsibilities throughout her 25 years in the organization. As an industry veteran in the electrical space and former AD member, the AD press release said she is well positioned to help AD expand this segment of the business and accelerate growth.
OBITUARY
Herb Vollrath Kohler, Jr., executive chairman of Kohler Co., passed away on Sept. 3 at 83. The company sells generators and engines and residential lighting products in addition to its broad line of kitchen and bath products. Kohler’s grandfather, John Michael Kohler, founded the company.
The National Kitchen and Bath Hall of Fame inducted Kohler in its founding year of 1989, followed by the National Housing Hall of Fame in 1993. Ernst & Young named him National Entrepreneur of the Year in Manufacturing in 2002, and Junior Achievement inducted him into its U.S. Business Hall of Fame in 2006. Golf enthusiasts may also know Kohler as the developer of the Whistling Straits golf course in Sheboygan, WI, where the Ryder Cup was held in 2021.