People On the Move: October 3, 2025 Update
National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) (Arlington, VA)
The association announced the recipients of its most prestigious annual awards, honoring leaders and innovators whose contributions are shaping the future of the electrical manufacturing industry. The awards will be presented at NEMA’s annual meeting in Palm Beach, FL, in November.
NEMA’s top honor, the Bernard H. Falk Award, recognizes a senior business leader for outstanding lifetime achievement in the electroindustry. The 2025 Falk Award will be presented to John Selldorff, former CEO, Legrand North and Central America (In photo). With 22 years of leadership both at Legrand and on the NEMA board of directors, Selldorff is known for his strategic insight, tenacity and dedication to excellence in the electrical industry.
The Kite & Key Award honors individuals who have advanced the electrical industry through their active and sustained leadership in NEMA’s activities. The 2025 Kite & Key Award will be presented to:
Steve Campolo, Leviton Manufacturing Co. VP, Codes, Standards & Certification, for his contributions and commitment to the industry through his active leadership in code development, design and development of both ground-fault and arc-fault circuit interrupters and unwavering commitment to electrical safety, innovation and standards development.
Michael O’Boyle, Signify North America Corp., manager, Technical Policy, for the vital role he has played in advancing technical standards and ensuring U.S. leadership in global lighting safety and innovation.
Paul Orr, NEMA technical fellow, Grid, for his more than 35 years of dedication to advancing the integrity, consistency, and quality of electrical grid equipment. Orr is recognized for his record of ensuring that NEMA member positions are represented with precision and credibility across numerous domestic and international standards bodies; for shaping NEMA’s approach to harmonization and for ensuring U.S. leadership; and alignment with international and regional standards.
The Emerging Leader Award recognizes an individual with fewer than 10 years of experience in the industry who has distinguished themselves through impactful work in their company and with NEMA. This year’s Emerging Leader Award will be presented to Nick D’Angelo, director of Public Affairs, Eaton, for his active engagement in NEMA’s public affairs committees, advocacy priorities, policy leadership and support for the electroindustry.
The Illuminations Award for Business Innovation is presented to a NEMA member company with fewer than 500 employees that has demonstrated success through entrepreneurial expertise, application of advanced technology or pioneering innovation. The 2025 Illuminations Award will be presented to SDi LLC for its success in delivering safer, smarter and more efficient solutions that advance the electrical manufacturing industry, specifically in the areas of fire alarm testing, modernized inspection processes and digitization of monitoring practices and devices.
USA Rare Earth (USAR) (Stillwater, OK)
Barbara Humpton is now CEO, succeeding Josh Ballard, effective Oct. 1. Humpton will also serve on USAR’s board of directors. She was previously president and CEO of Siemens USA. Prior to being named president and CEO of Siemens USA in 2018, Humpton served as president and CEO of Siemens Government Technologies, responsible for implementing Siemens products and services for federal government agencies and departments. Before joining Siemens in 2011, Humpton served as a VP at Booz Allen Hamilton and was a VP and director at Lockheed Martin.
“Today marks a pivotal moment for USAR as Barbara becomes our next CEO,” said Michael Blitzer, chairman of USA Rare Earth, in the press release. “Barbara is a transformational and visionary leader who joins USAR at a time of incredible opportunity and growth. In her 14 years at Siemens, most recently as CEO of Siemens USA, she developed organic initiatives and integrated numerous large acquisitions to grow it into one of North America’s largest and most recognizable industrial companies with more than $20 billion of revenues.”
USA Rare Earth is developing a rare-earth magnet manufacturing plant in Stillwater, and intends to establish domestic rare earth and critical minerals supply, extraction and processing capabilities to both supply its magnet manufacturing plant and market surplus materials to third parties. Rare-earth magnets are critical to various business sectors and industries, including the defense, automotive, aviation, industrial, AI, robotics, medical and consumer electronics industries, among others.
St. Louis Lighting Group (SLLG) (St. Louis, MO)
Effective Jan. 1, 2026, Chris Burke will become co-principal alongside Victor Sandhage, overseeing Contractor-Distributor Sales while Sandhage continues to lead the Specification sales team. At year’s end, the company will celebrate the retirement of Daren and Valerie Boring, who together represent nearly 70 years in the lighting industry. They purchased the agency 14 years ago with Victor Sandhage.
In other company news, Rich Fisher is now a senior outside spec salesperson. He was previously with ERCO and RBLD and contributed to award-winning lighting projects including the YAS Hotel in Abu Dhabi; the Utah State Capitol building in Salt Lake City, UT; and St. Louis’ Gateway Arch National Park and Memorial.
Shannon Guinn has also joined the firm in outside spec sales and brings local market experience and premier decorative lighting expertise. Melissa Pfeifer joined SLLG as operations manager, bringing more than 20 years of experience, most recently with Mercy Healthcare. She will work with the customer service and project pricing teams.