Milbank Manufacturing (Kansas City, MO)
The company announced a leadership transition as part of its long-term succession plan approved by family ownership and the board of directors. Brad Skinner will transition from the role of president and continue to serve as chief executive officer. Chris Buelow (in photo above) has been appointed president and will assume responsibility for the company’s day-to-day operations.
Skinner marks 10 years as CEO this March and has dedicated nearly 40 years to Milbank. He has held multiple leadership roles across manufacturing and sales, including plant manager, general manager, vice president of sales and marketing and chief sales officer. During his tenure, Skinner guided the company through multiple growth cycles while strengthening its reputation for quality, reliability and customer trust.
“Brad’s leadership has been instrumental in building a strong, values-driven organization while positioning Milbank for long-term success,” said Katrina Henke, chair of the board and a third-generation family owner, in the press release. “This transition reflects thoughtful succession planning and our commitment to stewarding the business for future generations while maintaining continuity for our customers and partners.”
Buelow brings 14 years of experience at Milbank and nearly 20 years in the electrical industry to the role. He joined the company in 2009 and has held leadership positions including general manager, vice president of sales and marketing and most recently senior VP of growth and revenue. In 2021, he served as an executive at a large regional electrical distributor before returning to Milbank in 2024.
As president, Buelow will oversee sales, manufacturing, supply chain, engineering and data and business intelligence. He has worked closely with Skinner as part of the succession plan to ensure a seamless transition and continued alignment with the company’s long-term strategy.
Founded in 1927, Milbank is a third-generation, family-owned manufacturer headquartered in Kansas City. The company will mark its 100th anniversary in 2027.
United Electric Supply Inc. (Wilmington, DE)
George Vorwick, CEO will be retiring after 47 years of service to the company and electrical industry. Tony Buonocore, the company’s president, will become CEO on May 1. According to the press release, this transition reflects United’s continued focus on disciplined planning, stability, and leadership development.
The release said that throughout his career, Vorwick built a reputation as a respected leader known for integrity, thoughtful debate and strong values rooted in respect and accountability. He began his career by sweeping a parking lot, but quickly advanced into sales. Vorwick held many roles with increasing responsibility, ultimately becoming United’s CEO in 2009. His leadership drove significant growth, particularly through the expansion of service-based revenue, improved operational efficiency and strategic acquisitions.
In addition to his professional accomplishments, Vorwick has been an passionate advocate for the electrical industry, volunteering his time on numerous boards and committees throughout the channel. His contributions have been widely recognized, and he was awarded NAED’s Arthur W. Hooper Award in 2024, one of the industry’s highest honors.
Kovalsky-Carr (KC) (Rochester, NY)
Matt Winters, president, will now oversee the strategic direction and daily operations of Kovalsky-Carr, continuing to strengthen customer relationships and drive growth across the region. His promotion marks a historic milestone as he becomes the first president since the company transitioned from family-owned to employee-owned and merged with United Electric Supply Inc. in 2024. He joined Kovalsky-Carr in 2013 as a project manager and has steadily advanced through roles of increasing responsibility.
Kevin Sweeney, executive product group manager, Pipe & Wire, remains an integral part of the company’s continued success. The press release said he has played a significant role in the organization’s growth through his long-standing contributions to the sales team and deep product expertise over the past 24 years at KC.
These leadership changes follow the retirement of Larry Kovalsky, former principal and executive VP, and the continued leadership contributions of Arnold Kovalsky, former principal and president, who remains actively involved in supporting the organization and advancing strategic initiatives.
Border States (Fargo, ND)
Richelle Bishoff is now Industrial Solutions. She succeeds Shane Kerska in the role ahead of Kerska’s planned retirement March 31, 2026.
In her new role, Bishoff will lead the development and execution of Border States’ industrial strategy, driving growth in the segment through innovative services and solutions for industrial customers.
She has been an employee-owner at Border States for more than 15 years, holding multiple supply chain roles across inventory, sourcing and costing functions, with leadership and experience in both operational and customer-facing capacities. Most recently, she served as VP-Procurement and currently serves as deputy chair for the organization’s Leadership Council.
Wheatland Tube / Zekelman (Wheatland, PA)
As VP of Electrical Sales, Tom Bisson will oversee all aspects of sales performance, revenue growth, commercial strategy and market expansion for the Wheatland Tube brand of electrical products in the United States and Canada.
He brings more than 25 years of leadership experience in manufacturing and electrical distribution, with a proven track record of building high-performing teams, driving strategic growth and expanding national account relationships. Most recently, Bisson served as vice president-National Sales at OmniCable, where he led national accounts and commodity sales, including the launch of a new commodity products platform projected to exceed $145 million in annual sales.
Prior to OmniCable, Bisson spent more than a decade with Prysmian Group (formerly General Cable) as VP-Sales for the Electrical Distribution Channel, leading acquisition integrations and managing a nationwide sales organization. Earlier in his career, he held regional and national leadership roles with ILSCO and Allied Group Sales.