Appleton/Emerson (Rosemont, IL)
Appleton Group, an electrical products division of Emerson with brands including Appleton, O-Z/Gedney, EasyHeat and SolaHD, promoted Ty'Nya Larry to manager of Marketing Communications, effective immediately. Larry brings a proven track record of cross-functional marketing leadership and technical acumen to the role. Over the past four years as product marketing manager, she has delivered measurable success at the critical intersection of product management, project management, and product marketing — elevating brand performance for EasyHeat and Nelson electric heat tracing systems.
"Ty'Nya's combination of engineering expertise and marketing excellence makes her ideally suited to lead our marketing communications strategies," said Harish Shinde, president of Appleton Group, in the press release. "Her ability to translate complex technical solutions into compelling market narratives has consistently delivered results, and we're confident she'll drive continued innovation in how we connect with our customers and stakeholders."
In her expanded role, Larry will lead the development and execute comprehensive strategies to shape perception and influence of Appleton Group brands, orchestrating integrated campaigns across advertising, public relations, digital channels and events. She will ensure consistent messaging and brand voice across all touchpoints while leading the marketing communications team and delivering data-driven campaign performance insights to executive leadership.
Prior to her product marketing manager role, she served as an analyst at Emerson, where she leveraged customer data analytics to define priorities and scope for mission-critical digital tools. Her professional experience also includes positions at Rockwell Automation, ComEd, and McCormick & Co.
A graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering, Larry also studied at Universidad Pontificia Comillas in Madrid, Spain — bringing a global perspective to her strategic approach. She is currently an MBA candidate at the University of Illinois Chicago.
Champion Fiberglass (Houston, TX)
Matt Fredericks, Champion’s VP of Sales & Marketing, has been elected as an associate director to the board of directors of the Power & Communications Contractors Association (PCCA).
The PCCA represents leading contractors and associate members across the power and communications infrastructure industries, providing advocacy, education and collaboration opportunities that strengthen the power and communications construction community. Fredericks’ election to the board reflects both his individual leadership within the industry and the continued commitment of Champion Fiberglass in supporting the contractors and partners who build and maintain critical power and communications networks.
As associate director, Fredericks will contribute to strategic initiatives that elevate the interests of contractors and associate members, promote innovation across the sector and encourage collaboration between manufacturers, suppliers, and contractors. His role will focus on helping guide industry discussions around infrastructure development, workforce engagement and the evolving needs of power and communications contractors nationwide.
“Being elected to serve on the PCCA Board is an honor,” said Fredericks in the press release. “The contractors who make up this organization are responsible for building and maintaining the backbone of our nation’s power and communications systems. I look forward to working with the board and membership to help champion the industry and professionals who make these projects possible.”
Champion has long supported contractor organizations and industry partnerships that promote safety, performance and innovation in electrical infrastructure. Fredericks’ appointment reinforces the company’s commitment to engaging with organizations that help shape the future of the industry.
Classic Wire & Cable (CWC) (Miami, FL)
Mark Norman was appointed regional sales manager – Southeast. In this role, he will oversee sales and business development across the southeastern United States, supporting distributor partners and sales representatives throughout the region. His responsibilities will include expanding market opportunities, strengthening relationships with key distributor accounts, and leading regional sales initiatives that align with Classic’s continued growth strategy.
He will work closely with Classic’s internal teams and rep agencies to drive new business, support product training and provide market insight that helps distributors and contractors succeed. Norman will also collaborate with inside sales and operations to ensure customers receive responsive service and dependable delivery they expect from Classic.
Winsupply (Dayton, OH)
The company hired CP Ryan as its director of Training. In this role, Ryan will lead and shape training programs for over 9,000 employees at local companies and service companies. Ryan joins Winsupply from the role of senior director of Member Programs at the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW). Since 2022, She designed an education and training portfolio serving 250 distribution companies across the country.
Graybar Electric Co. (St. Louis, MO)
The company announced that Najam Chohan has been promoted to VP - Strategic Pricing, and Paul Ferguson has been named VP - Shared Services.
Chohan joined Graybar in 1998 and most recently served as director - Finance in the company's California district. In his new role, he leads Graybar's company-wide pricing strategy, using data–driven insights and advanced technology to support profitable growth and meet customer needs. Chohan holds a bachelor's degree in finance from Tulane University and an MBA in finance from Bentley University.
Ferguson joins Graybar from Emerson, where he worked for 15 years, most recently as VP - Global Financial and Business Services. In his new role, he leads Graybar's Shared Services organization, focusing on operational excellence, streamlined processes and expanded use of AI and technology to deliver efficient, high–quality services. Ferguson holds a bachelor's degree in accounting and business administration from Carthage College and is a Certified Public Accountant.
Franklin Electric (Fort Wayne, IN)
Bryan Duffy is now senior business unit manager for Industrial Distribution at Franklin Electric. The company produces and markets systems and components for the movement of water and energy. He will set the strategic vision for the segment, leading all commercial activities and supporting the needs and growth of the company’s customers.
With nearly three decades of experience in the pumping industry, Duffy’s expertise spans a range of industrial markets, including municipal water and wastewater, industrial and process water, commercial HVAC and construction dewatering. He previously served in business development and management roles at Franklin Electric, where he was responsible for building the company’s industrial vertical turbine business.
TestEquity (Sauerlach, Germany)
The company, a leading provider of test and measurement (T&M) solutions, electronics production supplies and value-added services, has announced the appointment of Jamie Furness as VP of Europe in an effort to drive its next phase of growth across the region.
With more than 20 years of experience in the electronic components industry, Furness brings extensive expertise in distribution, supplier engagement and scaling operations across EMEA and globally. In his new role, he will lead Test Equity’s European expansion strategy, focusing on building high-performing, cross-functional teams, strengthening supplier partnerships and enhancing the value delivered to customers across the T&M landscape.
His appointment is already delivering impact, with early progress in strengthening key supplier relationships, including re-establishing engagement with leading partners. This momentum reflects Furness' proven ability to unlock growth through collaboration and strategic alignment across the supply chain.
Furness has held senior leadership roles managing e-commerce and T&M; at Schaffner, serving as Distribution sales manager for EMEA (EMC/RF); TE Connectivity, where he contributed to globalization initiatives; and Anderson Power, where he led a European sales organization.
TestEquity says its European platform has been strengthened through key acquisitions, including TestEquity GmbH (formerly Instrumex) in Dec. 2022 and MCS Test Equipment in the UK in July 2021. Under Furness' leadership, the company says these capabilities will be further integrated to create a more connected, agile organization, enabling closer collaboration between commercial, technical and operational teams across the UK and Europe.