Border States Electric (BSE) (Fargo, N.D.): Aaron Jahner has been named branch manager for BSE's Bismarck, N.D., location. Jahner began working for BSE in 1999 in the Bismarck branch warehouse. He moved to the Sioux Falls, S.D., branch in 2002 as the warehouse supervisor, and returned to the Bismarck branch in 2004 as warehouse supervisor, quotations specialist and as an industrial control product manager. In 2008, Jahner accepted the position of branch manager in Gillette, Wyo.
In other news at BSE, Kelly Rudolf is now IT infrastructure manager. He joined BSE in 2003 and has held positions as an IT tech, senior network engineer and network supervisor.
Generac Power Systems Inc. (Waukesha, Wis.): Duane Nelson has joined the company as V.P. of marketing. In his new role, Nelson will be responsible for leading Generac's global marketing strategy, including branding, market research and marketing communications across all channels. Nelson brings 18 years of marketing expertise to Generac, most recently serving as director of global brand management with Case IH, a manufacturer of agricultural equipment. He has also served on the board of directors of Growth Energy, a group supporting the use of ethanol, and worked for Bombardier Recreational Products and several marketing agencies. Nelson holds bachelor's degrees in finance and economics from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and an M.B.A. from Marquette University.
In other company news, Saul Urrutia has joined the company as vice president of sales-Latin America, to drive its continued investment in that region. Based in Miami, Urrutia has extensive sales experience working in Latin America in the backup power generation industry. Prior to joining Generac, he was director of sales for Latin America at SDMO, and had served as territory manager for Latin America at FG Wilson. Urrutia earned a M.A. degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix.
Fulham Co. Inc. (Los Angeles): Larry Smith has joined the company as V.P. of sales-Renovation Market. He brings more than 25 years of experience in sales and sales management in the lighting industry. Smith most recently held the position of director of sales at Digital Lumensa, a developer of LED lighting systems. He previously held management positions with Cooper Lighting, Acuity Brands Lighting and Amtech Lighting Services and was instrumental in establishing two startups in the energy and lighting renovation market.
Encelium Technologies (Teaneck, N.J.): Rick Schuett has been appointed V.P. of sales. Schuett, who has more than 20 years of sales experience, will manage the company's global sales channels. His appointment comes on the heels of an $11 million financing round led by Siemens Venture Capital (SVC), the corporate venture capital organization of Siemens. In his new role, Schuett will identify and pursue new opportunities for Encelium's Energy Control System (ECS). Utilizing the power of addressable networking technology, in conjunction with advanced control hardware and software, ECS has been proven to secure lighting energy savings of 50 to 75 percent in a wide range of commercial applications.
National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED) (St. Louis): David M. Crum, vice president of sales and marketing, Crum Electric Supply Co. Inc., Casper, Wyo., has been elected as the incoming Western Region vice president-elect to serve as vice president for 2012-2013. Crum has been in the industry for 14 years and has served on NAED's Western Region Council since 2004. He is a graduate of the University of Wyoming, with a B.S. in electrical engineering and a M.S. in finance.
Graybar Electric Co. (St. Louis): Following the retirement of company veteran Richard Offenbacher, director and senior vice president, who plans to retire effective April 1 after nearly 43 years with the company, Graybar appointed Bob Lyons to the position of senior vice president, U.S. business, effective April 1. Both Offenbacher and Lyons serve on Graybar's Board of Directors. A Graybar veteran of nearly 32 years, Lyons currently serves as district vice president of Graybar's Tampa district. In his new assignment he will oversee Graybar's U.S. field organization.
In other news at the company, Bob Siegel is now V.P., product management. This appointment follows the recent retirement of Bruce Judkins as V.P., electrical. Siegel has been with Graybar for nearly 27 years, including positions in customer service, sales, purchasing, information technology and product management, most recently serving as a senior national product manager at Graybar's corporate headquarters. The company is also expanding the roles of two current executives. Bill Mansfield, formerly V.P., industrial, will now serve as V.P., industrial and commercial. Steve Stone, formerly V.P., comm/data, has been named V.P., electrical construction and comm/data, which includes all comm/data and utility customers.
Cooper Bussmann (St. Louis): Vince Saporita, V.P. of technical sales, has been named both a 2011 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Fellow and a National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) 2010 Kite and Key Award winner. A 36-year Bussmann veteran, Saporita serves as vice chair of NEMA's Codes and Standards Committee and chair of several other committees.
Saporita also participates in the Industrial Control Section and Low Voltage Distribution Equipment switch and panelboard sections and acts as NEMA's representative on NFPA 70E, the National Fire Protection Association Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace. He represents the fuse industry on National Electrical Code Panels 10 and 11, and is a registered Professional Engineer in Illinois, has authored numerous IEEE and technical trade magazine articles, and was instrumental in the development of “IEEE 1584 Guide for Performing Arc Flash Hazard Calculations.” He earned his BSEE from the University of Missouri-Rolla and an MBA from Lindenwood College, Saint Charles, Mo.
Nora Lighting (Commerce, Calif.): Doug Boughton has joined the company as national accounts sales manager. Boughton, who brings more than 30 years of lighting experience to the position, will work with Nora national account distributors and customers nationwide. He worked with Hubbell Lighting for more than nine years as a national accounts sales manager and was also previously affiliated with a major lighting rep agency in Philadelphia.
CalConduit/Calpipe Industries (Downey, Calif.): Michael Lang has been hired as sales manager. He comes to CalConduit from JM Eagle and has more than 10 years of experience in the electrical industry.
Eck Supply Co. (Richmond, Va.): Keith Steger, formerly executive V.P. and director of corporate operations, was promoted to president, effective Jan. 3. He started with Eck Supply in 1977.