Electrical Equipment Co. (Richmond, Va.): Mark Holmes has been promoted to senior V.P. of sales and marketing for the organization's Electrical Supplies Division. Holmes has a B.S. in electrical engineering. Before coming to Electrical Equipment Co., he worked Weyerhaeuser Co. as a systems specialist.
Staco Energy Products Co. (Dayton, Ohio): Michael Lewis has joined the company as Central regional manager. Based in the St. Louis area, Lewis brings more than 20 years of experience in the power quality industry. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois-Springfield with a B.A. in Accountancy. Prior to joining Staco, Lewis was as a regional sales manager for Electrical South and a strategic account manager for MGE UPS Systems.
Regal Beloit Corp. (Beloit, Wis.): Jonathan Schlemmer will assume the role of COO effective May. He is currently the company's Senior V.P.-Asia Pacific, a position he has held since Jan. 2010. Prior to that, Schlemmer served as the company's V.P.-technology since 2005. Before joining Regal Beloit, he worked for GE in its electric motors business in a variety of roles including quality, Six Sigma and engineering. Schlemmer is a certified Six Sigma Master Blackbelt and has a B.S. degree in electrical engineering from Purdue University.
Connexion (Buffalo Grove, Ill): The company has added four new employees to its team: Gino Frigo, construction business leader, Eric Almeroth, inside sales, Bill Halloran, construction and energy outside sales, and Kendra Frigo, information technology and administration support. In other news, Connexion is opening a sales office in Lockport, Ill., and will relocate its headquarters to a larger facility in Buffalo Grove later in 2011's second quarter.
Knipex-Tools (Arlington Heights, Ill.): Todd Shumate has been promoted to North America sales manager and will have responsibility for all of Canada as well as management of the wholesale-distribution channel throughout North America. Prior to joining Knipex in Dec. 2008, Shumate was regional sales manager at Minerallac/Cully, where he managed independent representative agencies and developed territory sales goals and objectives to maximize market penetration. He also held regional sales manager roles at Progress Lighting/Hubbell Lighting and Klein Tools, Inc., as well as managerial positions at Dalloz Safety and Chase Ergonomics Inc.
Bulbrite Inc. (Moonachie, N.J.): Brian Creeley has been appointed director of residential sales after serving as the company's national sales manager for the past seven years. In his new position, Creeley will oversee the direction and growth of Bulbrite's residential lighting business and will guide and support the company's team of sales agencies throughout the U.S. and Canada. Prior to joining Bulbrite, Creeley served several positions, from warehouse assistant to general manager, for the Paramus, N.J.-based Lighting Superstore. He is a graduate of Rutgers University.
Fulham Co. Inc. (Hawthorne, Calif.): Jay Matsueda is now director of marketing and will be responsible for product launches, sales support, public relations, promotions, collateral development, packaging enhancements, research and related marketing and advertising functions. His lighting market experience includes marketing positions with Greenlite, Feit and Energetic, and his prior agency experience includes account supervision with Miller Group, Dentsu and Cimarron. Matsueda holds a degree from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School.
Border States Electric (BSE) (Fargo, N.D.): Ismael Carbajal has been named branch operations manager for the company's Brownsville, Texas, location. He joined BSE in 2010 as a utility customer service representative in BSE's Amarillo branch. Before joining BSE, he worked for Texas Electric Cooperatives in Lubbock, Texas.
National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED) (St. Louis Mo.): The following industry leaders were honored at the NAED Leadership Summit: John Duda, retired CEO and chairman, Butler Supply Company, Fenton, Mo., received NAED's highest honor, the 2011 Arthur W. Hooper Achievement Award; Glenn Goedecke, executive vice president, sales and marketing, Mayer Electric Supply, Birmingham, Ala., was the recipient of the 2011 NAED Distributor Distinguished Service Award; Delton Nickel, retired president of Pentair's Technical Products Group, was honored with the Associate Service Award; and RAB Lighting received the 2011 NAED Industry Award of Merit. This award is presented in recognition of a company or individual in the electrical manufacturing business that has been exceptionally active in promoting and supporting the wholesale electrical distribution industry. RAB Lighting received the award for their involvement and commitment to both NAED and the industry.
Houston Wire & Cable (HWCC) (Houston): Southern Wire, a division of Houston Wire & Cable Co. (HWCC), has appointed Chris Sokoll president. A 21-year HWCC veteran, Sokoll has worked as an inside salesperson, branch manager, regional manager and regional V.P. for HWCC before being appointed Southern Wire's president. He holds a Bachelor's of professional studies degree in Organizational Leadership from Roosevelt University and a Certificate in Executive Finance from the University of Chicago.
Reel-O-Matic (Oklahoma City, Okla.): Bill Schmerheim has been appointed V.P. of sales. Previously employed by WEMCO, Schmerheim has 15 years of experience helping distributors with their reel and cable handling needs.
Allied Wire & Cable (Collegeville, Pa.): Skip Bjorkman is now sales manager of the company's Las Vegas facility. A 30-year veteran of the wire and cable business, Bjorkman previously worked for Anixter and Priority Wire and Cable. He opened Priority Wire and Cable's branches in Duluth, Minn., and Las Vegas.
Landis+Gyr Metering (Lafayette, Ind.): Chris Clark has been named regional sales manager for the Texas/Oklahoma region for Landis+Gyr metering products. Chris will oversee sales activity for several major accounts and distributor markets. Clark has significant experience in the electric utility industry and has held several leadership positions, most recently as the director of sales - western region for Salisbury. He has also served as western utility sales manager for Acuity Lighting. He will be relocating to Texas in the near future.