People

Oct. 1, 2008
Who's on the move in the electrical industry.

Sonepar USA (Philadelphia): Paul Klasing has been named president of Sonepar USA, effective Jan. 1, 2009. Klasing succeeds Tony Burr, who has been appointed to a new global role focusing on strategic initiatives for the Sonepar Group. Klasing joined Sonepar on Sept. 1, 2008. Prior to Sonepar, Klasing was executive vice president, Stores, at Advance Auto Parts, where he worked for 13 years, leading 3,000 company-owned retail store operations in the U.S. His experience in the automotive industry gave Klasing strong expertise in merchandising and store operations. Burr has been asked to support group activities related to strategic and synergy opportunities among Sonepar's businesses around the world. Burr will continue to reside in Philadelphia.

Capital Lighting & Supply, a subsidiary of Sonepar (Upper Marlboro, Md.): Alan Rosenfeld has been appointed executive vice president and chief operating officer for the company. Rosenfeld comes to CLS with more than 25 years of experience in the electrical distribution industry. He has held numerous positions during his career and most recently served as president, West Coast Division, for Rexel.

Shat-R-Shield (Salisbury, N.C.): George Mabin has joined the company as vice president of sales and marketing. In his new role, Mabin will direct the company's sales activity in North America, overseeing national accounts, national distribution, regional managers, manufacturers' representatives and inside sales. He will also be responsible for all marketing activities and communications, and work on matters of corporate business development. Prior to Shat-R-Shield, Mabin spent the past six years at Westinghouse Lighting Corp. and recently held the position of division general manager, Lamps. Mabin's career also includes 15 years with Philips Lighting Co. in both the Consumer and Professional markets where he advanced through positions of increased responsibility.

Precision Lighting (Yorba Linda, Calif.): Lou Preston has been appointed national sales director. Preston will be responsible for continuing efforts to expand the Precision Lighting business base with existing clients, and developing new business via the company's network of agent, distributor and in-house sales efforts. Preston's initial assignment at Precision Lighting was as national director of Hub Services.

The Hite Co. (Altoona, Pa.): T. Scott Lawhead will assume the role of president effective Jan. 1, 2009, as part of a management succession plan. Lawhead is the son-in-law of R. Lee Hite, current president and CEO. Lawhead joined the company in 1998 while completing his master's degree in business administration from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Lawhead's career at The Hite Co. began with a management trainee position, where he moved throughout the company learning all aspects of distributor operations. He was then temporarily assigned to branch manager positions at the company's New Castle and State College, Pa., locations. Additional roles held by Lawhead over the next eight years included director of operations, regional sales manager and his current role of vice president/CFO. He has held volunteer positions including chair of NAED's LEAD committee, and has served on NAED's Eastern Regional Council. Currently, Lawhead is active on several manufacturer advisory boards, IMARK's Credit Committee and NAED's Board of Directors as Finance committee chair. He married Laura Hite in 1997.

The EGS Electrical Group (Rosemont, Ill.): Tom Kobe has been appointed area sales manager for the Southeast region. Most recently a senior marketing representative for Pass & Seymour/Legrand, Kobe will be responsible for the sales activity of EGS brands Appleton, O-Z/Gedney, McGill and SolaHD. His territory includes Georgia, Alabama and Florida.

Sea Gull Lighting (Riverside, N.J.): The company has appointed John Sena national sales manager, and Eric Korn Northeast regional sales manager. Sena, a four-year veteran of the company, has led the Northeast sales region for Sea Gull Lighting. Prior to joining the company, he served as district sales manager for General Electric's Commercial and Industrial Division in New England, following various sales roles within GE. Korn has been with the company for the past five years serving as a district sales manager in the Baltimore/Washington D.C. area. Prior to coming to Sea Gull Lighting, Korn held various sales management roles with Thomas Lighting and Crescent/Stonco Lighting.

Venture Lighting International (Streetsboro, Ohio): Kristen Mallardi and Chris Jaklich have joined the company as regional sales managers. They will work closely with architects, engineers and lighting designers to specify Venture products. Additionally, they will work with fixture companies to specify Venture products in their specific lighting fixtures. Mallardi brings more than 12 years of electrical component and capital equipment sales experience in various account manager positions. Jaklich brings more than five years of direct sales experience and has also served as sales trainer and mentor for new sales representatives. For more than three years, he served as a board member for the Home Builders Association of Greater Cleveland.

W.A.C. Lighting (Garden City, N.J.): Kirby Underwood has been appointed Southeast territory sales manager. Underwood will oversee the activities of all W.A.C. Lighting sales representatives throughout the southeastern region of the U.S. In addition, he will be responsible for working closely with lighting showrooms, electrical distributors and other customers, as well as lighting designers and specifiers in his territory. Prior to joining W.A.C. Lighting, Underwood served as account manager for Hagemeyer North America and vice president of PadgeWood Electric Co.

Murray Feiss Lighting, a Generation Brands Co. (Bronx, N.Y.): Pamela St. Martin has been appointed to the newly created position of vice president of product marketing. Most recently, St. Martin led the sales and marketing efforts of Alexander-John, a division of John-Richard, where she developed the brand's product expansion and sales organization. St. Martin has also held various sales and marketing management positions with Sea Gull Lighting, Kichler Lighting, and Fine Art Lamps.

Fromm Electric Supply (Reading, Pa.): Mike Creegan has been named Northeast Pennsylvania regional manager. With more than three decades in the electrical industry, Creegan will manage Fromm's current neortheast Pennsylvania operations, in addition to developing and implementing growth strategies. Prior to joining Fromm, Creegan held key positions in the local distribution market, as well as regional sales responsibilities with manufacturers. Kevin Dymond has been named branch manager, Mt. Pocono, Pa. Dymond brings over 20 years of electrical distribution background to Fromm, in addition to field experience with a local construction contractor. Nancy Vaccaro has been named director, customer satisfaction. Vaccaro will lead Fromm's initiatives to enhance customer satisfaction. Tammie Kipp has been named chief financial officer. In addition to overseeing Fromm's accounting and credit departments, Kipp will develop and lead strategic initiatives in the areas of asset management and financial performance.

Cree Inc. (Durham, N.C.) Steve Kelley joined the company as executive vice president and chief operating officer. He will be responsible for business development, global manufacturing, technology and administrative operations of the company. Kelley comes to Cree after five years at Texas Instruments, where he served as vice president and general manager of the Standard Linear and Logic Group.