Emerson Electric Co. (St. Louis): David N. Farr, chief executive officer, has been elected chairman of the board. Farr succeeds Charles F. Knight, who retired from the board of directors and was named to the honorary position of chairman emeritus. He had served as chairman since 1974. Farr was elected CEO in October 2000 when Knight stepped down from that position.
National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED, St. Louis): Anita Bauer has been appointed director of marketing and member services. Bauer, who served as NAED regional manager from 1998-2000, brings 17 years of management experience to this position.
Acuity Brands Inc. (Atlanta): Vernon J. Nagel assumed the position of chairman and chief executive officer Sept. 1. Nagel succeeds James S. Balloun, who retired as part of a previously announced succession plan. Nagel joined Acuity Brands in December 2001 as executive vice president and chief financial officer. In January 2004, he was elected vice chairman and chief financial officer and appointed to the board of directors. Karen J. Holcom, vice president and controller, will serve as interim chief financial officer.
Hubbell Inc. (Orange, Conn.): The board of directors has elected Timothy H. Powers as chairman. Powers is also president and chief executive officer of the company. He joined Hubbell's senior management team in 1998 as senior vice president and chief financial officer and was appointed to his current positions and elected a member of the board of directors in July 2001. The preceding chairman of the board, G. J. Ratcliffe, will remain a director to continue his more than 30 years of contributions.
ABB Inc. (New Berlin, Wis.): Richard “Rick” Hepperla has been named senior vice president and general manager of low-voltage drives at ABB Inc., Automation Technologies. Hepperla joins ABB with 23 years of experience in the drives, motors and automation markets.
Omni Cable (West Chester, Pa.): Joining the Denver sales team are Brett Howard and Tim Nommertzheim. Howard transfers from the corporate office after three years in sales. Nommertzheim joined the Denver sales team in January.
NESCO (Canton, Mass.): Dennis A. Todisco Jr., an industry veteran of 18 years, joins the company's executive team as vice president and director of national account sales. He will oversee the national accounts locations in Canton, Mass.; New York; and San Francisco.
Thomas & Betts Corp. (Memphis, Tenn.): T. Kevin Dunnigan will remain nonexecutive chairman of the board for the company until Dec. 31, 2005, on the same terms defined in the existing agreement. The agreement was previously scheduled to expire Dec. 31, 2004.
Stahlin Non-Metallic Enclosures (Belding, Mich.): With more than 20 years of sales experience, Bob VanHoven has been appointed technical sales manager.
Kichler Lighting (Cleveland): Victor Samano joins the company as landscape lighting western regional sales manager. Samano's previous professional experience includes sales management positions with Vista Lighting and C.H. Sales, serving the Southern California irrigation and electrical industries.
Electrical Apparatus Service Association Inc. (EASA, St. Louis): The EASA announced new international officers for the 2004-2005 administrative year. The new officers are: Chairman of the Board Bill Nielsen, Flanders Electric Motor Service of Illinois, Marion, Ill.; Vice-Chairman Brian Gibbon of Ansteee & Ware Ltd., Bristol, England; and Secretary/Treasurer Art Nelson, Electrical Mechanical Services, St. Paul, Minn.
OBITUARIES
Robert “Bob” Wolford, former branch manager for Springfield Electric, Decatur, Ill., died Aug. 21. He was 57 years old. Bob Wolford was vice president of Boland Electric until the sale of the company in 1997 to Springfield Electric and was branch manager of the Decatur, Ill., facility until November 2003. Throughout his career, he was loved and respected by his many customers, suppliers, and especially the Decatur “family” of associates.
He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Ann; his son, Timothy; his daughter, Amy; and two grandchildren.
Leslie “Les” Charters Maltby, 54, Sonoma, Calif., died Sept. 13 in a swimming accident off the coast of Kauai, Hawaii. Maltby, an owner and sales and marketing executive in his family's business, Maltby Electric Supply, based in San Francisco, spent 32 years working in electrical distribution. He is survived by his children, Lauren Maltby and Brett Maltby; mother, Ivy Cardinaux; sister, Jean Maltby; former spouse, Kristina Maltby; and his partner of 10 years, Pam Errandi.
An educational trust for Leslie C. Maltby's children has been established through Bank of America, Sonoma, Calif.