People

June 1, 2009
Promotions and new appointments in the electrical industry

Milbank Manufacturing Co. (Kansas City, Mo.): Scott Ottenberg has joined Milbank Manufacturing Co. as vice president of sales and marketing. He has over 25 years of experience in the electrical industry with Cooper Industries, most recently as regional vice president. In this new role, he will oversee the company's global sales and marketing activities and will actively seek new business development and uncover emerging market opportunities. Don Long has been promoted to director of sales from regional sales manager for the company. Don has been with Milbank Manufacturing for seven years and has served as national accounts manager, director of marketing and general manager of the company's Commercial Meter Pedestal division during his tenure. Additionally, Brad Skinner has been named general manager of Milbank Manufacturing's Commercial and Industrial Products Group. He has been with Milbank Manufacturing for 23 years. This new group combines the electrical enclosure and commercial meter pedestals groups and will provide Milbank with a focused approach to these market segments.

Luminus Devices (Billerica, Mass.): Keith Ward is now president, CEO and a member of the board of directors for Luminus Devices, a manufacturer of LEDs. Prior to joining Luminus Devices, Ward was president and COO of EYE Lighting International of North America. He has also held executive posts with GE, where he was responsible for developing global synergy in specialty lighting products for niche segments and was managing director, GE Lighting of India. He has an M.B.A. from John Carroll University of Cleveland. In other news at the company, Udi Meirav, who has served Luminus Devices as CEO since 2003, is now executive vice-chairman of the board of directors.

WinWholesale, (Dayton, Ohio): Monte Salsman, chief operating officer for WinWholesale Inc., has assumed an expanded role as COO for the Noland Co. subsidiary. The move will give Noland a management structure similar to the Win companies. Jean Preston, who had been Noland's chief operating officer since 2005, has been appointed an area leader to oversee Noland locations in the northern part of its market in the Southeast. He also will oversee three Noland locations serving specialized markets.

Robert A. Amey Co., (Portland, Ore.): Jay Poe has been promoted to vice president of sales. Before this promotion, he led Amey Co.'s Data/Voice division. In this newly created position, Poe will manage the daily activities as well as development of the outside sales team and assist in product training and account contact across the entire Amey Co. sales geography.

United Electric Supply (Wilmington, Del.): Patrick Melvin is now the company's Pennsylvania/New Jersey area regional sales manager. He comes to United Electric Supply with 17 years of electrical equipment experience, including positions with Orbit Manufacturing, General Electric and, most recently, as the Philadelphia area sales manager for Square D.

Lectrus Corp. (Chattanooga, Tenn.) (formerly Metal Systems and MSI Equipment Centers): Rob Deck has joined the company as executive vice president of operations and Larry Woolums is now serving as executive vice president of sales. Deck is responsible for all manufacturing, quality, purchasing and engineering activities, while Woolums is responsible for all sales and estimating functions throughout the company. Deck previously worked in manufacturing leadership positions at Ingersoll-Rand, Carrier and SPX. Woolums comes from a long tenure at the Crouse-Hinds division of Cooper Industries. Lectrus is an electrical systems integrator with 400 employees in Chattanooga and Houston that focuses on engineering and building turn-key equipment centers, operator centers and custom enclosures that protect complex electrical systems in various business sectors, including oil and gas, power, hydro and industrial.

General Cable Corp. (Highland Heights, Ky.): Thomas Bisson has been promoted to vice president of sales, Electrical Distribution, and Jeffrey Later has been promoted to vice president of sales, Electronics. Bisson and Later report directly to Lance Bates, vice president, U.S. Sales. Bisson has also worked for Allied Group Sales, an independent manufacturers' rep, and ILSCO. He joined General Cable as the director of sales, Northeast Territory, in 2005. Later has over 30 years of experience in sales and marketing leadership in the wire and cable industry. He began his career in 1979 with Belden and joined General Cable in 2001 as director of sales and marketing, Electronic Products.

Ideal Electrical Supply Corp., (Washington, D.C.): Levi Foster has joined the company as an equity partner and has been appointed chief operating officer. He will be responsible for managing the company's day-to-day operations. He has 16 years of electrical industry experience and was previously director of the Power Protection business unit for Schneider Electric.

Brook Electrical Distribution Co./ Sonepar USA, (Addison, Ill.): Gino Frigo, a 15-year industry veteran, has been promoted to vice president of sales. He's been with Brook since 2001.

Traxon Technologies (New York): Monte Spencer has been named director of North America sales for e:cue lighting control products and systems. The company manufactures user terminals, system engines, interfaces and software technology for lighting and media control solutions.

McNaughton-McKay (Madison Heights, Mich.): Ray Smith, the company's Michigan regional lighting supervisor, has become a LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Accredited Professional. His primary responsibilities for McNaughton-McKay include developing lighting marketing strategies for the company's locations in Ann Arbor, Flint and Madison Heights, Mich. Smith has 23 years of experience in the electrical distribution and manufacturing sector and holds a MBA from Wayne State University. With Smith's new accreditation, McNaughton-McKay looks to enhance its service offerings by meeting the growing need for energy-efficient and sustainable technologies for all of its clients.

Robroy Industries Conduit Division (Gilmer, Texas): Laurie Ivy has assumed a new role within the company's purchasing group as scheduler/buyer/expeditor. She has also worked with the company as a shipping coordinator and an inside sales representative.

North Central Electrical Manufacturers Club (Bloomington, Minn.): Jeff Starkman, president, ElectroTech Inc., Minneapolis, will serve as the association's 2009-2010 president. Also on the association board will be Tony Blinkhorn, Rouzer Sales Co., New Hope, Minn.; Tim Burns, Square D Co., Minneapolis; Jim Grahek, Burndy Products, Plymouth, Minn.; and Mike McDermeit, Petersen-Finn Inc., Brooklyn Park, Minn.

Electrical Equipment Representatives Association (EERA) (Kansas City, Mo.): P.J. Martini, principal, Martini & Associates, Annapolis, Md., will serve as EERA's 2009-2010 president. Also on the EERA 2090-2010 board will be David Wick, Energy Product Sales, Minneapolis; Scott Whitehead, Whitehead & Associates, Atlanta; Vince Brown, V.J. Brown, Buffalo, N.Y.; Brad Cahoon, Cahoon Sales, Iowa City, Iowa; Don Shirk, Utility Sales Agents of North Texas, Dallas; and Kier Cooper, Engineer Sales Co., St. Petersburg, Fla.