Kirby Risk (Lafayette, Ind.): A 30-year Kirby Risk veteran, Steve Ward has been promoted to the new position of vice president, business development support services. He will be responsible for designing and implementing a company-wide telesales initiative. He will also coordinate development of an Internet catalog/storefront and continue his responsibilities as vice president, southern Illinois district. Jeff Skiles has been appointed director, technology support. Formerly, he was logistics team leader for the company’s conversion to the Eclipse operating system. Roger Victor has been appointed branch manager in Crawfordsville, Ind. With Kirby Risk since 1973, Victor most recently served as operations manager at the regional distribution center in Indianapolis. Greg Fenter has been appointed branch manager for the Columbus, Ind., branch. Most recently, he was national sales manager for assembly systems in Indianapolis.
Wago (Germantown, Wis.): Robert Meliska joins Wago as regional sales manager covering the Chicago metro area as well as northern Illinois. Meliska comes to Wago after an extensive career in sales, marketing and engineering with Rockwell Automation, Entrelec and Joslyn Corp. Kitco Fiber Optics (Virginia Beach, Va.): Cathy Dunn has been appointed business development manager. With more than 13 years of sales and marketing experience in the telecommunications industry, Dunn holds the RCDD (Registered Communications Distribution Designer) designation.
Vista Professional Outdoor Lighting (Carlsbad, Calif.): Victor Samano has been named regional sales manager for California’s Orange and San Diego counties. Prior to joining Vista, Samano spent eight years in landscape sales lighting with CH Sales, a nationwide manufacturer’s rep firm.
Howard Industries Inc. (Laurel, Miss.): Robert “Bob” Pressler III, joins the company’s ballast division as the southeast regional manager. Previously, he was regional sales manager at FSC Lighting.