Turtle & Hughes (Linden, N.J.): Long-time employee Richard (Rick) Reffler has been appointed president. Reffler joined the company in 1996 and has served in several leadership positions, most recently as executive V.P. of the executive committee.
Reffler joined Turtle & Hughes as manager of its Plainfield, N.J., branch after serving as officer and part owner of Northern Electric Supply Co., South Plainfield, N.J. He grew that branch into one of the company’s first successful construction and counter sales operation. Soon after, he assumed the additional responsibilities of branch manager for the Bridgewater, N.J., branch, where he merged the company’s electrical and industrial operations. He then developed and managed the Bridgewater Central Distribution Center, including logistics and purchasing, and renovated the facility to better service customers in the Northeast.
Reffler also helped create several of the company’s technical groups, including Data Communications, Green Energy Solutions, New York Lighting, and Marketing. He further took part in guiding the company’s growth through acquisitions and branch expansions with a focus on national accounts. Since 2001, Reffler has been T&H’s network delegate for Affiliated Distributors’ Electrical Supply Division.
Ideal Industries (Sycamore, Ill.): The company promoted Terry Stevens to vice president of sales for its North American Electrical Division. Stevens succeeds Joe Saganowich, who recently was named V.P./general manager of Ideal subsidiary SK Hand Tool. Stevens was senior sales manager for the Central region for the past five years. She will be responsible for managing the North American Electrical Division sales organization, its national accounts and customer service department. Before joining Ideal in 2007, Stevens was national sales manager for consumer products at Osram Sylvania.
Rothenberger USA (Loves Park, Ill.): Brian Allison is now V.P. and general manager and will be responsible for expanding the company’s presence in the plumbing channel. Allison has 15 years of experience in international product management and strategic sales and marketing in the electrical, communications, and plumbing markets. Before accepting this new position, he held several executive posts for Greenlee Textron in national accounts. Allison started his Greenlee career in product management and holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Northern Illinois University.
The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) (Rosslyn, Va.): NEMA elected Christopher Curtis, president and CEO, North America, Schneider Electric, as chairman of the 2014 Board of Governors at its annual meeting in Palm Beach earlier this month. Other officers are First Vice Chairman Thomas Gross, vice chairman and COO—Electrical Sector, Eaton; Second Vice Chairwoman Maryrose Sylvester, president and CEO, GE Lighting; Treasurer Donald Hendler, president and CEO, Leviton Manufacturing Co.; and Immediate Past Chairman John Selldorff, president and CEO, Legrand, North America.
The executive committee also includes Daryl Dulaney, president and CEO, Siemens Industry, Inc.; John Estey, president and CEO, S&C Electric Co.; Michael Pessina, president, Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.; and Stuart Thorn, president and CEO, Southwire Co. Newly elected to the board for three-year terms are Mark Bulanda, executive V.P., Emerson, business leader of Emerson Industrial Automation, Emerson Electric Co.; Donald Fowler, president and CEO, Toshiba America Medical Systems Inc.; Daniel Jones, president and CEO, Encore Wire Corp.; Philip Mezey, president and CEO, Itron Inc.; and David Nord, president and CEO, Hubbell Inc.
Incumbent directors who were re-elected are Bruno Biasiotta, president and CEO, Philips Lighting Americas; Theodore Crandall, senior V.P. and CFO, Rockwell Automation; John Estey, president and CEO, S&C Electric Co.; Michael Pessina, president, Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.; and Stuart Thorn, president and CEO, Southwire Co.
Winners of the 2013 Kite and Key Award were also recognized during the meeting: Michael Babiak, director of technology, Energizer Battery Manufacturing, Inc., and Alexander McMillan, director, global standards and trade, Rockwell Automation. The Kite and Key Award recognizes individuals who have advanced the interest of the electroindustry through involvement in NEMA activities.