People

Rittal Corp. (Urbana, Ohio): Douglas Peterson has been named president. He comes to his new post from the Industrial Solutions Division of Belden Americas Group where he was responsible for more than $400 million in sales through its multiple business units. Prior to Belden he served as general manager of the U.S. subsidiary of Phoenix Contact and worked for nearly 20 years in various divisions of GE. Peterson graduated with a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Dayton and received an MBA from Xavier University, Cincinnati.

Kohler Co. (Kohler, Wis.): David Brown was promoted to vice president of sales for the company’s Kohler Power Systems Americas division where he is directing all North American sales activities of industrial generator sets, electrical controls, switchgear and automatic transfer switches, through direct sales, national accounts and distribution channel partners. Brown joined Kohler Power Systems in 2008 as the director of industrial solutions and national accounts. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from Memphis State University. He also holds an MBA from Marquette University.

Franklin Electric Co. (Moorestown, N.J.): Matthew Venancio has been named V.P. of sales, bringing more than 25 years of experience in electrical distribution and manufacturing. Prior to joining Franklin Electric, Venancio served as the general manager for East Coast Power Systems, Tinton Falls, N.J. He also previously worked as an executive V.P.-Industrial for Cooper Electric Supply Co./Sonepar and served as an OEM sales manager for Siemens Energy & Automation, Edison, N.J.

Burndy (Manchester, N.H.): Allen Henry has joined the company as Western regional sales manager for U.S. sales and Nick Moraitis rejoined Burndy as South Central regional sales manager for U.S. sales. Henry was most recently with Western USA, Industrial Division for Molex as part of the Daniel Woodhead group. He earned a BS in business administration from San Diego State University. Moraitis had been with Burndy as a sales rep in Houston and as Southeast regional manager in Atlanta before taking a position as director of sales with Polaris. A graduate of the University of Florida in Gainesville, he earned a BS in Business Administration (Marketing).

Ideal Industries (Sycamore, Ill.): Matthew Barrett has accepted a job as national account manager for the company’s Electrical Division and will report directly to Joe Saganowich, the company’s V.P. of sales and marketing. Barrett will be responsible for leading the business development strategy to expand the company’s portfolio of national key accounts in the electrical channel. He brings 16 years of sales and channel experience to Ideal and previously worked for Zebra Technologies and Panduit. Barrett earned a BS in marketing from Northern Illinois University and an MBA at Cardinal Stritch University.