Electrical People: Hardy named president of Crawford Electric (Sonepar)

Industry Data Exchange Association, Inc. (IDEA), (Arlington, Va.): IDEA announced its 2015-2016 Board of Directors and officers. Wes Smith, president, Mayer Electric Supply, is now chairman, from vice chair, and Christopher Curtis, senior advisor, Schneider Electric, is now vice chair/chairman elect. Rick Gigliotti, V.P., sales operations, WESCO Distribution, and Andrew Quinn, president, ILSCO Corp., have joined the IDEA Board as voting directors, replacing outgoing directors Bob Siegel, V.P. investment & inventory management, Graybar, and Tom Gross, vice chairman & COO, Eaton Corp. The Board’s eight voting directors are appointed by the National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED) and the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA). Curtis and Phil Hale, CIO, Elliott Electric Supply, have each accepted an additional two-year term on the board, and all others, except Gigliotti and Quinn, are returning directors. Gigliotti has been with WESCO Distribution for more than 35 years, where he currently works on pricing strategies, customer relationship application development, and product data management. Quinn manages the day-to-day operations of US and Canadian sales and manufacturing at ILSCO Corp. and is a member of NEMA’s Power Equipment Division Board, Business Innovation Council, Government Relations Committee, and serves on IMARK’s Supplier Council.

Alan Wire (Sikeston, Mo.): Industry veteran Bob Garrett has joined the company as business development manager. With over 30 years of industry experience, Garrett recently completed a 21-year career with Cape Electrical Supply, Cape Girardeau, Mo., where he has served as an officer, director and owner. As part of Cape’s senior management team, he was the company’s V.P. of sales and marketing. Prior to joining Cape, he spent 10 years in the Southwire sales organization. Garrett’s new role with Alan Wire will focus on a company-wide growth initiative that includes expanded manufacturing capacity and strategic customer relationships.

Crawford Electric Supply/ Sonepar USA (Houston): Long-time industry leader John Hardy has been named as acting president of Crawford Electric Supply effective immediately. Former President Jeff Metzler has resigned to pursue interests outside of Sonepar. A Sonepar USA press release said, “Hardy will work closely with the Crawford leadership team until a new president is announced. Sonepar USA is committed to carry on with a strong investment plan in Crawford people and locations to continue to best serve our customers.”

Service Wire (Culloden, W. Va.): This wire and cable supplier has made several key additions to its sales staff. Matt Hesson is now handling accounts in Indiana, Kentucky, northern West Virginia, Ohio and western Pennsylvania as sales representative. He has extensive training in manufacturing and sales protocols, and three years of experience as lead sales support at Service Wire. Scott Foster is now serving Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Canada; eastern Pennsylvania; Tennessee; and transit customers as sales representative. He joined the Service Wire team with over nine years of sales and account management experience. Mike Madjidi is now serving California, Alaska, Hawaii, Wyoming, Colorado, Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, Washington and northern Nevada as business development manager, with eight years of experience in outside sales, operation management, project management and purchasing. Tammi Comley is now handling accounts in Utah, southern Idaho, Colorado, Wyoming, and southern California as sales representative. Wendy Raymond is now serving Arizona and Las Vegas as business development manager. Victor Cox is now serving pump and irrigation customers as account manager.

WinWholesale Inc. (Dayton, Ohio): James R. (Rick) McCann joined WinWholesale as V.P., supply chain and logistics, sourcing services, and Matt Newcomer joined WinWholesale as director of talent acquisition and succession planning, effective Jan. 29.  McCann comes to WinWholesale from Excel Inc., a global logistics division of Deutsche Post DHL. Newcomer joins WinWholesale from Dubois Chemicals, Cincinnati, where he was talent and commercial effectiveness manager.

MaxLite (West Caldwell, N.J.): Jim Hunter is now  senior V.P. of sales and marketing, reporting to Yon Sung, the company’s president and CEO. Hunter will lead the development and performance of all sales and marketing initiatives, including overseeing regional, national accounts, consumer, OEM and export sales, utility solutions, application and certifications and marketing. Prior to joining MaxLite, Hunter was V.P.  of sales and marketing for Samsung LED Lighting; V.P. and general manager, global commercial markets for Luminus Devices, Inc.; and held several executive positions for Philips Lighting North America.