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Lori Parent has been named business development manager for both Cable Components Group (CCG) and Gendon Polymer Services (Gendon). She has some 30 years of experience in colorants and masterbatches, most recently serving as director of sales USA/Canada for Spain’s Delta Tecnic, which she joined as a sales specialist in 2020. Prior past employers include Breen Color Concentrates and Chroma Color Corporation. Well known in the industry and a past president of the WAI’s New England Chapter, she was recognized by Plastics News (Women Breaking the Mold). She joins a sales team that includes Lynne Russell, who was promoted in June to vice president, sales and marketing; Sales Manager, Strategic Accounts Shawn Staveley, Gendon, who has been with the company for 15 years; and Technical Sales Manager Kevin DeLauriers, CCG/Gendon, who previously had 10 years of experience working at Hueson Wire and General Cable. Based in Pawcatuck, Connecticut, Cable Components Group supplies components and compounds for the wire, cable and optical fiber industries, as well as yarn and nonwovens. Based in Ontario, Canada, sister company Gendon Polymer Services supplies compounds for challenging wire and cable uses.

Magnetic Analysis Corp. (MAC) has named Daniel Lawrence as president/CEO. He most recently was general manager of the optical components business of MKS Instruments, and before that was a vice president and general manager of the Stellite, Conforma Clad and Advanced Materials Systems units of Kennametal. He was a division vice president and business unit manager for two units within AMETEK. He holds BS and MS degrees in chemical engineering from Clarkson University, and an MBA from Southern New Hampshire University. He succeeds Dudley Boden, who remains a company director and will retire in June 2024. Based in Elmsford, New York, Magnetic Analysis Corporation supplies non-destructive testing equipment.

Bessie Williams has been named chief procurement officer for Prysmian Group North America. She has 17 years of experience in the global supply chain and procurement sectors, with experience both in raw and non-raw procurement with an extensive background in metals. She most recently worked for Moog Inc., where she served as director of strategic sourcing for its Moog Aircraft Group, and prior to that was Global Director of Procurement at Howmet, where she oversaw the procurement function for two business segments. She also served as the global director of procurement for Arconic Engineered Structure. She holds a B.S. degree in business administration and an MBA from the University of Arkansas. The Prysmian Group is a global leader in the energy, telecom cables, and systems industry.

Jim Grimley was promoted to president of OTEC Compounds. He became part of the company in 2008 and prior to being appointed to his current position, he had been serving as vice president of sales and marketing. He has more than 30 years of experience in the thermoplastic compound and manufacturing industry and is well versed on the technical side as well as sales. He holds a degree in biology from McDaniel College. Based in Rolling Prairie, Indiana, OTEC Compounds develops, designs and custom manufactures specialty PVC compounds, thermoplastic elastomers for the electrical wire and cable industry.

Marc Richling was named extrusion director at Rosendahl Nextrom. He studied polymer science and technology at the Montanuniversität Leoben, and collaborated with Rosendahl Nextrom for his studies. He played a key role in developing the RX25 liquid-temperature crosshead for foaming. After graduating in 2009, he joined the company, working in process engineering and R&D. He assumed his new role in August. Rosendahl Nextrom is a global supplier of extrusion technology.

Mike Pascino was named director of operations engineering North America for the Prysmian Group. He joined the company in 2007 as facility maintenance manager, was engineering manager from 2011, added engineering team leader ICS in 2017, and in August assumed his new position. Prior to Prysmian, he worked for three years at General Cable as a process engineer and as a project engineer. A Six Sigma Black Belt, he holds a B.S. degree in mechanical/electrical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The Prysmian Group is a global leader in the energy, telecom cables, and systems industry.

Obituaries

David Edward Shockley, an executive at Marmon Utility LLC, 66, died at home in McKinney, Texas, on Nov. 14 after a long battle with cancer, with his wife by his side. He joined the company in 2014 as Southwest regional sales manager and was promoted to director of sales aerial cable systems in 2017, then was promoted in December 2022 to his latest position, regional vice president of Western, Southern and Latin America Sales Marmon Utility LLC. Before joining the company, he was a business consultant for GLG for five years, and prior to that worked 11 years for PPC Insulators Group, where he was national sales manager for two of its divisions. He held a business degree from The Ohio State University.

Jerry M. Taylor, a retired veteran metallurgist and WAI Life Member, died at his home in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 2, at age 90. A graduate of Carnegie Institute of Technology, he was employed as a metallurgist for Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation, from which he retired in 1988. He then worked for Bethlehem Steel Corporation as a metallurgical service engineer for seven years, and for Johnstown Wire Technologies for 10 years before finally retiring in 2003. He then worked as a metallurgical consultant up until the time of his death. A U.S. Navy veteran, he served in the U.S. Navy from 1955 through 1957. He was also a lifetime member of the American Society for Metals. He is survived by stepsons Carl and Dominic Parise; six grandchildren; and many great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Last modified on January 5, 2024

Radix Wire & Cable has named John Roggenburk as its new vice president of sales and marketing for the company’s High Temperature Business Unit. He has 30 years of diverse commercial experience serving global aerospace, automotive and industrial markets. He most recently was vice president of global marketing for Howmet Aerospace, where he led the marketing and inside sales organization. He was cited for both his ability to lead sales as well as develop new business and recognize market trends. He holds a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Dayton and an MBA from DePaul University. Based in Cleveland, Ohio, Radix is a leading manufacturer of high-performance electrical and communications wire and cable for extreme temperature, fire resistance and other harsh environment applications.

FENN has named Hunter Lang as technical sales manager for Southern USA. He worked for about three years for Atlas Copco, where he gained experience working in capital equipment sales. He had started out as an intern and was most recently industrial air sales manager. He holds a B.S. degree in industrial distribution from Texas A&A University. Based in East Berlin, Connecticut, FENN is a global supplier of forming machinery for the wire and cable industry.
Ryan Cei was named general manager/vice president of Radcliffe Wire. He previously worked for more than a decade for Ulbrich Stainless Steels & Special Metals, Inc., most recently as general manager of the company’s Shaped Wire division. He holds bachelor’s degrees in economics and finance from the University of Delaware and a master’s degree in metallurgical engineering from Clemson University. His service as general manager will officially begin when Gary Majchrzak retires from that position in early 2024. Based in Bristol, Connecticut, Radcliff Wire, Inc., produces flat, square, and special shaped wire in over 60 different metals and alloys.

Holger Lieder, who joined Sikora AG as sales director in 2004, has joined the company’s Supervisory Board, and now is responsible for all areas of sales, marketing and service. As of last September, he had provisionally taken over the management of the marketing and service departments in addition to his position as sales director. He was cited for his objective and level-headed manner. He has more than 30 years of experience in sales and a comprehensive technical understanding of Sikora technologies and market requirements. Based in Bremen, Germany, Sikora AG is a global supplier of measuring equipment for the wire and cable industry.

Obituary
Joseph (Joe) Elzie Gibson, who worked in the wire and cable industry for 65 years—and was featured in a WJI January 2022 spread on his career with Encore Wire—died Sept. 27, 2023, at age 86. The WAI Life Member began his career with Texas Wire & Cable, where he met and married the love of his life, Imogene Vest Gibson. He retired from Encore Wire in June 2021 as assistant vice president, operations, leaving behind a legacy as a hard worker who never shirked responsibility, but also a dedicated family man. He is survived by his wife, Imogene, two daughters, Lisa and Sarah, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Last modified on November 5, 2023

Teknor Apex announced that the new CEO of the company is Donald Wiseman, who has a robust history within the plastics industry and a deep expertise in masterbatches and compounding. He most recently was CEO at Star Plastics, and prior to that he was president for Performance Products and Solutions at PolyOne, managing director and general manager in Taiwan for Cabot Microelectronics and a holder of various leadership roles at Americhem. He holds an ME degree in chemical engineering from the University of South Carolina and an MBA from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. He replaces Jonathan Fain, who for the past 51 years has led the organization. During his tenure, company revenue grew by more than 650%, and it expanded beyond North America to a global footprint, completing 11 acquisitions and having 13 manufacturing locations. He decided to step down as CEO and will remain a major stakeholder and continue serving as Chairman of the Board, a position he assumed from his father. Based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, Teknor Apex is a private family-owned company that was founded by Jonathan’s grandfather, Alfred A. Fain, in 1924 as Apex Tire and Rubber Company. The company provides a range of compounds for multiple sectors, including wire and cable.

 Radix Wire & Cable has promoted Jeremy Tuttle to CEO. He joined the company as vice president of sales and marketing three years ago, and was instrumental in growing the product line as well as increasing revenue. Prior to Radix, he spent 14 years with ITW Powertrain Fastening, where he last served as the director of global sales and engineering, leading sales and engineering teams in the U.S., Europe and China. He holds a B.S. degree in Materials Science & Engineering and an MBA from the University of Michigan. He replaces retiring CEO Jeff Leone, who joined the company three years ago after the business was sold by High Road Capital Partners to Windjammer Capital. He will continue to serve on the company’s Board of Directors and provide guidance during the transition. Based in Cleveland, Ohio, Radix is a leading manufacturer of high-performance electrical and communications wire and cable for extreme temperature, fire resistance and other harsh environment applications.

 Anjel Otto has joined Sequel Wire & Cable as director of sales and marketing. She has more than 30 years of experience in sales and new business development roles, working with global customers at all levels of the supply chain including direct to Tier 1, 2, and 3-level accounts as well as supporting distribution partners across the globe. She most recently served as the North American Sales Manager at the Prysmian Group, and prior to that she worked for more than 12 years for Leoni. Based in Argos, Indiana, Sequel Wire & Cable manufactures a range of electrical wire products.

 Friedrich Roithner has been named CFO of Leoni AG. He has served in management at the Austrian Pierer Group for more than 15 years. He has a degree in business administration, and broad expertise in the field of financial management in an industrial environment, especially in times of transformation. He succeeds Dr. Ulla Reisch, who is leaving the board. Roithner will be on the company’s Supervisory Board, joined by Josef Blazicek, Michaela Friepeß, Wolfgang Plasser and Rudolf Wiesbeck as well as Günther Apfalter and all six previous employee representatives. Based in Germany, the Leoni Group produces wire and cable, primarily for the automotive industry.








Last modified on October 4, 2023

Omar Monajjed was promoted to corporate social responsibility (CSR) manager at Nexans. He joined the company in Lebanon in 2013 as a quality first line manager, then was promoted to quality manager in 2019. He became an industrial performance leader in 2020 in France, where he became group environment manager in 2021. Last year he led sustainability operations for the group while implementing a pilot in Digital Transformation and Industry 4.0 for Sweden and France with Schneider Electric. Prior to Nexans, he had worked for five years for Jeddah Cables Company as a senior projects engineer. He holds degrees from the American University of Beirut where he was an electrical and computer student. Nexans is a global leader in wire and cable production.

Service Wire reported two recent hires. Rich McCathren was named national sales engineer. Previous employers included Irby Co., a distributor of electrical supplies and services, and Prysmian/General Cable, where he was sales director/southwest for eight years. He has more than 30 years of experience in commercial, industrial and utility markets. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in industrial distribution from the College of Engineering at Texas A&M University. Cortney Wesneski was named a regional sales manager. She has more than a decade of industry experience, including sales management at Siemens and Graybar. She will be responsible for accounts in northeast Texas, Kansas, Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma, northern Louisiana, and western Tennessee. She holds a B.S. degree from Sam Houston State University. Based in Culloden, West Virginia, Service Wire is a family-owned wire and cable manufacturer.


Lincoln Electric reported a number of personnel items, two related to a leadership transition. Christopher L. Mapes, chairman, president and CEO, who has served as president and CEO since 2012, will retire from those roles at year’s end. He will continue after that as executive chairman of the board, effective January 1, 2024. Under his leadership, Lincoln Electric has extended its global base, including more than 20 acquisitions, strong financial results and received multiple awards, including as one of the “World’s Best Employers” by Forbes. Steven B. Hedlund, who has been with the company for 15 years and serves as COO, will be president, CEO, and a member of the Board as of Jan. 1, 2024. He joined the company in 2008 as vice president, strategy and business development, and in 2015, he was promoted to senior vice president, president of global automation. In 2020, he was named executive vice president, president of Americas and international welding, and in 2022 was promoted to COO. He holds a bachelor’s degree and an MBA from Dartmouth College. Jan Deruytter has joined Lincoln Electric as director, manufacturing productivity improvement. His 28-year industry career started at Bekaert where he was in operations and engineering for 12 years, followed by two years as plant manager at Fenix, LLC, eight years as general manager of Solon Specialty Wire Co. & ShapedWire; three years as director, tech services for ASW-Pengg LLC; one year at Heico; and most recently, director, global commodities, for WireCo WorldGroup. Based in Cleveland, Ohio, Lincoln Electric supplies technology and solutions for welding, including wire.

Obituary
John D. Nichols Jr., the former CEO of both Illinois Tool Works and the Marmon Group, died June 14, 2023, at age 92. In 1980, he joined Illinois Tool Works as an executive vice president, was promoted to president and COO in 1981, then CEO and then chairman. During his nearly 14 years as CEO, annual sales grew from $400 million to $4.1 billion. He retired in 1995 and in 2002 he succeeded Marmon co-founder Bob Pritzker as CEO. He played an essential role in Marmon’s development into the company it is today. He formalized Marmon’s operating structure into groups of related businesses, introduced 80/20 business practices that are still applied across Marmon, and prepared Marmon for its acquisition by Berkshire Hathaway Inc. in 2008. He is survived by his wife, son and daughter.

Last modified on September 6, 2023

IEWC has named Martin Rohde as president and chief business officer of its Global Infrastructure Group, tasked will leading the newly formed infrastructure business that was created earlier this year to focus on growth industries such as telecom, data centers, solar and renewable energies, power grids, and industrial automation. He has more than 25 years of experience in the B2B distribution space, and led transformational business changes at Arrow Electronics, Hewlett Packard, Amazon Business, and most recently, Parts Town. He will oversee IEWC’s telecom brands (Cablecon and Jupiter Communications), IEWC’s Premier Cables business in Europe, as well as lead business development within other infrastructure markets. Based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, IEWC is a global distributor of wire and cable products, a manufacturer of custom fiber assemblies, and a provider of value-add solutions that advance a connected world.

Southwire announced a series of personnel news. Norman Adkins, Southwire’s president of Wire and Cable and COO, will assume responsibility for the company’s Tools, Components and Assembled Solutions (TCAS) business. He replaces Brandon Moss, who resigned to take a role outside the company. Peter Lugo, senior vice president of product management, will report to Adkins and lead Southwire’s TCAS business. Alan Bearden, senior vice president of strategic integration, will now report to Guyton Cochran, executive vice president and CFO. Based in Carrollton, Georgia, Southwire Company is a world-leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of building wire and utility cable.

Brad Andrews was promoted to senior marketing manager wire drawing, North America, at Condat Corporation. He joined the company in 2016, serving as marketing manager, North America. Prior to that he worked in related industrial companies for some 29 years, including Bazetta Steel Processing, Capital Steel & Wire, Solon Wire Processing, BCS Industries/BSC Metal Prep, LLC, and Metal Processing Corporation. He holds a B.S. degree in business administration and management from Ohio University. He was also an instructor in WAI’s Fundamentals of Wire & Cable Manufacturing course at Interwire 2023. Based in Saline, Michigan, USA, Condat Corporation supplies lubricants and coatings to sectors that include the wire and cable industry.

Belden Inc. announced that Jay Wirts, president of smart buildings, has been appointed to the newly created position of executive vice president of enterprise solutions. He was cited for his extensive industry experience and track record of driving operational excellence that make him the right fit to drive future growth at the Enterprise Solutions segment. He joined Belden in 2018, and most recently served as president of Smart Buildings, where he was responsible for operations, product development, and financial performance. Prior to that, he served in other leadership roles at Belden including vice president and general manager of Industrial Cable Solutions within the Industrial Automation Solutions segment. Prior to Belden, he served in various roles in Emerson and Vertiv following more than six years in the U.S. Marine Corps. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Colgate University and an MBA from Northwestern University. Based in St. Louis, Missouri, Belden Inc. is a leading global supplier of network infrastructure solutions.

Matt Wasinger has joined National Standard as the new district sales manager/industrial wires, responsible for managing distributors and end users for the company’s industrial wire portfolio. He has a strong background, with experience in welding and industrial product sales. Most recently he worked as a business development specialist. He has held sales positions with Fastenal Company, Praxair, Brennan Industries and Matheson Tri-Gas. A member of The Heico Companies, National Standard produces a range of wire at its plants in Niles, Michigan, and Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Service Wire has promoted Ron Spozio to regional sales manager for the pump and irrigation markets of Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. He joined the company in 2022 and has over 19 years of sales experience in the metal industry. He holds a degree in humanities from the University of Houston. Based in Culloden, West Virginia, Service Wire is a family-owned wire and cable manufacturer.

Joe Cebulski has been named a US country manager for Mattr Connection Technologies DSG-Canusa & Shawflex. He has 30 years of industry experience, starting in 1992 with Rome Cable, where he was a regional vice president. In 2003 he joined Shawcor, where he was a country manager for the piping company. In June 2023, Shawcor rebranded to Mattr, “reflecting its transformation from an energy services organization, into a materials technology company, providing differentiated, high-performance products to critical infrastructure markets around the world.” He attended La Salle University. Based in Toronto, Mattr has three business segments, one of which is Connection Technologies, which includes Shawflex, a manufacturer of engineered wire, cable and assemblies.

Fil-Tec Inc. announced the promotion of Christine Lovett to vice president, responsible for the global business development of the company’s wire and cable business unit. Since joining Fil-Tec, she has served as director of business development for specialty coated fibers used in the cable industry. She has been active in new product development, various process improvement and quality programs as well as customer development. Prior to joining Fil-Tec, Lovett served some 24 years in roles of increasing responsibility at industry suppliers LLFlex, Sonoco and Zumbach. Based in Hagerstown, Maryland, Fil-Tec is a leading global supplier of technical fibers (binders, fillers and ripcords) to cable manufacturers.

Last modified on June 30, 2023

Service Wire reported multiple personnel news. Matt Shumway has been promoted to national sales manager for the utility market, responsible for driving specification approvals and increasing market share nationwide. He joined the company as a regional sales manager, utility. He attended the University of Texas at San Antonio. Shane Berry has been promoted to vice president, manufacturing and distribution. He joined the company as director, human resources, in 2018, and in 2021 became director, manufacturing and distribution. Prior to that, he served for about two years as general manager/project manager for ArcelorMittal USA. He holds an MBA from Virginia Tech, and an M.S. degree in industrial and organizational psychology and a B.S. degree in psychology from Radford University. Tanner Beckett will serve the wire and cable electrical distribution markets of Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, and the Provinces of British Columbia and Alberta, Canada. He has more than six years of industry experience and holds a B.A. degree in geography from Marshall University. Hillary Rowe now represents accounts in the greater Houston metropolitan area. She has more than five years of sales experience in a variety of industrial markets. Based in Culloden, West Virginia, Service Wire is a family-owned wire and cable manufacturer.

Claes Westerlind was named CEO of NKT. He became part of the company in 2017 when NKT acquired ABB HV Cables in Sweden. Since 2019, he had served as executive vice president, Solutions Karlskrona, and was a member of the global leadership team. He was instrumental in the company’s achieving record orders for high-voltage cable as well as leading the investment and expansion programs in Karlskrona that were launched in 2020. He previously worked in various technical, sales and managerial roles at ABB (now Hitachi Energy) from 2006-2017. He replaces Alexander Kara who left the company for personal reasons. Based in Copenhagen, Denmark, NKT manufactures power cables and power cable accessories for the on- and offshore energy sector.

LaserLinc has two recent hires. Danielle Van Auken is the company’s newest buyer. She has more than 20 years of professional and managerial experience. Col Mogdlin has joined LaserLinc’s engineering department as a mechanical draftsman. Based in Fairborn, Ohio, LaserLinc is supplier of testing and measuring equipment.

Obituary
Larry Dean Fitzgerald, a long-time extrusion industry veteran, died May 9, 2023, after a short illness at age 78. The Connecticut resident passed on the first full day of Interwire 2023, a fitting departure as he had long been a fixture at industry trade shows. Known as “the godfather of wire & cable,” he had a gruff exterior that was paired with a willingness to share his expertise. He held decades of key sales and marketing posts prior to his retirement from Graham Engineering late last year. Past employers included Ramco Inc. (1970-76); Xaloy, Inc., (1976-80); Maillefer Co., (1980-85); Nokia, Inc., (1985-88); Bristol Corp/Electrical Systems Division, (1988-90); Davis Electric Co./Merritt Davis Corp., (1990-2000); Entwistle Co. (2000-02); Merritt Extruder Corp., (2002-05); Davis-Standard LLC, (2005-12); then American Kuhne/Graham Engineering, where he retired but kept active until early in January, when medical issues forced the end of his lengthy career. A WAI Life Member, he was a member of its New England Chapter since 2006. He held a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from The Ohio State University. He served with distinction in the military, including two tours in Vietnam. Survivors include a daughter, Alena Fitzgerald, and a son, Phillip Fitzgerald.

Last modified on June 4, 2023

George Muthalaly has joined MIKROTEK as Director of Products and Markets – Americas. He has diverse international experience in Europe, the Middle East & Africa, the Indian Subcontinent, and the Americas. Before joining Mikrotek, he worked for more than a decade as general manager/director in various roles in sales and marketing at AT&T, where he was recognized as a “Top talent GM.” He holds a B.E. degree in engineering from the University of Bangalore and an MBA from Bauer College of Business, University of Houston. Based in Bangalore, India, and serving more than 30 countries, MIKROTEK supplies a wide range of dies, related equipment and reconditioning and repolishing services.

Andy Lewis has been named commercial manager – wire & tube, for Metalube. He is well known to the wire and cable industry as for the last 11 years he has been executive manager of the U.K.-based the International Wire and Machinery Association, which is the industry’s largest and most influential association for the wire, cable and wire products industries. Prior to that, he worked for 10 years for Hydratight Limited. Based in the U.K., Metalube is part of the Metalube Group, which includes the industrial lubricant brands of Metalube, Molyslip and Vapor-Tek. Metalube exports 95% of its production to over a hundred countries worldwide.

Steve Coker has joined National Standard Co. as a district sales manager for Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana. He will manage distributors and end users for the company’s welding wire portfolio. He has a strong background with experience in welding wire and welding product sales. Most recently, he was a territory manager for Lampton Welding Supply, and has held sales positions with Fastenal Company, Cone Solvent and Praxair. Part of The Heico Companies and based in Stillwater, Oklahoma, the product lines of National Standard include welding wire, tire bead wire and industrial wire.

Chroma Color Corporation has named Gretchen Dragich as vice president of supply chain management & strategic sourcing. She has more than 30 years of experience in the plastics and chemical industry, with past employers including GEON, A. Schulman, LyondellBasell, Goodyear Tire & Rubber, Gates Corporation and Akzo Nobel. She has broad experience in strategic & global sourcing, ERP implementation management, sales, procurement and the supply chain. She holds a B.S. degree in chemical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Akron. Based in McHenry, Illinois, Chroma Color Corporation is a leading specialty color and additive concentrate supplier.

Times Microwave Systems (TMS) has promoted Global Operations Director Adrian Milne to be the company’s new general manager. He joined the company in 2020, and prior to that held several senior management positions at W.L. Gore & Associates. At TMS, he oversaw the establishment of the company’s India operation and the expansion across all facilities. He succeeds Ben Reed, who has been promoted to the role of group general manager of the Amphenol High Technology Industrial Group (AHTI). He joined TMS in 2016 as deputy general manager and was promoted to general manager in 2017. He holds an MBA from INSEAD, and B.S. and a Master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from UC San Diego. Based in Wallingford, Connecticut, Times Microwave Systems makes high-performance coaxial cables and more.

Optimas Solutions has named Phil Battaglia as its CFO. He has more than 25 years of financial management and reporting expertise, most recently at Caterpillar Inc. He holds a BA degree in economics from Northwestern University. Based in Wood Dale, Illinois, Optimas is a leading global industrial distributor and service provider specializing in fastening and supply chain solutions.

Mike Ritterling has joined Enercon Industries Corporation in the newly created position of technical support & field service manager. The position centralizes leadership and coordination of the company’s field service engineers and technical support departments. He has industry experience that includes globally produced plastics and additive manufacturing machinery. He has led international support teams and also assisted customers with hands-on troubleshooting, repair and field support. He holds a B.B.A. degree in business administration, management and operations from Marian University. Based in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, Enercon Industries Corporation supplies custom built corona and atmospheric plasma treating systems as well as induction cap sealing systems.

Leibinger has named Christophe Lopez as its chief commercial officer, responsible for the company’s overall commercial development, from strategy to implementation, leading the sales and marketing teams. He has more than 15 years of experience in the coding and marking industry, including 12 years at Markem-Imaje, where he held multiple key positions, including overall responsibility for global sales, global marketing. He most recently was president of the main location in France with over 600 employees. He holds an engineering degree from INSA Rennes and an executive MBA with the highest honors from HEC Paris. Based in Germany, Leibinger serves multiple market industries, including inkjet printers for wire and cable manufacturing.

Obituaries

U.K. wire industry veteran who twice served as Clockwinder passed on April 13
Peter Rigby, whose U.K. family ran a venerable wire company for decades and has played a special role with the Association over three generations, died from heart failure on April 13, while visiting family in Nashville, Tennessee.

Born in Leeds in 1940, Rigby grew up in West Yorkshire, the son of John Rigby, principal of John Rigby & Sons., Ltd. In 1948, his father served as the first-ever Clockwinder, traveling to the U.S. on behalf of the British wire industry to wind the stately Grandfather’s Clock that had been sent in appreciation for help provided by U.S. wire manufacturers during World War II.

Peter Rigby followed his father’s lead, both in the family wire business as well as the Clockwinding tradition, serving in that role in 1979, as chairman of Rigby Maryland, and again in 1998, as part of Handy & Harman (Europe), Ltd. Further, his son, Jonathan Rigby, served as the Clockwinder in 2013, then employed in the U.S. by Fox Wire Limited. Other Rigby family members who shared those duties were C.P. Rigby, in 1954 and 1988; and Harold Rigby, in 1958, both as directors of John Rigby & Sons.

The 1998 Clockwinding was a special celebration as Rigby noted during his speech at what marked the 50th anniversary of the tradition. “Fighting for liberty had cost a lot of money and a lot of lives. It still does. It is with this background that I think we can safely say why these men gave this clock: in our darkest hour, fighting for our liberty, the United States of America came to our aid, and that is also why it gives the clockwinders so much pleasure to come here every year to wind it.”

John Rigby enjoyed a successful 40-year career building and managing the U.K.’s leading stainless steel wire company. He attained the position of Master Liveryman of The Worshipful Company of Tin Plate Workers alias Wire Workers of the City of London, working hard to grow the organization and deepen its relevancy to industry. He was known for his close ties to his friends and family, his strong sense of civic duty, and boundless enthusiasm.

“It’s an amazing legacy,” said WAI Executive Director Steve Fetteroll. “The Rigby name has meant a lot to the industry over the years. Peter Rigby was dedicated to the wire industry, and he was both a gentleman and genuinely passionate about the wire and cable business. He was also instrumental in continuing the Clockwinding tradition as well as supporting the Wire Link Scholarship program.”

Rigby is survived by his wife, Sue; daughter Clare; son Jonathan; and four granddaughters, Emily, Freya, Boo and Cecily.



Daniel D. Masakowski,
a retired technical director for the Marmon Group, died March 25, 2023 at his home in Stonington, Connecticut, at age 77, following a lengthy battle with cancer.

Masakowski was a long-time employee of Rockbestos Suprenant, part of the Marmon Group, where he retired as technical director. He was widely recognized in the wire and cable industry as an innovative, pioneering engineer who received accolades and awards for his accomplishments and contributions. He was a member of the Insulated Cable Engineers Association (ICEA) and the president of the ICEA Control and Instrumentation Division. He held numerous industry patents and presented numerous papers at national and international technical conferences and symposia. He was especially proud of developing and leading an engineering internship program at Ferris College, Michigan and at the University of Connecticut, Storrs in the Material Science and Engineering Department for the development of future engineers.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Yvonne R. (Centak); a son, Daniel Masakowski; a daughter, Jennifer Coley; sisters Ladislava Kowalski, Sabina Pietraszko and Joan Jackson; three grandsons and one great-granddaughter; and numerous nieces and nephews.



Last modified on May 4, 2023

Service Wire reported multiple personnel news. Matt Shumway has been promoted to national sales manager for the utility market, responsible for driving specification approvals and increasing market share nationwide. He joined the company as a regional sales manager, utility. He attended the University of Texas at San Antonio. Shane Berry has been promoted to vice president, manufacturing and distribution. He joined the company as director, human resources, in 2018, and in 2021 became director, manufacturing and distribution. Prior to that, he served for about two years as general manager/project manager for ArcelorMittal USA. He holds an MBA from Virginia Tech, and an M.S. degree in industrial and organizational psychology and a B.S. degree in psychology from Radford University. Tanner Beckett will serve the wire and cable electrical distribution markets of Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, and the Provinces of British Columbia and Alberta, Canada. He has more than six years of industry experience and holds a B.A. degree in geography from Marshall University. Hillary Rowe now represents accounts in the greater Houston metropolitan area. She has more than five years of sales experience in a variety of industrial markets. Based in Culloden, West Virginia, Service Wire is a family-owned wire and cable manufacturer.

Claes Westerlind was named CEO of NKT. He became part of the company in 2017 when NKT acquired ABB HV Cables in Sweden. Since 2019, he had served as executive vice president, Solutions Karlskrona, and was a member of the global leadership team. He was instrumental in the company’s achieving record orders for high-voltage cable as well as leading the investment and expansion programs in Karlskrona that were launched in 2020. He previously worked in various technical, sales and managerial roles at ABB (now Hitachi Energy) from 2006-2017. He replaces Alexander Kara who left the company for personal reasons. Based in Copenhagen, Denmark, NKT manufactures power cables and power cable accessories for the on- and offshore energy sector. n

LaserLinc has two recent hires. Danielle Van Auken is the company’s newest buyer. She has more than 20 years of professional and managerial experience. Col Mogdlin has joined LaserLinc’s engineering department as a mechanical draftsman, where he will assist with technical documentation and fixture building. Based in Fairborn, Ohio, LaserLinc supplies testing and measuring equipment.

Obituary
Larry Dean Fitzgerald,
a long-time extrusion industry veteran, died May 9, 2023, after a short illness at age 78. The Connecticut resident passed on the first full day of Interwire 2023, a fitting departure as he had long been a fixture at industry trade shows. Known as “the godfather of wire & cable,” he had a gruff exterior that was paired with a willingness to share his expertise. He held decades of key sales and marketing posts prior to his retirement from Graham Engineering late last year. Past employers included Ramco Inc. (1970-76); Xaloy, Inc., (1976-80); Maillefer Co., (1980-85); Nokia, Inc., (1985-88); Bristol Corp/Electrical Systems Division, (1988-90); Davis Electric Co./Merritt Davis Corp., (1990-2000); Entwistle Co. (2000-02); Merritt Extruder Corp., (2002-05); Davis-Standard LLC, (2005-12); then American Kuhne/Graham Engineering, where he retired but kept active until early in January, when medical issues forced the end of his lengthy career. A WAI Life Member, he was a member of its New England Chapter since 2006. He held a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from The Ohio State University. He served with distinction in the military, including two tours in Vietnam. Survivors include a daughter, Alena Fitzgerald, and a son, Phillip Fitzgerald.

Last modified on June 4, 2023

Kevin Dancy was promoted to executive vice president-operations at Roteq Machinery, Inc. He joined the company as a sales engineer in 2014, and was promoted to sales manager in 2018. Prior to that he worked for 10 years at Southwire Company, including five years as a plant manager. He also worked in engineering and managerial positions at Rexan Circuits, Tyco Thermal Controls, General Cable and Nortel. He holds a BASc degree in mechanical engineering from Queen’s University and is a licensed professional engineer. Kevin has served as an instructor for WAI’s Fundamentals of Wire Manufacturing course for several years. Based in Ontario, Canada, Roteq manufacturers rotating equipment for sectors that include the wire and cable industry. 

Shawn Mahle is director of sales-energy at Marmon Industrial Energy & Infrastructure. He most recently was director of sales-oil rig and industrial products for RSCC Wire & Cable LLC, where over seven years he was also national sales manager and sales & marketing manager. He worked in managerial positions prior to that for 11 years for companies that included Spike Electric Controls, Crawford Electric Supply, Oakwell Inc. and Amphenol ECOSystem. A division of Marmon Electrical, Marmon Industrial Energy & Infrastructure produces wire and cable for industrial, energy and infrastructure markets. 

National Standard has promoted Tom Wehner to vice president of sales and marketing. He joined the company in 2012 as a regional sales manager and was promoted to director of sales in 2020. He previously worked in sales and managing positions going back to 1999 for Pelican Products, LPS Laboratories, Praxair Distribution and ESAB. Based in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and part of the Heico Wire Group, National Standard manufacturers welding wire, tire bead wire, industrial wire and ACSR wire.

The American Wire Group appointed Scott Moore as vice president renewables, Eastern Region. He most recently was director of energy at Cameron Connect. Prior to that, he worked for six years for Prysmian, including one year as market manager, North American Renewable Energy, five years as a technical sales engineer/manager; and before that, 10 years for Draka USA. Based in Miami, Florida, American Wire Group offers a range of wire, cable and accessories for utility and renewable energy applications. 

Rob Caillet has been named vice president, corporate EHS & sustainability director, for Encore Wire. He leads both the EHS and training teams at Encore, where he has more than 25 years of experience building and sustaining successful EHS programs. He also serves as an advisor to the Lone Star Manufacturing Workforce Commission and the Collin County Local Emergency Planning Committee. Based in McKinney, Texas, Encore Wire is a leading manufacturer of copper and aluminum for residential, commercial and industrial wire.

Tom Artinian has been named president of Proterial Cable America, Inc. (formerly known as Hitachi Cable America Inc.). He will oversee the strategic direction of all North American facilities (performance cable systems and materials, high-performance medical solutions and automotive products). He has three decades of experience with both privately held and publicly traded companies. He joined HCA in 2020, and quickly progressed from executive vice president to COO of the Performance Cable Systems and Materials (PCSM) Division, a role he will continue to serve. He succeeds Lynne Humenik, who previously announced her departure from HCA. Based in Manchester, New Hampshire, Proterial Cable America, Inc., is a leading manufacturer of copper and fiber optic communication cables for the telecom industry.

Manner Polymers recently named Tom Allen as national account manager. The retired electronic technician senior chief for the Navy most recently worked for more than 10 years at Southwire as a senior buyer/commodity manager. Prior to that, he worked for more than four years at Magna International, and another three years at Bradley Morris and OFS. He holds a B.A.Sc degree from Southern Illinois University, Carondale. Based in McKinney, Texas, Manner Plastics is one of the largest U.S. suppliers of PVC compounds

Obituary
Robert E. Delp, 85, of York, Pennsylvania, died Jan. 19, 2023, at York Hospital. Per WCMA and his posted obituary, Delp was the president and CEO of First Capitol Wire and Cable until the company was sold to Coleman Cable in 2011. His career began in 1956 and spanned six decades, during which he held executive level positions at Monroe Wire & Cable and Laribee Wire, as well as technical positions with Anaconda, BICC, Coleman Cable and Southwire. Most recently he continued working as the technical director for Frasier Campbell Wire & Cable, which is run by his son, Dan Delp. He was a WAI Life Member and a 2003 recipient of the Charles Scott Lifetime Achievement Award. Other survivors include his wife, Mildred, who runs York Wire & Cable along with his stepson, Robert Wilson; a second son, Robert Delp; and two sisters, Pat Godrey and Jean Orr.

Last modified on February 6, 2023

After more than 30 years of leadership in manufacturing and nearly a decade with the company, Kathleen Edge, Southwire’s executive vice president of operations, has retired. She joined Southwire in 2013 and led the company’s wire and cable operations, including Southwire’s single largest strategic initiative, modernization. As part of the transition, Rebecca Cranford, senior vice president, construction systems & solutions, will assume leadership for all wire and cable manufacturing. Aaron Asher will now be responsible for wire and cable distribution and materials management, reporting to Norman Adkins. Based in Carrollton, Georgia, Southwire is a leading manufacturer of wire and cable used in the transmission and distribution of electricity.

Patty Brooks has been promoted to plant manager of Liberty Engineered Wire Products in Warren, Ohio, where she had been the assistant plant manager. She previously worked for eight years for sister company Liberty Bar Products, where she started out as an inside sales representative, then served as office and customer relations manager and then as assistant plant manager. Previous employers included Avatar Corporation, Keystone Bar Products and Bonnell Aluminum. Based in Upper Sandusky, Ohio, and with production facilities in Warren and Las Cruces, New Mexico, Liberty Engineered Wire Products manufactures welded wire reinforcement.

Jaxon Lang has joined AFL as COO, responsible for overseeing the company’s operational performance as well as managing its supply chain, commercial sales, marketing and customer service divisions across AFL’s five core markets. He has more than 25 years of experience in the telecom industry, and has a solid record of leading and managing businesses through transformations, including mergers and acquisitions. He will assist AFL and Fujikura in the future growth of the business. He most recently was president and CEO of FiberRise, and prior to that held key positions over two decades at CommScope, TE Connectivity and ADC. A subsidiary of Fujikura, AFL manufactures a wide range of fiber optic cable.

Thomas W. Walker has been named senior vice president of marketing and business development of Wire and Cable Consulting, LLC. In 1984, he joined Crellin, Inc. (which later became Sonoco/Crellin) as an account manager, selling plastic and wire reels, tapes, bobbins and solder spools. He later joined Pittsfield Plastics Engineering, serving as its president until he retired in 2022. A WAI Life Member, he is a recipient of the Charles Scott Distinguished Award and has served on the board of the Wire & Cable Manufacturers Association. Wire and Cable Consulting, LLC, provides sales representation, marketing and new product development services.

Jonathan Reeves has joined the technical support department of AESA Cortalloid. He previously worked at CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research), where he participated in the development of energy extraction devices used in quench protection systems for superconducting magnets in the CERN particle accelerator complex. He holds a master’s degree in electrical and electronic engineering from the University of Nottingham (UK). Based in Sweden, AESA Cortalloid supplies measuring systems and services to the wire and cable industry.

TE Connectivity has promoted Rebecca Graham from distribution account manager to industrial sales manager for Australia. Based in the Greater Brisbane area, she previously worked for NKT Australia for more than seven years. Prior to that she worked a year for AUSSA Power Products. A global business, TE Connectivity’s products include a range of wire and cable.

Encore Wire Corporation announced that Bret J. Eckert, the company’s CFO, has taken on the additional position of executive vice president. He joined the company in 2019 and formally assumed the CFO role in 2020. Prior to joining Encore, he served for a year as an executive managing director for Riveron Consulting LLC, and prior to that was senior vice president and CFO of Atmos Energy Corporation for five years. Before that, he spent 22 years with Ernst & Young LLP, where he was a partner for 10 years. Based in McKinney, Texas, Encore Wire is a leading manufacturer of a broad range of copper and aluminum electrical wire and cable

Obituary
John Schleicher, director of technical services & wire products manager for IWM International LLC, died Nov. 28, 2022, at age 62. Prior to joining IWM in 2016. He worked for about two years as director of technical services for Mount Joy Wire and 19 years for New York Wire, where he served in positions from senior engineer to wire operations manager. A WAI member, he was a life member of the SME and was greatly valued for his wire industry relationships. He held a BSIE degree in industrial and manufacturing engineering from Penn State University. He is survived by his wife, Barbara; daughters Anna and Molly; a son, Samuel; a brother, Thomas; and grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family. 

Last modified on January 10, 2023

Hires & promotions

Terry Hughes has been named district sales manager for Nucor Steel Connecticut. He worked in key positions for 18 years for Bekaert Corporation, most recently as director of North American Procurement. Prior to that he was operations manager for Arcelor Corporation for 18 years. He holds a degree in materials engineering from Youngstown State University and an MBA in marketing from Kent State University. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Nucor Corp. is the largest U.S. steel producer.

Hitachi Cable America Inc. (HCA) has named Joe Barry as COO of the Performance Cable Systems and Materials (PCSM) division based in Manchester, New Hampshire. He has decades of experience leading various engineering and business functions in well-known wire and cable manufacturing companies. He worked most recently as the CEO at Marmon Holdings, was president and general manager of Comtran Cable LLC, and held multiple senior positions at Belden Inc. He succeeds Tom Artinian, who served in that position for just two years and has since taken over as COO and president for the Automotive Products Division for both the Indiana and Mexico divisions. Hitachi Cable America Inc. (HCA)—which on Jan. 4, 2023, will become Proterial Cable America, Inc.—is a leading manufacturer of copper and fiber optic communication cables for the telecom industry.

Omni Cable, LLC has named Dan Van Belle as Northeast Regional Vice President, a new position that will see him responsible for the company’s Boston, Cincinnati and Philadelphia branches. He has more than 25 years of industry experience. He began his career with Houston Wire & Cable (HWC) in sales. During his tenure there, he served as the Charlotte regional manager, then was promoted to Southeast regional vice president. HWC was acquired by OmniCable in 2021. Based in West Chester, Pennsylvania, OmniCable is redistributor of electrical wire and cable and related services.

Aaron Overmann has been named leader tactical buyers North America for Bridon-Bekaert The Ropes Group. He started with the company as a tactical buyer in July 2021. He previously was a strategic sourcing manager at DBi Services, Inc., and prior to that was a supply chain specialist for MTF Biologics for 16 years. Bridon-Bekaert Ropes Group, a division of Bekaert, is a premier supplier of mission-critical advanced cords and ropes.

OTECH Corporation finalized some key management changes following the Oct. 1 passing of Jack O’Donnell, who started the company in 1999 and served as president and CEO. Executive Vice President of Operations and Acting CEO Jason Page has been named CEO of the organization. The industry veteran has worked for OTECH for 20 years, with 10 years of leadership roles. Vice President Strategic & Business Development and Acting President Ted Irvine has been named president of OTECH. He joined the company in 2017 and has 35 years of plastics experience in key account sales, management, executive leadership and marketing. Based in Rolling Prairie, Indiana, OTECH Corporation develops, designs and custom manufactures high-quality specialty PVC compounds, thermoplastic elastomers and alloys used in electrical wire and cable.

Cooper Runzel has been promoted to director of manufacturing for Lake Cable LLC. He joined the company as a line operator in 2008, and was promoted to maintenance technician, quality technician, process technician, plant manager, corporate operations manager and director of operations. Based in Bensenville, Illinois, Lake Cable LLC manufactures a range of electrical wire and cable.

Service Wire reported two recent positions. Scott Olson has joined the company as director of sales in the Phoenix sales office. He previously was an executive national account manager for MRC Global, which he joined in 2007. He holds a B.S. degree in finance from the Mays Business School at Texas A&M University. Jeff Anderson is a strategic account manager in the Houston sales office. A graduate of Morehouse College and National University, he has more than six years of experience in local and national corporate account management, most recently as national account manager for MRC Global. Based in Culloden, West Virginia, Service Wire Co. supplies electrical wire and cable.

Deborah Musselman has been named digital merchandising manager at Allied Wire & Cable. She joined the company in 2018 as an IT assistant and was promoted to Technical SEO specialist. She holds a degree in mathematics and computer science from Ursinus College. Based in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, Allied Wire & Cable is an independently operated, specialty manufacturer and distributor of electrical wire, cable, tubing, and accessories.

Obituaries

“Fred” Schwelm, a  a long time industry veteran, died in California just shy of his 95th birthday. He spent more than 50 years in the steel wire business. He worked for J. Gerber & Co., which was then an import agent for Bekaert, rising to the role of president of Bekaert Northeast Sales, a joint venture between Gerber and Bekaert. He was based in New York City except for a period (1950-52) when he was at the J. Gerber offices in Japan.
A German refugee, Hartoch arrived penniless with his family in New York a year after witnessing the atrocities of Kristallnacht. He attended the Bronx High School of Science and then night school in business administration at City College.
Hartoch was respected by all who knew him for his sales prowess and technical knowledge of steel wire. Despite some harsh years, he almost always met his sales and profit budget figures, and was recognized by his colleagues. He taught his salespeople all aspects of ferrous wire, but more importantly, about the ethics of doing business. He prompted his sales staff to think and solve problems rather than just giving them the answers to their questions. He will be remembered for his kindness, honesty, sense of humor and keen sense of history and world events.


Anthony “Tony” Dolce, the founder of T&T Marketing, died Oct. 29 in Hackettstown, New Jersey, at age 94. In 1988, he retired from BP Performance Polymers as vice president of sales and marketing, then the next year launched T&T Marketing. He was joined by son-in-law Tom Jordan, and the two men built the company into a leading, dedicated wire and cable distributor of resins and polymers in North America. Dolce, who was part of the business for 25 years before retiring at age 85, said that those years were the best of his career. T&T Marketing was bought by M. Holland Company in 2017.
Prior to T&T, Dolce held positions with British Petroleum as vice president of sales and Reichold Chemicals as vice president of sales and sales manager. Earlier in his career, he held process engineering and chemist positions with Reynolds Metals, Kaiser Aluminum, and U.S. Rubber. He held a degree in chemistry from Providence College. The WAI Life Member was a 2008 recipient of the WCMA Distinguished Career Award.
Dolce had been predeceased by Theresa, his wife of 70 years, earlier in October. Survivors include three daughters: Laura Jordan, Anne Dolce and Marie Dolce; two grandchildren; and one great grandchild.



Last modified on December 6, 2022

Alloy Wire International reported news of two personnel changes. Mark Venable has been promoted to chairman. He joined the company as a managing director designate in 2010, and a year later became managing director, a position held to his promotion. He previously had in different sales roles for 21 years for the Brockmoor Foundry. Filling the managing director post is Tom Mander, who has worked for the company for more than 17 years. He was named managing director designate in 2021. Based in the West Midlands, U.K., Alloy Wire International manufactures wire and wire rope for a wide range of markets.

Cody Buhle has been named national sales manager for non-contact speed and length-measuring products for Proton Products Inc. He joined the U.S. Navy, where he became a basic electricity and electronics technician. He has considerable private sector sales and engineer experience. He worked for several companies as a field service engineer and as a technical sales manager, a position he most recently held for BST eltromat International GmbH in the U.S. Based in the U.K. and U.S., Proton Products supplies instrumentation and control equipment for use in industrial production.

Chroma Color Corporation has promoted Clayton Tyler to sales director for the Eastern Region. He joined the company in 2020 as a regional market manager with extensive prior experience. He most recently worked for Lyondell Basell as a business development manager. Prior to that, he worked for A. Schulman, Inc., Clariant and ECM Plastics, Inc. The company also named Joel Neely as an account manager. He has had a successful track record selling color and additives to a wide variety of leading plastics convertors. He holds a degree in marketing from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. Based in McHenry, Illinois, Chroma Color Corporation supplies specialty color and additive concentrates to markets that include wire and cable.

Holger Lieder, director of sales at Sikora AG, has taken on additional duties: interim responsibility for the areas of marketing and service. In this function, he will directly report to CEO Dr. Christian Frank. He joined the company in 2004, and now assumes the responsibilities previously held by Dr. Jörg Wissdorf, a member of the Executive Board who is taking on new professional challenges. Based in Bremen, Germany, Sikora AG supplies measuring, control, inspection, analysis and sorting devices for wire and cable.

Alain Hawaux, well known in North America for being the after-sales service manager of Gauder Group, Inc., has been promoted to president of Gauder Group, Inc. He has been with the company for 24 years, and while he will continue in his prior role, he will now be able to help consolidate and implement new strategies for Setic S.A.S in North America. He will also be a constructive adviser for both Setic S.A.S and customers. Based in Lewisville, North Carolina, Gauder Group, Inc. is the Setic SAS, Pourtier and C2S representative in North America for rotating equipment made by Setic and Pourtier.

The SAMP Group recently hired Paolo Stefini, a leading expert in aluminum metallurgical processes, as its product manager aluminum. He has more than 20 years of experience that encompassing all elements of manufacturing aluminum wires and alloys for use in the following fields: electric applications, the automotive industry, mechanical deformation, and welding. Prior to joining SAMP, he worked for companies that included the Travar Tec-ECN Cunext Group. Based in Bentivoglio, Italy, and with manufacturing sites in Italy, China and Brazil, and sales agents and service centers all over the world, the SAMP Group manufactures a wide range of wire and cable machinery. n

Obituaries

Frederick “Fred” Schwelm, a well-known retired industry veteran, died Sept. 29 at age 75. The Wire & Cable Manufacturers Alliance (WCMA) outlined the extensive career of Schwelm, who was a WCMA founding board member and a 1997 recipient of the Charles D. Scott Distinguished Career Award, now the WCMA Distinguished Career Award. In 1973, Schwelm began his career at Cornish Wire in Williamstown, Massachusetts. He was responsible for the plant/process engineering for the three plants of the company, which at the time was a division of General Cable. He joined Rockbetos in 1979 as operations manager at the plant in East Granby, Connecticut. In 1983, he joined BIW Cable as vice president of manufacturing. In 1988 Draka purchased BIW and he became vice president of operations for the Draka companies. In 1993, he rejoined Rockbestos, which was owned by Marmon Group, as president. During 1996 and 1997, Marmon acquired Surprenant Cable, and Schwelm lead the merger of Rockbestos and Surprenant, now RSCC Wire and Cable. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Clare; daughters Nicole and Gretchen; and three grandchildren.

Charles (Chuck) Lovenguth, a retired key leader at International Wire, died Oct. 3 at age 81, at Anthology Senior Living, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. He started his career at Camden Wire Co., left to earn a business degree, and then returned to Camden Wire as a machine operator. He was promoted to production manager, and in 1992 he joined Omega Wire as a sales manager. He was promoted and held the position of vice president of sales when the company became part of International Wire. He eventually became vice president of sales and marketing for International Wire’s Noninsulated Wire Division, which included the consolidated operations of Camden Wire, Omega Wire, Auburn Wire and Continental Cordage. A 1997 recipient of the Charles D. Scott Distinguished Career Award, he was a Life Member of Wire Association International and a Member of the American Copper Council. He is survived by three sons: Marc, Chris and Jason; a sister, Carol; three brothers: Gary, Brian and Mike; and many grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

John “Jack” Edward O’Donnell II, the founder of O’Tech Industries, died Oct. 1, at age 63. O’Donnell earned a B.S. degree in chemistry from Holy Cross College, then moved to Chicago where he worked in several sales roles. While he and two buddies from Holy Cross entered the bar business (Mamie Rileys on Clark Street and later The Hidden Shamrock on Halsted), his passion for sales and chemistry led him to become a manufacturer’s representative for Gary Chemical Corporation, a thermoplastic compounding company in Leominster, Massachusetts. In 1999, he founded O’Tech Industries in Rolling Prairie, Indiana, where he served as President and CEO. The company flourished as a specialty compounding business with multiple subsidiaries, which includes Color Resource in Leominster. His strong work ethic and passion for his business were instrumental to his success. He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Laurel Davenport O’Donnell; a son John III “Jack”; three daughters, Jesse, Lia and Lucy; and three brothers, Doug, Gregg and Mark.




Last modified on November 7, 2022

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