Approximately 75 senior executives from 35 leading jan/san manufacturers attended AmSan’s Supplier Executive Forum in Chicago. The agenda encompassed a 2003 performance review, operating objectives for the coming year, and the company’s second annual supplier awards banquet.

Bay West Paper Co., Pitt Plastics, Minuteman International and Spartan Chemical were all awarded “Pace Setter Awards” for 2003. Rod Rudin and Dean DeCarlo of GoJo Industries shared the award for 2003 “Supplier Representative of the Year.” Finally, Rubbermaid Commercial Products was recognized as AmSan’s 2003 “Supplier of the Year.”

COMPANY NOTES

Steam Way Recognizes Distributor Excellence
Steam Way International, Denver, recently held its annual meeting for distributors in Colorado Springs, Colo. Participants traveled from all over the country to attend. The company announced that its 2003 “Distributor of the Year” award was given to Great Lakes Steamway Distributors of Wayne, Mich.

North American Cleaning Equipment Ltd., Toronto, recently announced that the company has officially changed its name to NaceCare Solutions.

ProTeam, Boise, Idaho, recently announced that the company has received a Green Label endorsement from the Carpet & Rug Institute (CRI). The recognition certifies that ProTeam vacuums effectively remove soil without damaging IAQ levels or carpets.

Chem-Serv, Kilgore, Texas, recently celebrated the company’s 20th anniversary. Chem-Serv was founded by president Jerry Coker in 1984. Coker spent years working for a national jan/san company, but struck out on his own and managed the company with his wife when they married in 1985. Today, Chem-Serv has 17 employees, and Coker has plans to open another facility in southwestern Louisiana.

PLAYERS

Spartan Announces Personnel Changes
Spartan Chemical Co., Inc., Maumee, Ohio, a manufacturer of cleaning chemicals, recently announced widespread organizational changes for the company.

Dale Lujan was promoted to the position of Great Lakes divisional sales manager. Lujan has been with Spartan for 16 years, most recently serving as regional manager for the Indianapolis region.

Scott Libbe was recently appointed treasurer of Spartan’s board of directors. In addition, Libbe will serve as treasurer of Spartan Chemical.

In addition, the company named several new regional managers. Kathleen ‘Kit’ Polomene is managing Spartan sales in New York City; Tom Parris is managing Wisconsin; Matt Zahradka is managing St. Louis; Rick Molnar is managing Toledo, Ohio, and lower Michigan; Dan van Blaricom is managing North Carolina; Dax Brown is managing Louisville, Ky.; James Rodriguez is managing northeast Iowa; and Jason Rogers is managing northern Illinois.

Pacific Floor Care, San Francisco, recently named Julie Ault Hartz as the company’s new marketing manager and Jeffrey Wright as vice president of corporate accounts. Hartz joins Pacific from Tennant Co., where she worked for seven years. Wright has 25 years of experience in the jan/san industry. In addition, Paul Penacoli has rejoined Pacific’s management team as vice president of distributor sales.

The Protectoseal Co., Bensenville, Ill., a manufacturer of safety products for flammable liquid storage and vapor control, recently announced the appointment of John B. Bergeron as president.

Sanitaire, Bloomington, Illinois, recently announced the addition of Tony Van Oudheusden as national sales director, commercial products. Previously, Van Oudheusden was senior commercial sales manager for the western United States. Now, he joins Terry Prosser, Carl Rosa and Walter Langlois as Sanitaire’s commercial sales team.

Tomar Industries, Freehold, N.J., recently announced that Thomas Field Jr. has been named president. Thomas Field Sr. holds the position of CEO, and Steven Sauer is vice president, sales.

Georgia-Pacific Corp., Atlanta, recently announced that Kathleen Ann Walters has been named president-North American commercial business. She will report to Mike Burandt, executive vice president-North American consumer products.

North American Salt Co., Overland Park, Kan., recently announced that Todd Spencer is the company’s new national sales manager.

Industrial Packaging Corp. (IPC), an Atlanta-based distributor, recently announced that Roy Van Buskirk will lead the company’s newly launched safety products division.

O-Cedar Commercial, Springfield, Ohio, recently announced that Todd Mauer has been named to the recently created position of vice president of sales and marketing. Mauer most recently worked for A-1 Sanitary Maintenance Corp., Dallas.

Tornado Industries, Chicago, has added Mike LaRose as regional sales manager and Daniel Frimml as service department trainer. LaRose began his jan/san career at Johnson’s Wax. Frimml finished a 21-year career in the United States Marine Corps.

Polymer Group Inc. (PGI), Charleston, S.C., recently named Scott Tracey vice president of sales and marketing for its Chicopee Branded Division. Previously, Tracey was vice president of food-service sales at Sweetheart Cup. In addition, PGI announced that Larry Archer has returned to the company as group marketing director for Chicopee.

Claire Manufacturing, Addison, Ill., recently announced a change in corporate leadership. Michael Rohl has been named president and CEO. Most recently, he served as executive vice president and COO. Robert Potvin, who has 24 years of industry experience, was promoted to senior vice president.




POSTED ON: 8/1/2004