COMPANY NOTES

Hipp Chosen As New Athea President
Athea Laboratories, a Milwaukee-based specialty chemical manufacturer, recently announced that Steve Hipp has been promoted to president of the company. He previously served as the vice president of operations and technical director for Athea.

Under Hipp’s leadership, a large part of Athea’s business will continue to be private-label manufacturing for distributors, especially smaller companies. “Although we do business with all sizes of distributors, our line is probably better geared to the independent distributor.”

The number of independent distributors, however, has decreased significantly, says Hipp. “This is a very difficult time for the jan/san industry,” he says. “The total number of distributors has dropped to 33 percent of what it was 10 years ago. The larger distributors are continuing to purchase the mid-sized ones.”

Hipp plans to put Athea in a market position that will bring value to partnering distributors, and he says the company will keep making the same quality of chemicals that Athea has been known for since 1960.

ICAN Adds Five Manufacturers
The International Custodial Advisors Network, Inc. (ICAN), Boise, Idaho, recently announced the addition of four new corporate members: Kaivac, Hamilton, Ohio; ProTeam, Boise, Idaho; The John Downey Co., Granville, Ohio; and Unger Enter-prises, Bridgeport, Conn.

Industry manufacturers, distributors, cleaning professionals and other industry-related companies who support ICAN’s goals are invited to join at the corporate level.

Self-employed consultants and other persons who support the non-profit organization’s mission and code of ethics can join ICAN as individual members.

OBITUARY

Gene Jacobs, former owner and manager of Sims Janitor Supply in Enid, Okla., passed away in October. He was 81.

Jacobs began his career in the jan/san industry as a delivery driver and part-time salesman at Sims Janitor Supply in 1958. He held several positions with the company before being promoted to general manager/sales manager. He bought the company in 1979 with his son James, and worked there until his retirement in 1987.

PLAYERS

Jedd Cole has joined Essential Industries Inc., Milwaukee, as territory sales manager. Cole will be based in Kansas City, Mo., and will be working with distribution in the states of Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa.


Spartan Chemical Co., recently announced three new regional manager promotions: Chris Tivnan now manages the Connecticut region; Chris Bell now manages the northeast Pennsylvania region; and Nick Heintz now manages the San Antonio region. All three regional managers come to their new positions with at least six years of industry experience.


Clark National, Elk Grove Village, Ill., a national distributor of foodservice and janitorial supplies, recently announced that Dan Danford has been promoted to the position of division president at its Cadillac, Mich., division. Danford has been with Clark for 32 years. Also, the company announced that Eric Peabody has joined as division president of its Carteret, N.J., division. Peabody has 15 years experience in the paper and packaging industries and most recently was director of marketing for Bunzl Distribution, St. Louis.


Burlington Chemical Co., Burlington, N.C., recently announced that Stephanie Rothenberg has joined the company as corporate accounts manager for the northeastern United States. Rothenberg most recently served as distribution account manager for Cognis.


Jan Spencer was recently appointed president of Kimberly-Clark Professional North America, Roswell, Ga. He was formerly president of Kimberly-Clark Professional Europe since 2001. Spencer has been with Kimberly-Clark for 24 years in positions ranging from manufacturing to sales and business management.


Dennis Riffer recently accepted the position of vice president of market development for AFFLINK, a distributor network in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Riffer has extensive experience in the jan/san industry, as well as in safety supplies.


Contract Cleaner Supply, West Conshohocken, Pa., recently announced several promotions: Richard Vollenweider, formerly vice president of Misco Products Corp., has been named sales manager/training director; Bruce Garrard, Rick Lunger, and Kate Cohen are regional account managers; and Laurie Matthias is now sales coordinator for the company.




POSTED ON: 12/1/2003