Leviton Succession Plan Preserves Family Lineage
Donald Hendler Named CEO; Stephen Sokolow Named Chairman of the Board of Directors
In his appointment of Donald J. Hendler as CEO, and Stephen B. Sokolow as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Leviton Manufacturing Company, Harold Leviton, through a carefully-architected succession plan, ensured that the Company his father started in 1906 would continue to serve the marketplace as a private, family-owned and operated company. Leviton, CEO and Chairman of the Board, passed away earlier this month, leaving two of his sons-in-law to lead the Company as it progresses through its second hundred years in operation. Hendler, who in 2005 was named President, will assume the additional title and role of CEO. Sokolow, who was named Vice Chairman of the Board that same year, will succeed as Chairman of the Board.
“The Leviton family business will continue to grow as we embark on our second century in business,” said Donald Hendler, President and CEO of Leviton. “I am proud to accept leadership responsibility on behalf of Harold and the Leviton family. We have a number of exciting initiatives planned for the coming months and both Steve and I look forward to the opportunity of implementing these and moving the Leviton Company forward in the same friendly, family atmosphere that has become so much a part of our heritage, philosophy and culture.”
In a career spanning more than 37 years, Hendler has held key positions at Leviton. Before his appointment as President, he served as Executive Vice President, where he directed strategic planning, human resources and distribution initiatives, as well as sales, marketing and product development for Leviton North America and subsidiary, American Insulated Wire. He also has held various positions of prominence within the industry, having served on the Education Foundation for the National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED) and as a member of the Government Relations Committee of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA). In addition, he has served on the Advisory Committees of both IMARK and Affiliated Distributors.
Sokolow began his career at Leviton in 1961, starting out as a summer intern and working his way up to facilities manager and numerous other positions before his appointment to Executive Vice President, where he directed the Company’s manufacturing, engineering, distribution and information technology operations. Sokolow has served the industry as Technical Chairman of the Electronic Data Exchange Joint Committee of NAED, NEMA and NEMRA* and was Chairman of NEMA’s Wiring Device Section. He is a recipient of Electrical Wholesaling magazine’s prestigious GEM (Ganzenmuller Electrical Marketing) Award, which honors those who lead a company to greatness in electrical marketing.
With its roots established at the dawn of the electrical age, Leviton is one of the world’s most diversified electrical manufacturing companies, manufacturing products for nearly every connectivity need, from electrical receptacles to optical fiber components. Last year the Company celebrated its centennial anniversary.
TCP, Inc. Opens its Doors to a New 154,000-Square-Foot Global Headquarters
New facility meets lighting company’s growing needs
To better accommodate its customers and continue to grow its line of energy efficient lighting products, TCP, Inc. celebrates the opening of its new, larger global headquarters with a dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony signifying the company’s commitment to expanding the business in Northeast Ohio. The 154,000 -square-foot facility houses a two-story office space, warehouse, distribution center, product testing labs and customer service call center. TCP employs more than 200 people at its Aurora headquarters and expects to add as many as 40 jobs over the next year.
“Every day we are developing innovative lighting technologies that are transforming the way American’s light their homes, offices and schools,” said Ellis Yan, President & CEO, TCP, Inc. “Our new corporate headquarters will allow us to bring more high value jobs to the region and continue to deliver new energy efficient products to market that will help consumers around the world save money and reduce carbon emissions linked to global warming.”
Construction of TCP's new facility began in June of 2006, led by Curtis Layer Design/Build, an Aurora-based construction firm. The building features a warehouse equipped with Radio Frequency Technology, a Certified UL and NVLAP Testing lab, and employee amenities, including a contemporary fitness center and full-service cafeteria.
In addition to its every day functions, TCP’s new facility serves as a show room featuring a mixture of lighting fixtures and color temperatures throughout the building, giving visitors the opportunity to view the company’s variety of products firsthand. Also, daylighting units in the ceiling tile of the office areas bring in natural light, reducing the company’s energy usage and contributing to a more sustainable facility. In the future, the new building could be expanded to encompass more than 360,000 square feet of combined office and distribution space and house as many as 350 employees.
Though only a fraction the size of its competitors, TCP manufactures more than 900,000 energy efficient compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) every day and is responsible for 70% of the CFLs on the U.S. market sold under a variety of name brand, private label and other lighting manufacturers (OLMs), including n:vision at The Home Depot. As the energy efficient lighting innovator, TCP was the first company to introduce the use of the “SpringLamp Inside” rather than a straight tube in a compact fluorescent lamp, dramatically providing more lumens and making the twisted tube design the standard for energy efficient lighting.
Overtime, TCP has established the strongest technology base of any energy efficient light bulb manufacturer. The company has been the first to the market to conquer nearly every obstacle energy efficient lighting has faced, including the first to manufacture a dimmable CFL and patent the technology and the first to develop an odor-eliminating CFL. TCP has increased sales more than fivefold since 2000, reaching $152 million in sales in 2006.
TCP, Inc. drives lighting innovation for commercial, industrial and residential applications. As the leader in energy efficient lighting, TCP manufactures the most compact fluorescent lamps in the industry, offers one of the largest number of ENERGY STAR approved products and distributes them throughout North America and abroad. The company’s extensive product line includes compact fluorescent lamps, cold cathode, linear and high bay systems, exit and emergency lighting, HID, energy efficient fixtures, and LED lighting products/solutions. For more information, visit us at www.tcpi.com or call (800) 324-1496.
AT&T chooses Saft to supply batteries for network support
AT&T has opted to use NCX Ni-Cd batteries in its outdoor cabinets
Saft announced today that its NCX Ni-Cd (nickel cadmium) batteries have been selected by AT&T Inc., a premier communications holding company, to provide battery back-up service for parts of its wire-line network.
NCX batteries for telecommunications networks
Saft has developed its NCX battery technology specifically for modern telecommunications networks that utilize a large number of remote network terminals in the digital fiber loop. These terminals are typically without environmental control and several hundred thousand are today installed in suburban and small community locations in many parts of the 
world. The NCX batteries are therefore optimized for long life under extreme temperature conditions and will survive without maintenance for up to 10 years. The result is a considerable reduction in the total cost of ownership (TCO) for the lifetime of the equipment when compared with conventional batteries. The NCX range of batteries is naturally compatible with charging systems currently used in the telecom networks and has become the technology of choice for all operators looking for more durable and reliable back-up solutions.
For more information, visit http://www.saftbatteries.com/
WBE Names New Human Resources Manager
Laura Masset, 46, of Corte Madera has been named the new human resources manager for W. Bradley Inc. Her responsibilities include recruitment, personnel policies and department management.
W. Bradley Electric is the largest electric contractor in the North Bay, based out of offices in Novato with 240 employees. The six-division company offers an electrical division a well as telecommunications with data and voice cabling, networking, audiovisual, security and traffic signal divisions.
Masset will facilitate employee communication and work with labor issues and legislation, affecting the industry.
She has more than a decade experience in human resources management. Since 1998 she has worked with Gensler in San Francisco, most recently as recruiting and training manager. Prior to that she was the firm’s manager of human resources in both San Francisco and Denver.
Masset graduated from Golden Gate University, completing its human resources certification program. She is a member of Northern California Human Resources and the South Bay Organizational Development Network. She has also volunteered with Junior Achievement.
Robroy Industries Conduit Division Welcomes Kristopher Payne as Quotations Specialist
The Conduit Division of Robroy Industries welcomes Kristopher Payne as Quotations Specialist. Kristopher is responsible for working directly with key decision-makers to ensure effective pricing for Robroy PVC-coated rigid conduit.
Prior to joining Robroy Industries Kristopher Payne gained valuableexperience as a Management Trainee for Enterprise and as Customer ServiceProfessional for Citizens Bank. Mr. Payne earned his Bachelors of Science Degree in Marketing from LeTourneau University in Longview, TX.
