ON THE MOVE
DOE’s Marc LaFrance Takes International Assignment
Individuals at door or window companies who are involved in the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Energy Star program have no doubt worked with Marc LaFrance, building envelope and windows research and development manager, for the Department of Energy (DOE). But LaFrance recently made a big career change: he left the DOE August 24 to serve as a building energy technology policy analyst at the International Energy Agency. The three- to five-year temporary assignment will be based in Paris and LaFrance will still be heavily involved in energy technologies.

“One of the projects I will be working on is a building envelope energy road map for the world,” he says. “If the industry wants to get involved internationally they can do that.”

The DOE has named Dr. Patrick Phelan as LaFrance’s interim replacement. He will manage the program until October. After that time he will serve as DOE’s emerging technology supervisor.

NEW HIRES
Stiles Adds Northeast Service Center and New Distributor
Stiles Machinery in Grand Rapids, Mich., announced additional service capabilities in the northeast region, as John Criscione, Jaime Irizarry and Melissa Partazana joined the company, September 1. The addition gives the company eight field service representatives dedicated to the northeast region.

Criscione, Irizarry and Partazana bring more than 30 years of experience providing service, support and repair to customers in the northeast. They will continue to provide service from the former All-Pro Machinery location in Toms River, N.J., which will now become a regional service center for Stiles. Criscione will be Stiles’ regional service manager for the northeast; All-Pro Machinery customers will continue to be fully supported by Stiles Machinery.

In addition, Stiles added McFarland & Associates as a new distributor for the Great Lakes region. McFarland & Associates will exclusively represent the company’s complete line in northern Illinois, southern and central Wisconsin for all woodworking applications. Skip McFarland, president of McFarland & Associates, has 30 years of experience in the wood working industry.

Hale Joins YKK AP;
Company Promotes Two
YKK AP America has hired Matt Hale as national operations manager.

Hale has more than 30 years’ experience in the industry and most recently served as marketing manager for Glasslam. Prior to that, he served as consultant, general manager and sales manager for Desert Glass Products. He also has experience with Arch Aluminum & Glass, AFG Industries and Ford Motor Co.’s Glass Division.

In addition, the company promoted both Troy A. Hein and Warren D. Saunders Jr. to the role of senior account managers. According to the announcement, the two have met the qualifications of the position under its America’s Sales Force Career Development Program.

KUDOS
Bob Simon Celebrates 50th Anniversary with Gossen Corp.
Bob Simon is celebrating 50 years with Milwaukee-based Gossen Corp. He began his career there after serving in the Army. He joined the company in 1962, working in the shipping department, through a referral from then Wisconsin Senator William Proxmire.

Over the years Simon has worked in a number of areas at Gossen. Soon after he was hired he started working in sales and was a sales manager until 1976. After the company was purchased by the Butterfield family in 1985, Simon worked with the new owners to help grow the company, adding new products, new markets new manufacturing facilities and more.

In 1990 Simon was appointed to the board of directors and named vice president and in 1996 was appointed executive vice president.

Simon has also been involved with a number of industry associations. Within the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA), he served on the task group that developed the Standard Specification for Cellular PVC Exterior Profiles, AAMA 308-02, now 308-08. He currently is the first vice president of the association’s Wood and Cellulosic Council. In addition, Simon is on the board of directors for the Moulding and Millwork Producers Association (MMPA), and is also chair of the Poly Group of MMPA that is in the process of developing a poly moulding standard for the building industry.

“In my 50 years at Gossen, the best years have been the last 27,” says Simon. “Being a private company and having such a great group of loyal and dedicated employees to work with and who support your efforts is a blessing.”

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