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People

Jordan, Knauff & Company Announce Michael E. Collins as Vice President, Building Products Group

Jordan, Knauff & Company, an investment bank dedicated to serving American private companies from offices in Chicago, IL and Kansas City, MO, is pleased to announce that Mr. Michael E. Collins, who leads the firm’s efforts in the window and door industry, has been promoted to Vice President, Building Products Group. In addition to maintaining the firm’s focus on advising window and door companies on liquidity events, acquisitions and capital placements, Mr. Collins, along with Mr. G. Cook Jordan, Jr., will be responsible for further developing the firm’s existing practice in other segments of the broader building products industry. This expansion will include the launch of the Foreign Competition Report for the U.S. Building Products Industry, which will take place this summer.

Pioneer Industries Hires V.P. Operations

Pioneer Industries is pleased to announce the hiring of Mr. Ralph Tarzia as Vice President of Operations. Ralph will join the Pioneer senior management team and have full responsibility for all manufacturing operations at the Hackensack, NJ facility and report to Mitchell Dorf, President.

Ralph is a seasoned manufacturing executive with over 30 years experience of managing manufacturing operations at various companies, including the Pioneer operations during the years of 1998-2003. He leaves his current position where he has been since 2003 as Plant Manager of a custom metal manufacturing company that manufacture’s an array of items such as cell phone electronic equipment and cabinets. While at this company, Ralph implemented a new ERP software system, which brought computerized shop floor controls and other management reporting tools to the company.

Ralph can be reached at 201-933-1900 or Rtarzia@pioneerindustries.com.

Michael Poeltl Joins Blue Giant as Marketing Manager

Blue Giant, a world leader in loading dock and materials handling equipment, announces the addition of Michael Poeltl as Marketing Manager.

Poeltl brings five years of marketing and web site experience, most recently with an internationally recognized legal support firm.

In his new position, Poeltl will be responsible for Blue Giant branding, advertising, and public relations. He has just created a Blue Giant Blog space at loading-dock-equipment.blogspot.com with breaking news on Blue Giant and industry issues such as safety, product and design development, and construction projects.

For more information on Blue Giant, go to www.BlueGiant.com or contact Mike Poeltl at 800-668-7078; mpoeltl@BlueGiant.com; or 85 Heart Lake Road South, Brampton, Ontario L6W 3K2, Canada.

Ingersoll Rand Names Steven Hochhauser President, Security Technologies Sector

Ingersoll-Rand Company Limited announced the appointment of Steven B. Hochhauser as president of its Security Technologies Sector, a $3 billion business that makes homes and business environments safe, secure and productive. He succeeds Michael W. Lamach, who, as previously announced, was appointed president of Trane Commercial Systems following Ingersoll Rand's acquisition of Trane Inc. Hochhauser, 47, also will be recommended to the Board of Directors for election as a senior vice president of the company. Hochhauser most recently was chairman, president and chief executive officer of Johns Manville, a global manufacturer and marketer of premium engineered materials and building products with revenues of more than $2 billion.

Prior to that, Hochhauser held leadership positions within Allied Signal/Honeywell as vice president and general manager of Engineered Applications and Solutions; president and general manager of Laminates Systems; and president and general manager of the Allied Signal Oak-Mitsui joint venture. Earlier in his career, Hochhauser held management positions with United Technologies and Rockwell International. He holds a bachelor's degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from the State University of New York in Binghamton.

For more information, visit www.ingersollrand.com

Products

Yale® Introduces YM Series™

Yale Commercial Locks & Hardware, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of door hardware and locks, has introduced the YM Series™, a new line of locks and hardware that expands the company's product offering to fit the diverse needs of end users throughout all segments of the commercial building industry. The YM Series features mortise locks, cylindrical locks, deadbolts, exit devices and door closers. When combined with the company’s existing product line, the YM Series enables Yale to provide end-users with complete opening solutions. For more information about YM Series™, visit www.yalecommercial.com or call 800-438-1951.

In Other News...

The continuing decline in housing starts has forced Huttig Building Products Inc. to close its branches in Fresno, CA, and Jackson, TN , reported the St. Louis Business Journal. Full Story

Stanley Convergent Security Solutions purchased the retail branch business from National Guardian Security Services. The purchase includes roughly 3,500 residential and commercial accounts concentrated in California, Missouri and Kansas, reported Security Systems News. Full Story

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