Names, Faces & Events

Light & Medium Truck, Nov 2007

Autocar announced that Gene Parker has rejoined the company as director of vocational products sales and marketing. He returns to Autocar from American LaFrance, where he was national sales manager for the Condor product.

Brembo North America recently appointed Adrian Smith general manager of its North American operations. Smith will be responsible for Brembo's offices in Costa Mesa, Calif., Charlotte, N.C., and Detroit.

ConocoPhillips said Stephen Brand, former vice president of exploration and business development, exploration and production, will become senior vice president of technology. Brand will report to Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jim Mulva.

FleetCor, a fuel card supplier, appointed Ed Hong as vice president of marketing for its Mannatec division. Hong will be responsible for leading growth programs in FleetCor's Petroleum Marketer private label business.

Mitchell International announced that, effective Jan. 1, Alex Sun, president, will become president and chief executive officer and a member of Mitchell's board of directors. James Lindner, who has been CEO since 1997, will become executive chairman of the board.

The Midwest Energy Association said Ric Hinkie has retired after 17 years as president.

Navistar International Corp. announced the appointment of Jon Harmon as vice president of corporate communications.

Saddle Creek Corp., a third-party logistics company with headquarters in Lakeland, Fla., recently appointed Leta Cherry Hardy as director of marketing.

Thermo King Corp. named Will Watson OEM sales manager. He is responsible for developing and supporting the needs of tractor original equipment manufacturers as they relate to sales of the company's TriPac hybrid auxiliary idle reduction and temperature management systems.

Also, Thermo King named Paulo Wandenkolk central region director. He will oversee the region's district sales and service managers, national account manager and bus manager.

UPS Inc. said logistician Matt Lawrence recently became the Federal Emergency Management Agency's first "loaned" executive from private industry. Lawrence, who began a nine-month assignment on Sept. 4, helps evaluate current disaster logistics processes and shares best practices from the private sector. UPS said it volunteered an executive after FEMA asked the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for help getting commercial expertise. UPS continues to pay Lawrence's salary. Lawrence is part of the newly created Logistics Management Directorate, which explores new approaches to disaster logistics management. His experience includes transportation network management, warehousing, inventory management and distribution.

November

9-14 Annual Meeting & TransComp, National Industrial Transportation League, Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta; www.nitl.org.

16-18 American Towman Exposition, American Towman, Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Md.; www.towman.com.