PROMOTION
Donald Droppo Jr. was named vice president of Curtis Packaging, Sandy Hooks, Conn. He's responsible for the packaging designer and printer's corporate strategy, corporate marketing and communications, product marketing, field marketing and all sales support programs. Previously, Droppo held marketing and sales management positions at General Reinsurance, a Berkshire Hathaway company in Boston.
NEW HIRES
Sue Garner has taken over management of the accounts receivable department at American Looseleaf, St. Louis. She has been with the distributorship for 20 years. Chris Hodgkins was named graphic designer. He oversees the design, creation and distribution of new marketing pieces. He also updates and maintains the company's web sites.
Joseph Pargola was named vice president of sales and marketing at Tekgraf Corp.'s CeeLite Division, Greenville, S.C. Tekgraf recently became the exclusive distribution partner of CeeLite's new flat, flexible light bulb. The light bulb has a surface illumination that can be tailored to any shape for a variety of backlighting and sign applications. Most recently, Pargola served as vice president of worldwide sales at Shira, Newton, Mass. Before that, he was vice president of sales, commercial division, at e-commerce provider Collabria Inc., San Mateo, Calif. David Conrad was named director of business development for CeeLite. He previously served as business development director at Tekgraf's Illinois office, where he oversaw the sales teams and managed critical vendor relationships. Prior to that, Conrad was business development manager and then corporate marketing manager for AVNET Inc., Tempe, Ariz.
Diane Rex was named account representative at HAPSCO Design and Printing Services Inc., Harrisburg, Pa. Rex, who has more than 19 years' experience in advertising and marketing, is responsible for marketing design and printing services to existing and potential customers. She is HAPSCO customers' primary contact for all sales needs, from estimating through production and billing. Rex most recently served as production coordinator for a marketing firm in Bethlehem, Pa.
Cyndy Hanks and Dean Joslyn were named account executives of digital imaging company Lazer Incorporated, Rochester, N.Y. They're responsible for new business development. Hanks has more than 20 years of experience in marketing communications. Joslyn has more than 20 years' experience in graphic arts.
RETIREMENTS
Mel Hyman retired from Prime Resources Corporation, Bridgeport, Conn. Hyman served in a senior management position with Prime Resources for 10 years. Prior to that, he spent 31 years with Art Mold Products (Action Line). He plans to play more golf, spend more time with his family and take trips to Aruba.
Eason Chapman retired from Permaseal Corporation, Florence, S.C. His eldest son, David Chapman, now leads the full-service print-finishing company and renamed it Permaseal Finishing LLC. Eason Chapman founded Permaseal in 1975. Since then, Permaseal has grown to include 10 staff members. Chapman served as a director of the Printing Industry of the Carolinas for more than seven years. He also served as a director of the Chamber of Commerce, and won a Rotary Small Business Man of the Year award. David Chapman, who has more than 15 years' sales experience, has worked for Permaseal for two years. Previously, he worked for Wrenn World Handling, where he won Salesman of the Year in 1999, and Southeastern Industry Equipment, where he won Salesman of the Year in 1997.
RECOGNITION
Proforma Inc., a franchise network of distributorships based in Cleveland, recently recognized its top owners at the Proforma Million Dollar Club/MVPLP Celebration for 2003 Performance held in Paradise Island, Bahamas. During 2003, 46 of Proforma's owners achieved annual sales exceeding $1 million. Three of those owners surpassed $5 million. Four new members joined the Proforma Million Dollar Club: Becki Anderson, Bob Lama, Bob Michel and Eric Nelsen.
