People – May 2005

• Mike Salinger and Al Benoliel join Alpha Professional Tools® in the new positions of regional sales managers; both have extensive sales and sales-management experience within the industry. Also in sales, the Wycoff, N.J.-based company also hires Al Ellis, with 20 years of experience in the diamond-tool and equipment industry, for the south territory of Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi; Dick Hargett, with 11 years in the tile-and-stone industry, for the southeast territory of Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama; and Mike O’Coin, with 18 years’ experience in the power-tools and diamond-blade industry, for the New England territory of Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and eastern New York state, as well as the province of Québec.
• Kevin M. Padden, well-known seminar presenter and writer on natural stone industry topics, joins the Marble Institute of America (MIA) as a training specialist. Additionally, he will conduct on-location seminar training and on-site consultations for MIA member companies.
• STONEXPRESS appoints Bill Reid as executive vice president of sales & marketing. A flooring industry professional for 23 years, including 16 years with Florida Tile Industries, Reid brings a strong background to the Decatur, Ga.-based stone distributor.
• Rick Dilts fills the new position of vice president of sales and marketing at Dakota Granite Co. Dilts previously worked as a sales representative and marketing director for the Milbank, S.D., quarrier. Also, Bill Ruoff, an 18-year Dakota employee, is the new commercial sales director; Mark McCulloch, an 11-year sales representative for Dakota, succeeds Ruoff as memorial sales director. Rich Creadon is national cemetery sales representative; and Marge Boerger receives a promotion to customer-service coordinator.