vfraza@reedbusiness.com

Milwaukee Electric Tool is bringing together tradespeople and football players to "give back" to communities.

It's all part of Milwaukee's Heavy Duty Helping program, an ongoing charitable endeavor designed to help tradespeople give back to the communities in which they live and work. The program generates both volunteers and financial support for Habitat for Humanity International.

So, where do the football players come in? Milwaukee is partnering with the NFL Players Assn. to bring Heavy Duty Helping to an even wider audience, creating an opportunity for active and retired NFL players to get involved with Habitat for Humanity. The partnership will bring players to Habitat work sites, where they can meet volunteers and lend a hand in construction.

And, through its sponsorship of Monday Night Football on CBS radio, Milwaukee, with help from NFLPA, will make a donation of tools to Habitat for Humanity with every touchdown scored from the Red Zone.

Heavy Duty Helping kicked off in early June, with the 2003 Jimmy Carter Work Project for Habitat for Humanity, a week-long building blitz that included the construction of homes in Anniston, Ala., and LaGrange, Ga. Milwaukee donated tools for the project, which added to the $2.5 million in products, vehicles and financial contributions the company has made to the program since 1993.

Cooper Industries is making big changes to its senior management. According to the company, Ralph E. Jackson, Jr., chief operating officer and deputy chairman, will retire by the end of 2003.

Kirk S. Hachigian, executive vice president, will take on broader responsibilities as executive VP and chief operating officer, electrical products division. Diane K. Schumacher, senior vice president and general counsel, is now chief compliance officer, with responsibility for monitoring and ensuring compliance with all laws and regulations applicable to Cooper throughout the world. David T. Gunther, director, internal audit, will report on a "dotted line" basis to Schumacher on matters related to those issues. David R. Sheil will take on an expanded role as the company's senior vice president, human resources and chief administrative officer. He also will assume responsibility for the company's public affairs function.

Anixter Pentacon, Inc. is the newest member of the Textron Fastening Systems team, having been recently named an authorized distributor for the fastener manufacturer. Anixter Pentacon is a distributor and provider of related inventory management services for wire, cable, fasteners and other small parts.

Construction and industrial supplies distributor Hughes Supply, Inc., headquartered in Orlando, Fla., opened a branch in Belgrade, Mont. recently. The branch supplies water, sewer and storm drain products to contractors and municipalities in the local area.

For the full story and latest news updates, go to www.inddist.com.

Distribution software provider Prophet 21 acquired Faspac Systems, Inc., a provider of enterprise software solutions and services for fastener distributors (see story, p. 33) … Orange Park, Fla.-based Masthead Hose & Supply bought Florida Rubber Co. of Jacksonville, Fla. Masthead sells hose and accessories and related services, with six locations in Florida and six additional facilities in Georgia, South Carolina, Indiana and Texas.

Manufacturer Kennametal, Inc. celebrated 50 years of continuous operation at its Carbidie facility in Hempfield Township, Pa., in July. Invited to participate in the celebration were Congressman Tim Murphy (R-Pa.), State Senator Allen Kukovich, and several community officials …Adept Technology, a manufacturer of factory automation components and systems, won Robotics World magazine's Innovative Products Award in the robots/controllers category at the recently held International Robot and Vision Show 2003 in Rosemont, Ill.