Phyllis Russell has been appointed executive director of the Power Transmission Distributors Assn. Foundation.

In this newly-created role, Russell is responsible for all aspects of the foundation's management and will oversee fundraising and relationship development in support of the foundation's Industrial Careers Pathway.

“The PTDA Foundation is taking on the challenge of bringing a new generation of people to careers in industrial distribution,” Russell says. “I look forward to working with leaders in industrial distribution, educators and partners across North America to successfully meet this challenge.”

Prior to joining the PTDA Foundation, Russell served as chief executive director of Work, Welfare & Families: An Illinois Coalition Working to End Poverty. Previously, she was president of the United Way of Rock River Valley in Rockford, Ill.

For information, visit www.industrialcareerspathway.org

The National Assn. of Wholesaler-Distributors' Institute for Distribution Excellence has elected two new members to its board of directors.

Deborah Hamlin, executive director of the Irrigation Assn., has been active in NAW companies for 20 years. She was executive director of the International Assn. of Plastics Distributors and has held positions with Applied Measurement Professionals and the New York State Nurses' Assn.

William Parsley, president and CEO of Carswell Distributing, has held positions on several advisory boards, including NAW, the Bank of America Winston Salem, and the Outdoor Power Equipment and Engine Service Assn.

The NAW Institute for Distribution Excellence offers industry-wide research and education to complement the educational efforts of NAW's member associations.

For information, visit www.naw.org

The National Assn. of Electrical Distributors is currently in the midst of a year-long celebration of its centennial—one that will conclude at the NAED Electrical Leadership Summit, scheduled for May 2008 in San Francisco.

Centennial activities include a commemorative book and Web site—www.naed100.org—along with special events set at each NAED regional meeting.

“I encourage all members of the electrical distribution industry to join us. It is most fitting that they are involved actively as we celebrate our accomplishments as an industry,” said Malcolm Watson, honorary chair of the Centennial Celebration Committee.

Watson is a past chairman of NAED (1978) and former president of Watson Electric Supply, Lindale, Texas.

For more information, visit www.naed100.org

The National Assn. of Manufacturers' “America's Business with Mike Hambrick” recently marked its first full year of broadcasting. The public-affairs radio program is now heard on more than 70 broadcast outlets.

The program is also available via podcast and streaming audio. In addition, the NAM recently launched “America's Business Blog”— www.americasbusinessblog.com—which features sound clips and interviews from the program.

For information, visit www.nam.org/AmericasBusiness