Now offering National Coverage

of LBM Dealers and Wholesalers in all50 States

Jim McKellar has been named executive v.p. of the new Los Angeles, Ca., branch office for building products advertising and public relations firm Purdie Rogers, Seattle, Wa.

Byron Jennings is new to the industrial team at Buckeye Pacific Corp., Portland, Or. Matthew Battarbee is a new southern yellow pine specialist.

Sandra Lepore, ex-Black & Decker Corp., has joined Custom Building Products, Seal Beach, Ca., as assistant product mgr. for the company's C-Cure and Jamo product lines.

Jim O'Grady, ex-Hope Lumber & Supply, has rejoined Wickes Inc. as president and c.e.o.

John Trani plans to retire Dec. 3l as chairman and c.e.o. of Stanley Works.

Bob Whitman is retiring as president of Home Depot's Expo Design Centers. Annette Verschuren, president, Home Depot Canada, will serve as interim president of the division.

Stephen, Sheldon, Scott, Shane and Shannon Steed, owners, Skyline Forest Resources, Escalante, Ut., were recently awarded the 2003 Small Business Persons of the Year Award by the U.S. Small B usiness Administration.

Since its inception in 1982, The Merchant Magazine's sister publication, Building Products Digest, has reached all LBM dealers and wholesalers in the Southeastern U.S. Beginning with the ll;Jy 2003 isste, Building Products Digest's circulation will expand to also reach the Midwest and the Northeast. Although advertising rates will remain the same, the Digest's circulation will grow by approximately 50o/o to 16,000 readers East of the Rockies.

Combined with The Merchant's coverage of the 13 Western states, advertisers can now reach a national audience of more than 20,000 dealers and wholesalers.

For more information, contact Chuck Casey or Alan Oakes at (949) 852-1990.

Olna Newlan, retail sales mgr., Franklin Building Supply, Jerome, Id., was recently honored by the company for 30 years of service.

Michael Lupo has been named president and c.e.o. of Huttig Building Products Inc. He had been serving as interim president and c.e.o. since March, following the resignation of Barry Kulpa.

Shannon MacGregor has joined the Construction Specifications Institute as director of finance.

Scott C. Conklin, Universal Forest Products, has been elected 2nd v.p. of the American Wood-Preservers' Association. Wayne P. Ryland, International-Paper, is treasurer. Randy Deweese, Thomasson Lumber Co., has been elected to the executive committee along with G. Paul Merrick, Trus Joist.

George J. Harad, chairman and c.e.o., Boise, Boise, Id., and John Faraci, president, International Paper, were among the speakers at the recent llth Annual Cyclicals and Specialty Materials Forum hosted by Goldman Sachs in New York City.

Bob Bosworth has been promoted to national dealer sales mgr. for Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A., Irvine, Ca. Brett Wood is now national product planning & marketing services mgr.; Jim McManus, v.p.-sales & dealer development/market representation. and Bill Porento. v.p.-service. parts, training & customer satisfaction.

Mike Palmer. sales. Waldron Forest Products, Fair Oaks, Ca., married Elizabeth Kevan May l0 in Grants Pass, Or. El Louise Waldron, owner, recently returned from a vacation in Kauai, Hi., with her husband.

Berle Wood is new to the hardwood department at Mungus-Fungus Forest Products, Climax, Nv., report co-owners Hugh Mungus and Freddy Fungus.