For the Week of February 17th

Management Changes:

ST Media Group Intl. (Cincinnati parent company of VM+SD magazine) has hired Karen McElroy-Hunter as director of events. McElroy-Hunter most recently was principal of her own company, The Mission Group, which developed strategies to create and further brand awareness through trade shows, private events, sponsorships and other marketing initiatives. She will oversee ST Media Group's trade show operations and events, including the VM+SD International Retail Design Conference, StoreXpo and imageWorld.

W.A.C. Lighting (Garden City, N.Y., lighting designer and manufacturer) has named Richard Kurtz president, replacing founder Tony Wang, who will retain his titles of chairman and ceo. Kurtz, who previously served as vp, operations, is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the business.

Diam Intl. (Woodside, N.Y., retail merchandising solutions provider) has appointed Ali Fadel to the new position of coo of Diam USA. Fadel previously was executive vp, global operations, for Textron Fastening Systems.

The Paradies Shops (Atlanta airport retail operator) added Bruce Feuer as director of business development. Feuer most recently served as general manager of Shanghai Centre, where he oversaw leasing of office, retail and residential space for the multi-use real estate project.

Drytac Canada Inc. (Toronto manufacturer and distributor of mounting adhesives and laminating films) has appointed Hayden Kelley as general manager. Kelley, who joined the company in 1997, is responsible for overseeing the company's sales, technical and marketing organizations.

Ronnette Riley Architect (New York architecture and design firm) has named Mark Brungo an associate.

WalkerGroup/CNI (New York retail design consultancy) has added Richard Lewis as director of design. Lewis will work out of the firm's Los Angeles office, focusing on clients in the western U.S., Asia and the Pacific Rim.

Ventex Technologies Inc. (Riviera Beach, Fla., electronic neon power supplies manufacturer) has added Steve Hipsak and Russ Mills of TMS Associates Inc. (Anaheim, Calif.) to its sales force. Hipsak and Mills will handle sales of Ventex Generation III neon power supplies in the western U.S. region.

Gensler…Architecture, Design & Planning Worldwide (San Francisco architecture and design firm) has named the following vice presidents: Stephen Andrews (London), Reid Brockmeier (Morristown, N.J.), Marla Brown (London), Collin Burry (San Francisco), John Gaulden (Charlotte), Donald Ghent Jr. (Washington, D.C.), Roger Godwin (Atlanta), Arpy Hatzikian (Los Angeles), Ralph Mocerino (Detroit), Ken Sanders (firmwide resources), Keith Thompson (Los Angeles) and Grant Uhlir (Chicago).

RPA (Columbus, Ohio, retail design firm) has hired Scott Harrison as vp, sales; Steve Kubinski and Allyson Morena, account directors; Sean Bice, senior copywriter; and Alexandra Kelley, public relations manager.

Mergers/Acquisitions:

Testrite Instrument Co. (Newark, N.J., display, sign and related products manufacturer) has acquired Nu Design Frame Co. (Newark, N.J., frame manufacturer). Michael Rothstein, president and ceo of Nu Design, will join the Testrite management team.

American Nail Plate Lighting (ANP Lighting, Montclair, Calif., lighting fixture manufacturer) has acquired Architectural Lighting (Riverside, Calif., decorative aluminum cast poles/luminaries and accessories manufacturer).

Relocations:

Palumbo Associates Inc. (Millington, N.J., exhibit, design and production firm) to 27 Ridge Rd., Whitehouse Station, N.J., 08889. Phone: 908-534-2142; fax: 908-534-4738; Internet: www.paexhibit.com.

RPA (Columbus, Ohio, retail design firm) to 645 S. Grant Ave., Columbus, OH 43206. Phone: 614-564-1000; fax: 614-564-1010; Internet: www.rpaworldwide.com.

Store openings/Contracts:

Interlamexpo (Federal Way, Wash., manufacturer of mounting adhesives, overlaminates and finishing products) has opened a Chicago facility to support its Midwest customers. The office, which includes a showroom and training center, is at 808 N. Central Ave. – Unit A, Wood Dale, IL 60191. Phone: 630-694-8357.

Business Briefs:

JHP Design Consultants (London design firm) has been hired by Austrian developer and food retailer Interspar to design and evolve its hypermarkets. The project includes strategic development and design of the retailer's environment and identity.

Kent Displays Inc. (Kent, Ohio, display technology designer and manufacturer) has added Varitronix Ltd. (Hong Kong LCD and related display manufacturer) as a licensee for its Cholesteric “No Power” LCD Technology.

TIR Systems Ltd. (Vancouver, British Columbia, light-enabling technology manufacturer) has signed an exclusive development and distribution agreement with Aketon Technologies (Corvallis, Ore., cleanroom designer and builder). The partnership includes the incorporation of TIR's advanced Solid State Lighting technology into Aketon Technologies'new modular cleanroom ceiling systems.