Presenting the web version of one of Lighting Dimensions’ most popular columns, its people page. This news digest was prepared by Natalie Zmuda, summer intern for Lighting Dimensions and Entertainment Design magazines.
Carly Barber was named Illumination Dynamics’ president, Jeff Pentek its chief operating officer, and Kevin Stolpe its director of sales and marketing. Christopher Woodward was also appointed chief financial officer. The four founded the Hollywood-based lighting and power generation service company, which opened for business this month (its East Coast division is in Charlotte, NC). Also announced was the appointment of Bill Kanne as director of tech services. Illumination Dynamics is targeted at the motion picture, television, special events, and sports broadcast markets throughout North America.
Hubbell Lighting Inc. appointed Wesson Brown group vice-president of their platform of businesses, which includes: Hubbell Lighting Inc., Sterner, Security, and Devine Lighting companies. Brown returns to the lighting group after transferring to other Hubbell businesses in 1993.
AV Images (www.avimages.com) has chosen Carlin Fink to head its new creative services department.
After 20 years, Robert Haidinger is stepping down as CEO of JJI Lighting Group. He will continue to serve as chairman of the board of directors. Richard J. Crossland, recently appointed president of JJI, will become CEO as well.
Miller Fluid Heads, Australia, has announced the appointment of Ian O’Connor to the position of managing director for its European operations. O’Connor will be based in Miller’s Isleworth, London office, where his responsibilities will include sales, marketing, and dealer support for the European and UK markets. Previously, O’Connor worked with Canon UK as UK TV products sales and European marketing manager. He will be joining sales coordinator Amanda Sears in the sales and marketing team, and service manager Graham Adams will support him.
Chris Parry, LD, educator, and owner of Axiom Lighting Inc., will move back to Southern California in July. He is basing himself in Los Angeles. The move will be a permanent one for Parry. His new address is: 328 N. Maple Dr. Suite 105, Beverly Hills, CA 90210.
W.A.C. Lighting has appointed Marc Pfeiffer to its in-house sales team.
Los Angeles-based Creative Technology, involved in broadcast multi-camera production and LED indoor and outdoor services among other activities, has appointed David Reinke director of operations. The firm is on the web at www.ctlosangeles.com.
Lightolier announces the appointment of Michelle Troconis as marketing manager for the Fibre Light U.S. LLC and specialty products division in Union, NJ. Troconis will be responsible for all marketing program components, including market research and analysis, public relations, electronic marketing, and advertising. Prior to her appointment, Troconis was marketing manager for Lightolier Controls in Garland, TX. While there she managed new product releases, website design, sales literature, and trade show support, as well as supervising training courses for the sales team and customers.
ITT Industries, Cannon, has named Roy Wang director of operations for Cannon connector products in Asia.
Tampa, FL-based Bay Stage Lighting has added two LDs, Troy White and Greg Utley, to its staff. White and Utley were hired as part of a project called Ready, Aim, Hire. The project was intended to provide the design and production support required to offer one-stop shopping service to Bay Stage Lighting customers. Previously, White owned and operated Digital Lighting & Sound, which provided lighting, sound, and video support for numerous corporation events throughout North, Central, and South America, the Caribbean, and Europe. Utley is a former rock and roll base guitarist, who became interested in lighting while on tour. Most recently, he was the head LD for Wizard Studios and was responsible for all facets of lighting design, including crew management and budgeting.
Albert Wong has been named High End Systems’ new regional sales manager for Singapore. He replaces Jimmy “JR” Chai, who has left to pursue other interests. Wong will handle all matters pertaining to automated lighting and controller sales in North and Southeast Asia, and he will manage operations at HES Singapore. Wong has 12 years of experience in the industry. Before coming to HES he was a sales manager at a pro audio and lighting company for nine years.
In memoriam: DP Ralf D. Bode, ASC, Academy Award-nominated cinematographer of Coal Miner’s Daughter, died February 27. The German-born DP, whose other credits included Saturday Night Fever, Dressed to Kill, The Accused, and TV’s Annie (for which he received an Emmy nomination) had been suffering from lung cancer. He was 59. DP Piotr Sobocinski, the cinematographer of Krzysztof Kieslowski’s Red, and The Dekalog, plus Ransom, and Marvin’s Room, died March 26 of unknown causes while filming in Vancouver. He was 43. DP Sacha Vierny, favored by directors Alain Resnais and Peter Greenaway, died in Paris on May 15. He was 81. His final credit, Sally Potter’s The Man Who Cried, is currently in US theatres.