PEOPLE NEWS.

LifeStyle Furnishings of High Point, NC, has promoted Alan Cole to president, chief executive officer and director. In addition, Donald Barefoot was appointed to the newly created position of chief operating officer and director, and Robert Stamper was named vice president of marketing and business development.

Olympus Lock of Seattle, WA, has announced the addition of Jim Negri as general sales manager. He will be responsible for operations, sales, marketing and administration at Olympus.

Ross Gobble has joined Komo Machine Inc. of Sauk Rapids, MN, as a regional sales manager for the eastern U.S. His responsibilities include management of Komo's local dealer network and development of Komo's regional technology centers. In addition, Chris Chaney has been named inside sales manager. He has been with Komo for five years, most recently as a CNC router trainer, technical writer and Cim-Tech Router-Cim software support specialist.

SierraPine Ltd. of Roseville, CA, has added Alan Lambert as transportation manager and Merle Hellickson as training director Lambert is responsible for handling logistics and freight negotiations for the company's particleboard, MDF and moulding operations. Hellickson will work on leadership, team building, customer service and communications skills within the company.

Pike Lumber Co. Inc. of Akron, IN, has promoted Chuck Drudge to production manager. In addition, Diane Pontious has been promoted to corporate timber department administrator, and Leslie Sharton has been promoted to administrative assistant for the Carbon, IN, region.

Keith Aliman has been promoted to vice president -- operations at Merillat, of Adrian, MI. He will focus on product development, purchasing, manufacturing, distribution and service.

Planit-Autograph of Lexington, KY, a leading developer of kitchen design software, has appointed Robert E. Young as president. Prior to joining the company he managed a business unit for The Valvoline Co.

Jowat Corp. of High Point, NC, has appointed Grady Leser as sales representative for its southern Midwest territory. He will be responsible for the sale of Jowat packaging and woodworking adhesives in TX, LA, OK, KS, AR and MO.

Fezer North America of North Bay, ONT, has named Dane Floyd vice president and general manager. He will manage the office and establish sales and service in Columbus, IN. His industry experience includes running a logging company for 12 years.

J.E. Higgins Lumber Co. of Concord, CA, has hired Rod Carillo as the division manager of the company's Honolulu, HI, division. He joins the company after serving as regional manager for a cabinet manufacturer and wholesale distributor in Hawaii.

Columbia Forest Products of Portland, OR, has promoted Ed Woods to vice president and Jan Lampe to marketing communications manager.

Hermes Abrasives of Virginia Beach, VA, has announced the appointment of Tony Bennett to special markets manager, and Ron Gilbertson to regional sales manager -- Northwest region.

Makita U.S.A. Inc. of La Mirada, CA, a manufacturer of industrial power tools and accessories, has named Gary Morikawa as president. He has been with the company for 29 years. Paul Fukatsu, former president, will assume a new assignment within the company.

PAM Fastening Technology Inc. of Charlotte, NC, has promoted Matt Legg to manager, frame assembly division. His responsibilities include all sales and marketing of frame assembly/joining machines, double miter saws and fasteners throughout North America.

Bob Paradiso has been promoted to vice president of sales and marketing for Formica Corp.'s solid surfacing division in Odenton, MD. He has 25 years experience with Formica Corp. and will be responsible for the Surell and Fountainhead businesses in the U.S.

The International Staple, Nail and Tool Association has elected Craig A. Hindman as chairman of its Board of Directors and Mark Kania as vice chairman for 2000. In addition, Henry Schniedermeier, senior project engineer with Paslode, was appointed chairman of ISANTA's Technology Committee; Anthony Muto, vice president, general counsel and secretary for Senco, was appointed chairman of the Legislative and Legal Advisory Committee; and Biff Roberts, manager of Brand Communications for Senco, was appointed chairman of the Public Relations Committee.

SCM GROUP USA of Duluth GA, has named Christen Lash as a junior leasing administrator representing the East Coast. Renee Espinosa also has joined SCMI Leasing as junior leasing administrator for the West Coast.

Lumber Insurance Cos. of Framingham, MA, has appointed W. Keith Kloza, CPA, ARM, as vice president and controller. His finance and accounting experience includes capital generation, mergers and acquisitions, financial modeling and strategic planning.

De-Sta-Co Industries of Madison Heights, MI, a Dover Resources company, has appointed Kel Landers vice president of sales and marketing. He will be responsible for the coordination, direction and management of all sales and marketing activities for the company, an automation and work-holding supplier.

Christopher Weis has been named corporate and Internet marketing director of The Nu-Era Group Inc. of St. Louis, MD. His work will focus on the company's current business-to-business e-commerce activities and exploring and implementing additional online services.

The Montana State University TechLink Center has named Mick Lambrecht director of forest and wood products initiatives. He will oversee the Industries of the Future project, which helps forestry companies, sawmills and secondary production plants utilize technology developed by federal and university laboratories.

Jeff Bryk has been appointed senior marketing manager of Hitachi Power Tools of Norcross, GA. He will be in charge of new product launches, advertising, promotions, training and market research.

Fred Slautterback, president and founder of Slautterback Corp. Inc. of Monterey, CA, a subsidiary of Nordson Corp., has retired. Slautterback Corp., founded in 1979, manufactures hotmelt application equipment. Nordson, based in Duluth, GA. has named Fred Erler the subsidiary's new president.

Coastal Lumber Co. of Weldon, NC, has appointed Victor Barringer vice chairman of its board of directors. He currently serves as president of Coastal Lumber Intl. Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Coastal Lumber Co. Also appointed are Robert Conger, assistant vice president of lumber sales; and Steve Conger Jr., assistant vice president of timberland management.