LENEXA, Kan. — Systemair North America, a manufacturer of commercial ventilation products, appointed Jeff Bredeson president. In this new role, Bredeson will lead all aspects of Systemair’s activities in North America, including the sales organization and the company’s three factories, located in Lenexa, Kansas; Bouctouche, New Brunswick; and Tillsonburg, Ontario, as well as Systemair’s Fantech and Greentek residential ventilation divisions.

Bredeson’s lengthy career in building products includes diverse leadership experience in the HVAC and pump industries, most recently serving as president of fan manufacturer S&P USA Ventilation Systems. Prior positions include president of Hydroflo Pumps, vice president of sales at Taco Comfort Solutions, and senior vice president and general manager of Hunter Fans’ industrial division.

“Jeff is a disciplined leader with a strong focus on market and commercialization, extensive analytical skills, and expertise in lean manufacturing and Six Sigma,” said Roland Kasper, CEO for Systemair. “His proven track record of leading companies to achieve aggressive, profitable growth will not only help Systemair grow our North American business but also increase capacity to help scale the business and individual departments to meet future demand.”

NEW YORK — AKF Group has appointed Dennis Boone as senior director of smart buildings. In this role, he is responsible for expanding AKF’s smart building consulting practice by leveraging the company's suite of integrated services. Boone boasts 30 years of experience specializing in smart building technologies and integrated building systems. He comes to AKF after a long tenure at Siemens, most recently serving as business development manager and New York City sales manager. In that position he oversaw a sales team that successfully and significantly increased revenues and customer base. Boone maximized business relationships by creating opportunities across all business segments within Siemens.

FRANKFURT, Germany — The executive board of the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) has elected Marina Bill of ABB as its new president. Kenji Yamaguchi of FANUC will serve as IFR´s vice president.

“I am honored to head the IFR as president and serve our industry, and I thank the members of the IFR for their trust and support,” said Bill. “The unprecedented pace of change we’re experiencing in global business provides a historic opportunity to shape industry for the next generation. Robotics and automation create flexible, sustainable, and efficient solutions for businesses of all sizes that minimize cost, promote resilience, and benefit society.”

Bill thanked her predecessor for his work. “Milton Guerry took office at the starting point of the COVID-19 pandemic and served the industry dealing with a great number of challenges,” she said. “He worked relentlessly as our ambassador, and I am proud to continue this mission together with our new vice president, Kenji Yamaguchi.”

Bill heads global marketing and sales for ABB’s Robotics business which has approximately 11,000 employees, operating in over 100 locations in 53 countries. She has more than 25 years of experience in a number of management and sales and marketing roles across automation at ABB. The Swedish and Swiss national holds a master’s degree in industrial engineering and management from The Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm.  

LENEXA, Kan. — Henderson Cos. is proud to announce the promotion of Jason Wollum to chief sector officer (CSO) for Henderson Engineers and Henderson Building Solutions. An architectural, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry veteran who has been with Henderson for more than 24 years, Wollum is charged with overseeing the execution of the company’s strategic initiatives within its key market sectors.

“I’ve had the pleasure of closely collaborating with Jason Wollum throughout my 17 years at Henderson, and his vast industry experience and business acumen are a perfect fit for this role,” said Kevin Lewis, Henderson’s CEO and president. “Jason has a deep understanding of our firm and the markets we serve as well as a talent for providing first-class client experience. His expertise will be invaluable as CSO, and I’m looking forward to his continued contributions and leadership.”

Wollum previously served as Henderson’s retail sector executive, overseeing strategy, operations, and business development for the firm’s largest market sector. He will be succeeded in that role by Jason Zoeller, a 20-year company veteran, who most recently served as Henderson’s specialty retail practice director.

“This latest step in my Henderson journey is exciting, and I can’t wait to continue making a difference for our clients, partners, and employees,” said Wollum. “Innovation and exceptional client experience have shaped our company into what it is today, and I’m eager to help push that forward into the future. Major congratulations to Jason Zoeller, who I’m honored to pass the retail sector baton to.”

Wollum holds a bachelor’s degree in architectural engineering from Kansas State University. He is a licensed professional engineer in 33 states and Puerto Rico as well as in eight Canadian provinces. In addition to serving as chair for the Chairman’s Circle at the American Cancer Society’s Kansas City chapter, he is on the board of directors for the Henderson Foundation, Henderson’s nonprofit arm.

WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J. — McLaren Engineering Group, a full-service engineering firm, added two new members to its board of directors: Cosema "Connie" Crawford, P.E., director of rail and transit for ASTM North America, and Stephanie Olexa, Ph.D., MBA, founder of Lead to the Future LLC.

Each began their terms last week, replacing outgoing board members Lt. Gen. Dennis Hejlik and Roger Neuenschwander, AIA, who admirably served the organization since 2014.

"The current board is honored to welcome our new members, who bring with them an innovative array of experience, industry knowledge, and perspectives," said Malcolm McLaren, P.E., founder and executive chairman, McLaren Engineering Group. "After considering numerous candidates, our nominating committee selected these individuals to guide the firm's strategic plans based on their expertise and the value we believe they will bring to the organization."

As the McLaren Engineering Group board continues to serve and influence the organization, its membership is developing in diversity of backgrounds and skills to champion the firm's progressive changes.

"To best drive our next phase of advancement, the board will continue to provide guidance for our future growth plans and management of operations," said Jeremy Billig, P.E., CEO, McLaren Engineering Group. "Our new members are truly representative of McLaren's brand of 'Applied Ingenuity,' fusing technical excellence with out-of-the-box thinking. I believe they, along with our current directors and leadership, will help propel us forward."

BOSTON — RMF Engineering, a full-service MEP engineering firm, elevated Conrad Hertz, P.E., to division manager at the firm's Boston office. In his new role, Hertz will drive the strategic development and expansion of the growing team, maintaining excellence in quality and service across each of the firm's projects in the region.

"Conrad has risen to the challenge of running the Boston division and, in his tenure, has shown he has the technical ability, drive, and ambition to make the office a prominent engineering provider in the Northeast. I look forward to working with him and his excellent staff for decades to come," said David Crutchfield, P.E., vice president and corporate secretary at RMF, who oversees the firm's offices in Charleston, South Carolina; Atlanta; and Boston.

With more than 15 years of experience in the AEC industry, Hertz has developed a reputation for navigating challenging and complex projects across a range of typologies, including science and technology, education, and corporate-commercial. Highly skilled in managing stakeholder relationships with owners, operators, OPMs, occupants, and architects on each new project, Hertz brings a unique ability to integrate the holistic project goals with the MEP systems to deliver a quality design solution. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Vermont and is a graduate of Tufts University’s Fletcher School.

Hertz has played an integral role in growing RMF's presence in the greater Boston area, helping to cultivate a team of professionals that has nearly tripled since he first joined the firm in 2020. Refining his capabilities with expanded responsibilities as division manager, Hertz will be tasked with steering that multidisciplinary team through a building landscape that increasingly prioritizes sustainability, decarbonization, and energy efficiency. Hertz will also continue working in partnership with engineering teams from RMF's other office locations to strengthen the firm's collaborative spirit and best-in-class talent offering in building and utility engineering services.