Honors, promotions, new hires: December 2007

FACTOR Inc.

Matthew D. Ziehme has been appointed to vice president of development at FACTOR Inc., a developer of software solutions and a division of W.R. Hess Co. Ziehme will have overall responsibility for the software and product development life cycle as well as driving product solutions that meet customer needs. Prior to joining FACTOR, Ziehme served as director of delivery for CIBER Inc.

New Jersey Propane Gas Association

Michael G. Merrill received the Howard Card Safety Award at the New Jersey Propane Gas Association’s annual meeting and awards ceremony in Atlantic City, N.J. Merrill was recognized for “outstanding leadership in propane safety, education and regulatory compliance.” He is director of safety services at Suburban Propane in Whippany, N.J.

Blackmer

• Jack Spoors has been appointed to director, inventory and logistics, at Blackmer. Spoors will be responsible for optimizing Blackmer’s inventory accuracy and ensuring that finished products are shipped properly to its customers. He will coordinate his efforts with Blackmer sales, customer care, product management, purchasing and manufacturing personnel.
• Mark Stubbs has been appointed to director, customer care and applications engineering, at Blackmer. He will serve as the first line of communication between Blackmer and its channels and customers, directing Blackmer’s application engineering and customer care groups.

Gas Equipment Co. Inc.

• Carl Frankenfield has been hired as the customer service manager for the Atlanta distribution warehouse and service center. Frankenfield has 28 years of technical and operational knowledge and experience. He will help customers throughout Georgia, Alabama, southern South Carolina, eastern Tennessee and the panhandle of Florida.
• George Tromanhouser has been hired as a customer service representative for the Fayetteville, N.C., distribution warehouse and service center. He will utilize his 15 years of retail operational and technical knowledge from the propane industry to serve customers throughout North Carolina and South Carolina.