Newsroom

For Immediate Release

Jean Preston to become VP of Marketing and Branch Operations

NEWPORT NEWS, Va., March 14, 2005 – Noland Company has announced that Jean F. Preston, 44, will become vice president, marketing and branch operations for the wholesale distribution firm on April 1, when the current head of marketing, Kenneth C. King, retires.

The company also announced the appointment of Paul J. Barber, 39, as director of corporate data.

King, 62, has been vice president, marketing and branch operations for Noland since 1998. A 42-year Noland veteran, he managed the company’s Frederick, Md., operations for 21 years before transferring to its corporate offices in Newport News in 1998. He also joined Noland's board of directors.

Preston has been with Noland for 27 years, starting as a trainee in the corporate data division in 1978. He served in a variety of positions before becoming manager of programming in 1986. He later served as manager of systems development before being named director of corporate data in 1997. He was elected a vice president in 1998.

As vice president, marketing and branch operations, Preston will direct Noland's marketing activities and oversee all 101 branches.

Barber is a native of Newport News and a graduate of Radford University. He also holds a master's degree from Christopher Newport University. He spent 11 years in Noland's corporate data division, working his way up to manager of programming. He left Noland in 2000 to join Northrop Grumman Newport News but returned in January.

Noland distributes plumbing, air conditioning, water systems, electrical and industrial products, primarily to the construction trades.

# # #
4 – 3/14/05 - A/C