The Material Handling Education Foundation Inc. (MHEFI) has honored John Hill, principal and board member of ESYNC, with its 2004 Reed-Apple Award. The award is given to individuals who have made an extraordinary continuing contribution to the material handling industry and material handling education. The award was presented at the Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA) meeting held in late September in Dallas.

Hill has been with ESYNC, a Toledo, Ohio-based consulting, facility engineering, software development and systems integration firm, since 1999. He was also a founder of the Automatic Identification Manufacturers (AIM) trade association and a charter member of AIDC 100. He has served as president of both MHEFI and MHIA. In 2003, Hill was named to DC VELOCITY's roster of Logistics Rainmakers.