Customization

Changes are automatically saved. Reset Settings

IMARK Plumbing Supplier News

NIBCO Announces Appointments, Promotions

NIBCO Inc., a leading provider of flow control solutions, recently announced its Board of Directors has approved several executive leadership appointments. These new appointments are effective immediately and reflect the company’s commitment to its long-term growth strategy.

Steve Malm has been appointed as the new chairman and CEO. Malm has been with NIBCO since 1996 and has served as president and chief operating officer (COO) from 2006 to 2018 and president and CEO since 2018. He has successfully led the company’s growth, innovation and profitability across various markets and industries. He will now oversee the overall vision, mission, strategy and performance of the company.

Ashley Martin has been promoted to the position of president and chief operating officer. Martin joined NIBCO in 2012 and has most recently served as executive vice president since 2021. She represents the fifth generation of family leadership since the company’s inception in 1904. She has successfully overseen the company’s operating performance and profitability. She will now be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the business.

NIBCO further announced that Rex Martin will continue to assist the company with the title of chairman emeritus. Martin has been with the company for more than 48 years and has most recently served as chairman since 1995. As a fourth-generation leader, he has been a visionary who has strengthened the company’s commitment to its culture, values and mission for the future. He will continue to serve as an advisor and mentor to the executive leadership team.

“We are happy to announce that Ashley Martin has been appointed as the new president and COO of NIBCO,” said Malm, chairman and CEO. “Ashley is a fifth-generation member of our family business and has demonstrated exceptional leadership, vision and passion for our company’s mission, core values and growth. She will continue to lead our company with excellence and integrity, as well as uphold our legacy of family ownership and stewardship. We are confident that Ashley will take our company to new heights of success and create value for our customers, associates, shareholders, and communities.”

NIBCO Inc. also announced the promotion of Allen Stanley to vice president, fittings manufacturing and distribution, and Rudy Smith to vice president, valve manufacturing.

Both Stanley and Smith will report to Martin. “Allen and Rudy have long careers with NIBCO and the knowledge and expertise that they both bring to these roles will be valuable for the success of our organization,” said Martin. “Join me in congratulating them on their well-deserved promotions.”

In this new role, Stanley has responsibility for the Stuarts Draft, Virginia manufacturing operations and the Demand Planning department, along with his current responsibilities for the U.S. distribution centers, world headquarters logistics and all plastic manufacturing facilities.

Stanley began his career in 1997 at NIBCO as administrative manager at the Atlanta Distribution Center. He held a variety of roles of increasing responsibility including operations manager at the Elkhart Distribution Center, manager, distribution and transportation and most recently, director, plastic fittings manufacturing and distribution.

Stanley holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of West Georgia in Carrollton, Georgia. He also earned his master’s degree in marketing from Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia.

In his new role, Smith will have responsibility for NIBCO’s Blytheville, Arkansas, facility, along with the company’s Nacogdoches, Texas, McAllen, Texas and Reynosa, Mexico facilities.

Smith began his career at NIBCO in 1996 in logistics at NIBCO’s world headquarters. Two years later, he was promoted and transferred as operations manager of NIBCO’s Nacogdoches facility. He held various roles from production superintendent, plant superintendent, plant manager, and most recently, senior plant manager at Reynosa, prior to his new role.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in management from Rice University, in Houston, Texas.

NIBCO also announced the promotion of Dawn Bloch from vice president, customer engagement, to chief people officer (CPO).

In her new role, Bloch will oversee business development, customer service, marketing communications and human resources. Bloch is the first woman to be named to NIBCO’s executive leadership team who is a nonfamily member. Bloch will report to Martin.

“Dawn is a powerful testimony to the career advancement of women in our trades and at NIBCO,” said Martin. “It is an honor for her to join the executive leadership team as the first woman that is not a family member.”

Bloch joined NIBCO in 2000 as a customer service representative. She held several positions of increasing responsibility including technical specialist, radiant heating advisor; radiant heat technical coordinator; customer service manager, director retail sales; director, business development and customer service; and vice president, customer engagement.

Bloch was named to Supply House Times’ “20 Women in Industry” in March 2017, an acknowledgement of women decision makers in the PHCP-PVC industry. At NIBCO, she was recognized in 2015 with the Rex Martin award, given to recognize achievement in cost reduction, safety, or an increase in sales, and in 2018, the Alice A. Martin award, given to recognize women who demonstrate philanthropy, community service, mentorship, and support the development of other women.

She has been a member of the American Supply Association Women in Industry since 2013, a board chair for Habitat for Humanity of Elkhart since 2019, and she is a board member for Elkhart Education Foundation, as well as Elkhart Parks Department.

She holds a bachelor’s degree of science in business administration from Indiana Tech, Fort Wayne, Indiana. Bloch also holds a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Northern Alabama, a certificate in digital marketing from Cornell University and attended an advanced human resources executive program at the University of Michigan this summer.

For more information, visit nibco.com.

New LCU15 and LCU20-Series Condensate Pumps

Liberty Pumps introduced a next-generation series of the LCU15 and LCU20-Series condensate pumps.

Upgraded features include:

  • Quieter operation
  • Longer pumping cycle
  • An added bubble level for accurate mounting
  • More contemporary look/design
  • Splash proof motor housing

The models that are being upgraded include:

  • LCU15-SERIES: LCU-15, LCU-15S, LCU-15ST, LCU-15T
  • LCU20-SERIES: LCU-20S, LCU-20ST, LCU220S, LCU220ST

Pricing will not change. Continue to place orders using the same LCU model numbers.

The neutralizing condensate models LCU-N Series, and the shallow pan LCU-SP Series will retain the current design.

For more information, visit libertypumps.com.

Gerber Announces New VP of Sales – Wholesale

Derek Kirkpatrick has taken the reins as vice president of sales – wholesale for Gerber’s North American market.

He has been a crucial part of the Gerber community since 2012, initially joining the company as a regional business development manager. In 2014, he was promoted to the role of director of sales for the company’s Canadian market, where he successfully grew Gerber’s business in that region. Before joining the Gerber team, he served as the North American general manager for Caroma USA Inc., where he expertly developed and led the organization in sales growth and profitability improvement.

In his new role, he will lead Gerber’s dynamic internal sales and customer service teams and manufacturers’ representatives for both the United States and Canada. His responsibilities include driving strategic initiatives to increase the company’s market share and building strong relationships with its valued customers. His continuous improvement mindset and dedication to customer success make him a valuable addition to the leadership team.

For more information, visit globeunion.com.

Sloan Earns Independent WAVE Verification

Sloan, a leading manufacturer of commercial plumbing systems, has earned verification to The Water Council’s WAVE program.

Independently awarded by SCS Global Services—an international leader in third-party sustainability verification—WAVE program verification indicates that Sloan has assessed water-related risks across the enterprise, identified the highest water-related impacts using credible water-related data and implemented best practices in improving water stewardship performance.

In 2022, Sloan was among the first companies to sign on to The Water Council’s WAVE program, an initiative designed to help companies improve, report and verify their water stewardship progress. Kirk Allen, Sloan’s co-president and CEO, is a longtime member of The Water Council’s Board of Directors.

“Protecting our planet’s most precious resource is a fundamental responsibility of our business, and we take this obligation very seriously,” said Paul Sambanis, Sloan’s vice president of sustainability. “Sloan is proud to achieve certification for The Water Council’s WAVE program. It is an exciting opportunity to lead by example and proactively address water challenges with our peers.”

Sloan’s WAVE verification certificate from SCS Global Services required the completion of a six-step process, which included:

  1. Promoting Sloan’s membership in The Water Council
  2. Performing an enterprise-wide review of current practices that impact how water is procured, used, and discharged from direct operations and/or used in the value chain
  3. Performing a watershed risk assessment of key sites under direct operational control and/or sites from which key inputs are sourced and services delivered
  4. Prioritizing sites where water-related risks are highest and can be mitigated through direct application of water stewardship practices; and/or prioritizing actions in the value chain
  5. Securing senior-level approval of an enterprise-wide statement on water stewardship
  6. Communicating an enterprise-wide action plan, resulting goals, and timeline for implementing water stewardship projects and/or practices at high-risk sites or within the value chain

“By following the six-step process above, Sloan has demonstrated that it is strategically prioritizing water-related action where it matters most,” said Matt Howard, The Water Council’s vice president of water stewardship. “We are excited to see Sloan take the next step in its water stewardship journey.”

Sloan concentrates its water efforts on three key areas: designing innovative and water-efficient products, monitoring and conserving water in its operations and promoting water stewardship with its stakeholders. One example of these efforts is through Sloan’s Foundry, where evaporative condenser cooling towers are installed to make use of recycled water, reclaiming approximately 18 million gallons of water each year.

Entering 2024, Sloan plans to build on its water stewardship and sustainability progress in the following ways:

  • Improving on-site water measures by installing submeters in areas of high-water usage
  • Ensuring all sites have up-to-date and proper documentation for environmental, water-related, and stormwater management systems
  • Participating in the WASH4WORK Pledge as a commitment to implementing access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene at the workplace and across Sloan’s value chain
  • Implementing water reuse policies to reduce water consumption on site
  • Participating in activities and working with local stakeholders to preserve and improve local water quality
  • Highlighting water reuse and other practices on its website and other public platforms

The Water Council, an internationally acclaimed nonprofit dedicated to freshwater innovation, has helped companies of all sizes and industries improve water stewardship. It created the WAVE program to help businesses anywhere in the world address water on an enterprise level, moving beyond non-contextual water management targets to develop meaningful strategies, goals and actions.

For more information, visit sloan.com/sustainability-and-wellness.

New Product: RightSpec® Sizing Update

Bradford White recently announced the latest addition to the RightSpec® Sizing Guide, commercial tankless water heater sizing. With this addition comes a slightly modified look to the RightSpec® Sizing Guide landing page and most importantly, a separate commercial tankless sizing portion designed to provide end users with the appropriate product recommendations for various applications.

Since the relaunch of RightSpec® in 2019, Bradford White has continuously taken feedback on how to improve upon itself to provide the best product recommendations and this time is no different. The company has also implemented other minor updates throughout the commercial RightSpec® Sizing Guide to increase ease of functionality and range of product recommendations.

For more information, visit bradfordwhite.com.

Legend Valve & Fitting Inc. Announces Sale to ESOP

Legend Valve, a leading manufacturer/supplier in plumbing, valves and fittings, announced that it has completed the sale of the company to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). This strategic move reflects Legend’s commitment to its employees and the belief in shared ownership as a critical driver of long-term success.

The ESOP transaction was officially closed on Nov. 14, 2023, making Legend Valve & Fitting Inc. an employee-owned company. This decision was driven by the desire to align the employees’ interests with the business’s overall success, fostering a sense of shared responsibility and collaboration. Employee ownership complements the company’s mission, core values and unwavering focus on astonishing customer service. As owners, Legend Valve & Fitting’s employees will have the rare opportunity to share in the success of the company beyond essential employment. That means each employee-owner will have an even stronger commitment to serving customers.

David Hickman, president/CEO, and Walter Jann, executive vice president, expressed enthusiasm about the transition, stating, “After 35 years of leading Legend, we sought to transition to a long-term ownership strategy and sustain continuity of our business.

“We are excited about this critical development in our business. Employee ownership ensures that we will remain an independent, locally operated company. The values that have allowed us to prosper for more than three decades, Downstream Thinking®, will continue unchanged, and the mission that drives our efforts will remain steadfast, allowing us to make a positive impact now and in the future.”

Legend will continue to operate under its existing management team, with Hickman and Jann leading the way. The company’s day-to-day operations, commitment to innovation and dedication to delivering exceptional service will remain unchanged.

The ESOP transition marks an important milestone for Legend and its employees. The leadership team is confident that this strategic move will enhance the company’s competitiveness, drive sustained growth and create long-term value for all stakeholders.

For more information, visit legendvalve.com.

New Supply Elbow for Floor Mount Tub Filler Handshowers

Gerber Plumbing Fixtures presents a new angled supply elbow for use with handshowers that come with Gerber’s Floor Mount Tub Fillers. When the handshower is docked and the water is turned off, the elbow is designed to help channel residual water from the handshower into the tub so there are fewer water drips on the floor.

Product highlights include:

  • All-metal construction
  • Threaded design allows for fast & easy attachment and leak-proof seal
  • Swivel mechanism directs water from handshower hose for a more focused spray to enhance experience
  • Compatible with all Gerber Floor Mount Tub Fillers

Available finishes are chrome, brushed bronze, brushed nickel and satin black.

For more information, visit gerber-us.com.

T&S Debuts New Designer Commercial Sensor Faucets

T&S Brass and Bronze Works, a leading manufacturer of foodservice and commercial plumbing products, has unveiled a new line of commercial sensor faucets featuring a designer aesthetic ideal for busy, modern facilities.

The WaveCrest line is offered in various refined designs, each with a choice of polished chrome, brushed nickel or fingerprint-resistant matte black finishes, and standard or medical heights are available for additional customization.

“With our WaveCrest line, facilities don’t have to choose between commercial-duty construction and sophisticated, aesthetic design,” said David Scelsi, T&S product marketing manager. “WaveCrest is the perfect choice for commercial applications where superior T&S durability is needed, along with all the appeal of a sleek, modern faucet.”

With single- and three-hole mount options, the minimalistic elegance of the WaveCrest line will meet the needs of contemporary office buildings, restaurants, hotels and conference centers, colleges and universities, and public venues like airports and stadiums.

For more information, visit tsbrass.com.

Available Finishes

Chrome
Chrome
Brushed Bronze
Brushed Bronze
Brushed Nickel
Brushed Nickel
Satin Black
Satin Black

Please reach out to the Gerber Customer Care team or your local manufacturers’ sales representative with any questions.

Everkem Diversified Products Launches 100% Silicone Sealant Squeeze Tubes

In response to IMARK members’ requests, Everkem Diversified Products is thrilled to announce the launch of our newest addition to your toolkit: Trusil 100 Silicone Sealant Squeeze Tubes.

Developed in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the company’s latest solution is designed for professional plumbers, plumbing retailers and distributors, offering unmatched efficiency, durability, convenience and precision.

Key Advantages:

No Caulk Gun Needed: Achieve professional results without the hassle of a caulking gun.

Navigate Tight Spaces: Compact design with a precision applicator for easy access to challenging areas.

Pause and Resume: Capped for convenience, allowing you to pick up where you left off.

Retail-Ready: Designed for easy hanging on retail racks with a top-tube cutout.

Color Options: Available in clear and white, both crafted from 100% Silicone.

Key Specifications: NSF 51 Certified: safe in/around food processing & storage | Meets ASTM-C920 | High temp rating: up to 400° (232°C), Low temp flexibility: as low as -55°F (-48°C) | Low VOC’s

For more information, visit everkemproducts.com.