SOUTHERN PHC - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Makes Executive Changes
- Sales Team Promotions
Job Titles:
- As Director - Product Management and Technical Support
Job Titles:
- New Vice President
- Vice President of Fittings Manufacturing and Distribution, NIBCO Inc.
Job Titles:
- New President and CEO
- Viega CEO
Viega LLC recently announced the appointment of Andreas Reger as the new president and CEO, effective on April 1.
Reger will replace Markus Brettschneider, who was recently appointed as the new Global CEO for Viega Group, effective September. This move follows the decision of current Global CEO Claus Holst-Gydesen to move to Viega's supervisory board after 14 years of leadership, with the last 10 years as Global CEO.
"Andreas is a growth-driven leader who joins Viega LLC at an important time on our growth journey as the company is in the midst of a capital investment plan which will see more than $300 million dollars of investment in both our Kansas production facility, and our new Ohio facility over the next five years.
Reger joins Viega from BBB Industries, a global market leader in sustainable automotive remanufacturing, where he served as the president of the Undercar Business Unit. Prior to BBB Industries, Reger held regional CEO roles for Pollmann North America, ALPLA North America, and DÜRR Ecoclean, Inc.
He studied International Business Management at the Universidad de Zaragoza (Spain) and the FH Wiesbaden (Germany), obtained his Master of Business Administration degree from Colorado State University, and received his Doctorate in Business Administration from Lawrence Tech in Southfield, Michigan.
Brettschneider has been with Viega since 2020. He contributed to Viega's growth and its recent cultural transformation.
Job Titles:
- National Accounts Manager - Wholesale at Flint & Walling
Ben Painter has been promoted to National Accounts Manager-Wholesale at Flint & Walling, a wholly owned subsidiary of Zoeller Company. He will be accountable for the management of several national accounts, as well as management and support of the current wholesale sales team.
Job Titles:
- Senior Manager
- Director of Marketing and Customer Engagement and Rusty Hendrix, Director of Customer Service
A. O. Smith announced that David Chisolm was promoted to vice president and general manager of APCOM and Water Systems in Franklin, Tennessee.
In his new role, Chisolm will lead the parts division that supports the water heater manufacturing facilities, OEM and service parts, along with the pump and expansion tank business line.
Chisolm, who was vice president of marketing and customer experience, replaces Darrell Schuh, who recently moved into the role of senior vice president, president and general manager of Lochinvar in Lebanon, Tennessee.
Betsy Curran, senior manager of channel marketing, was promoted to director of marketing and customer engagement, where she will be responsible for brand management, channel marketing, pre-sales training and digital strategy.
Curran began her career at A. O. Smith in 2018 as senior manager, retail channel marketing, and was promoted to her current role in 2020. Prior to joining A. O. Smith, Curran was vice president, group account director for GS&F, an advertising agency in Nashville.
Job Titles:
- CEO
- CEO for Zoeller Company
- Chief Operating Officer at Zoeller Company
- Company 's COO
Zoeller Co. has appointed Bill Zoeller as CEO, effective May 1.
The company's board of directors worked with the aid of executive search firm Kensington International, selected Bill Zoeller, current Chief Operating Officer, to lead the company as CEO upon the retirement in May of John Zoeller, who will have served for 22 years.
Bill Zoeller is the company's COO.
"The search firm cast a wide net and presented several qualified candidates, but Bill rose to the top with his unique combination of outside experience, more than 12 years of Zoeller Company operations expertise, and a deep connection to company culture and values. Bill is the right person to take the wheel and represent a fourth generation of family leadership of Zoeller Company," said Christopher Carmicle, chairman of the board.
"As the Chief Operating Officer at Zoeller Company, Bill Zoeller has shepherded the company through several acquisitions, significant growth and the COVID-19 pandemic, cementing the company's position as a leader in the water solutions industry," Carmicle said.
In the past, Bill Zoeller served as the company's president of Louisville operations and director of risk management. He joined the company in 2011, after more than a decade at LG&E and KU Energy LLC and KPMG LLP.
Job Titles:
- McElroy President and CEO
Job Titles:
- CEO and Co - Founder of Pearl Certification
Cynthia Adams is CEO and Co-Founder of Pearl Certification, and a frequent presenter on the Inflation Reduction Act's incentive programs. Adams co-founded Pearl to help quality contractors differentiate to close more and upsell by providing homeowners a certified install. Pearl's certification helps homes sell and appraise for more. Pearl Certification, has a Rebate Finder app that can assist with staying up to date on these programs. For more information, email info@pearlcertification.com.
Job Titles:
- Leader
- Vice President, Operations, LG Air Conditioning Technologies
Darren Gibula has recently returned to LG Air Conditioning Technologies as Vice President, Operations.
In this new capacity, Gibula has direct oversight of the following areas: business systems, operations, training, aftermarket support and technical support call center. Gibula will also work to provide the best possible customer experience and anticipates working cross-functionally with LGEAI, HQ, and others on many continuous improvement initiatives.
Gibula is an accomplished leader with a proven history of success. Throughout his 30-year-career, he has excelled in various roles, highlighting his expertise in operations, manufacturing, sales, distribution, ERP systems, and financial planning and analysis. His innovative approach has led to the implementation of internal continuous improvement programs, increased efficiency, and streamlined procedures.
Gibula joins LG from Owens & Minor, where he worked most recently as Vice President, Inventory. Gibula is well-versed in LG, having spent nearly six years with the company in the Air Conditioning Technologies division in operations and customer experience roles earlier in his career.
Job Titles:
- COO
- Chief Operating Officer, Intellihot
Intellihot, an innovator in smart water heating systems, has announced the appointment of Dave Martin as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO). With an exemplary track record in successfully leading large companies, Martin is poised to take Intellihot to the next level of growth and innovation.
Martin comes to Intellihot with decades of experience in the industry. His previous roles include leadership positions at Coca Cola, Rheem and HTP Comfort Solutions, where he demonstrated an exceptional ability to drive operational excellence, growth, and profitability.
As COO, Martin will be overseeing Intellihot's sales and marketing teams, as well as day to day operations, with a key focus on optimizing the company's operational efficiency, streamlining processes, and enhancing customer satisfaction. Additionally, he will play a pivotal role in strengthening partnerships with key stakeholders, including suppliers, distributors, and contractors, to further propel Intellihot's growth trajectory.
"We are thrilled to have Dave join our team as our new Chief Operating Officer," said Sridhar Deivasigamani, CEO of Intellihot. "His extensive experience and proven leadership skills in scaling companies make him the perfect fit for our team."
Martin's impressive career in the corporate world includes successfully leading large organizations through periods of rapid growth and transformation. His keen strategic vision and ability to drive operational efficiencies have resulted in outstanding outcomes for the companies he has served. Martin's expertise will be invaluable as Intellihot accelerates its growth trajectory and expands its market presence.
Speaking about his new role, Martin expressed his excitement, stating, "I am honored to join Intellihot and work with a team of exceptionally talented professionals who are pushing the boundaries of energy-efficient water heating technology. It is an exciting time to be part of the company, and I look forward to leveraging my expertise to contribute towards Intellihot's continued success."
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President, President and General Manager of North America Water Heating
- Senior Vice President, President and General Manager of North America Water Heating ( NAWH ), of a. O. Smith, Is Set to Retire April 1, 2024
A. O. Smith Corporation has announced a succession plan and has announced that Dave Warren, senior vice president, president and general manager of North America Water Heating (NAWH), will retire April 1. Steve O'Brien, senior vice president, president and general manager of Lochinvar, has been named Warren's successor. Darrell Schuh, vice president and general manager of water systems and APCOM, will replace O'Brien.
Warren was named president and general manager of the North America Water Heating business unit in July 2017. In this role, he has profit and loss responsibility for the 10 brands that make up the operation and oversees the unit's 4,860 employees at facilities in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Warren has held many roles since joining A. O. Smith as a sales coordinator in 1989, including serving as vice president of A. O. Smith's International businesses.
"In each step of Dave's career, he brought high energy, great leadership and strategic vision, and consistently grew the business," said Kevin Wheeler, chairman, president and CEO. "We thank Dave for his dedication to A. O. Smith, his leadership and steadfast commitment to the values and principles of our organization over his long tenure. With Dave stepping down and Steve and Darrell moving into their new roles, we have a solid succession plan in place, which allows for internal promotions of our talented leaders and a strategy to transition them to their new roles to ensure leadership and business continuity."
Dave Warren, Senior Vice president, President and General Manager of North America Water Heating (NAWH), of A. O. Smith, is set to retire April 1, 2024
Job Titles:
- Vice President
- Vice President and General Manageer of APCOM and Water Systems in Franklin, Tennessee
- Vice President and General Manager of APCOM
Job Titles:
- Director - Product Management and Technical Support at a.O. Smith
A. O. Smith has announced the appointment of Jeffrey T. Ogan as director of product management and technical support for its North America Water Heating business unit. In his new role, Ogan is responsible for leading the business unit's residential and commercial product management teams. In addition, he will manage the company's residential, commercial, and tankless technical call centers in Ashland City, Tenn., and Johnson City, Tenn.
"Jeff brings extensive product knowledge along with the customer's perspective to his new position," David R. Warren, president and general manager-North America Water Heating, observed. "He is an enthusiastic and effective leader and is well suited for this role." Ogan earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in physiology from Southern Illinois Uni- versity in Carbondale and a Master of Science in biological sciences from Illinois State University in Normal. Ogan joined A. O. Smith in 2013 as a product manager, responsible for the gas tankless line of water heating products.
Job Titles:
- Regional Sales Manager of the Southeast U.S
- Regional Vice President of the Central U.S. Region, a. O. Smith Corporation
John Bates joined the organization in April of 2004 and most recently served as regional sales manager of the southeast U.S. region. In his new role, Bates will oversee the north central, south central and southeast regions. Bates is a graduate of Wake Forest University with a bachelor's degree in communication theory and psychology.
Job Titles:
- Executive Chairman of the Board, Rheem Manufacturing Company
Chris Peel has been promoted to president and chief executive officer of Rheem Manufacturing Company with global responsibility for all business operations, and JR Jones has been named executive chairman of the board of Rheem Manufacturing Company. For the past 10 years, Peel has served as Rheem's president and chief operating officer. Currently, he is also the chairman of industry trade association, Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI). Jones will continue to provide guidance for Rheem's vision and strategy, in addition to his board responsibilities. Jones has served as the president and chief executive officer of Rheem for a decade.
The A. O. Smith Corporation board of directors has announced Ajita G. Rajendra will transition from chairman and chief executive officer to executive chairman of the corporation, effective September 1, 2018, at which time Kevin J. Wheeler will assume the role of president and chief executive officer. Rajendra will continue to lead the company's board of directors as the executive chairman and will remain involved in the company's strategy development, mergers and acquisitions, investor relations, and executive talent development. Currently president and chief operating officer, Wheeler will assume the role of chief executive and have responsibility for the company's global operations, as well as strategy development and implementation, profitability, and shareholder returns.
NIBCO INC. appointed Lisa Lyon as Webstone general manager in January, with responsibility for overseeing all aspects of operations for the Webstone business unit of NIBCO.
"Lisa has been instrumental in aggressively expanding the Webstone product portfolio since NIBCO acquired the company," said Ashley Martin, NIBCO president and COO. "She demonstrates great passion and knowledge for the industry, and we are confident that she will meet and exceed the goals established for Webstone's continued growth."
Bringing more than 18 years of industry experience to the position, Lyon has been named as a co-inventor on multiple Webstone patents and she founded the brand's customer council in 2018 to aid connections between Webstone's product-development team and the trades. "The NIBCO vision for the Webstone brand is very clear - to continue our focus on engineering innovative labor-saving installation solutions for the plumbing and heating professional," Lyon said.
Job Titles:
- NIBCO in 1986 As an Accounting Manager
- Reynosa Plant Manager, NIBCO
NIBCO INC. has announced the promotion of Mariza Gutierrez Galindo to Reynosa plant manager.
In her new role, Gutierrez will continue the path to make NIBCO de Reynosa a great contributor to the company's profitability through the plant's competitive advantages of free trade agreements, skilled labor and high-quality products. She will report to Rudy Smith, senior plant manager. Gutierrez brings demonstrated knowledge, commitment and leadership to grow her new role at the Reynosa facility.
Gutierrez joined NIBCO in 1986 as an accounting manager. She has held several positions including finance manager, office manager, administrative manager and most recently senior administrative manager.
Gutierrez was recognized at NIBCO in 2014 with the Rex Martin award, given to recognize achievement in cost reduction, safety, or an increase in sales; and in 2021 the Alice A. Martin award, given to recognize women who demonstrate philanthropy, community service, mentorship, and support the development of other women.
She holds a master's degree in Human Resources Development from Tamaulipas State University. Gutierrez also holds a bachelor's degree in Accounting (CPA) from the Instituto Technologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM). Gutierrez resides in Texas.
Job Titles:
- President and CEO, With Sarah Simpson, CFO, Both of Viega
"Sarah brings with her extensive experience managing large capital budgets, implementing financial systems, and developing a global team across several countries. As Viega continues to grow and expand, particularly in North America, Sarah will be instrumental in helping us reach our goals and achieve success," said Markus Brettschneider, President and CEO of Viega LLC.
"I am excited to join Viega at a time when the company is experiencing so much growth," said Simpson. "Press technology is the future of this industry. The company's commitment to quality products, safety, talented teams, and respected core values are why I am excited to be a part of the Viega team." Simpson will report directly to President and CEO Markus Brettschneider.
Job Titles:
- Director of National Accounts, a. O. Smith Corporation
- Regional Sales Manager for the Northwest U.S. Patterson
A. O. Smith Corporation has announced the promotions of two team members who have played key roles in delivering sales growth for A. O. Smith and elevating its brand offerings with wholesale customers. John Bates is assuming the position of regional vice president of the central U.S. region, and Matt Patterson will become director of national accounts.
Matt Patterson joined the company in January of 2012 and most recently served as regional sales manager for the northwest U.S. Patterson will be responsible for leading the national accounts team to grow market share with the company's largest wholesale customers. He holds a bachelor's degree in marketing and management from Lipscomb University and is an active member of the American Supply Association Plumbing Advisory Council.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Operations McElroy
- VP of Operations
McElroy has announced Michael Grant as Vice President of Operations.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Operations, McElroy
Grant joins McElroy having spent the last eight years with the Toro Company, formerly known as Ditch Witch/The Charles Machine Works, Inc. He began his time with Ditch Witch as Vice President of Operations and Supply Chain before going on to become Toro's Managing Director of Construction Operations.
Grant graduated from Oklahoma State University with a degree in mechanical design technology and holds an MBA from Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas. He began his career with Texas Instruments, developing CNC programs for Department of Defense machined components. His career later involved design, prototype, and manufacturing engineering roles, where he took on various leadership positions, including in aircraft manufacturing, consumer home goods, and construction equipment.
"We're thrilled to have Michael come to McElroy," said McElroy President and CEO Chip McElroy. "For more than 30 years, he has shown tremendous ability to coach and develop strong leadership teams and foster a culture of operational excellence. As we celebrate McElroy's 70th anniversary, we know that Michael's presence will help continue to help the company not only grow, but also thrive."
"I am honored and excited to become a part of McElroy Manufacturing, a company known for safety excellence, product innovation, quality commitment, exceptional customer service, and deep manufacturing capabilities," Michael said. "I look forward to coming alongside the talented and dedicated team at McElroy to help write the next exciting chapter in the company's storied history."
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Valve Manufacturing, NIBCO Inc.
NIBCO Inc. has promoted Allen Stanley and Rudy Smith into roles overseeing production facilities, distribution and planning.
Job Titles:
- Director of Customer Service
Rusty Hendrix, director of customer service, is assuming additional responsibilities, including overseeing field service engineering, the contractor service network, technical training, order management, transportation planning, warehouse replenishment and technical support.
Hendrix joined A. O. Smith in 2006 and has served in a range of capacities spanning materials and distribution management. He has more than 27 years of experience in the manufacturing sector and has held positions in building products, appliance manufacturing and consumer products industries.
Job Titles:
- COO
- Business Leader
- New COO for a. O. Smith
- New President and Chief Operating Officer of a. O. Smith Corporation
Shafer is an accomplished business leader with deep global experience in manufacturing and leading highly innovative businesses. He joined 3M Company in 2010 and has held several positions in multiple 3M business units in both the U.S. and China.
Most recently, he served as president of the Automotive and Aerospace Solutions Division for 3M Company.
Stephen Shafer is the new president and chief operating officer of A. O. Smith Corporation.
Job Titles:
- General Manager
- President
- Senior Vice President