A. O. Smith Corporation (NYSE: AOS), a leader in water heating and water treatment, announces three significant updates on the North America Water Heating sales team. After 34 years with A. O. Smith, Mark Gierla, vice president of Eastern region sales, will retire on April 1, 2025. Matt Patterson, national accounts director, will be promoted Read more
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A. O. Smith Corporation (NYSE: AOS), a leader in water heating and water treatment, announces three significant updates on the North America Water Heating sales team. After 34 years with A. O. Smith, Mark Gierla, vice president of Eastern region sales, will retire on April 1, 2025. Matt Patterson, national accounts director, will be promoted to vice president of Western region sales in January 2025 as part of this transition. Jerry Lapour, sales director, will move into Patterson’s role.
Mark Gierla
Gierla joined A. O. Smith in 1990 as district manager. He relocated several times and assumed various sales roles along the way. In 2007, he moved to the Nashville area, and in 2010, he was promoted to the newly created role of vice president of regional sales. During his tenure, he’s helped launch some of the company’s most important product innovations — most notably, the Cyclone® commercial water heater, which still leads the industry today. Going forward, Gierla’s role will be split between the regional vice president Western sales and the regional vice president Eastern sales.
“We thank Mark for his dedication to our organization, his tenacity and his skill to drive the business forward,” said Chuck Dean, vice president of wholesale sales.
Matt Patterson
Patterson has been with the company for 12 years and has worked as a technical sales specialist in factory sales in Tennessee, a regional sales manager in the Northwest U.S. and most recently as national accounts director. He also spent two years on the A. O. Smith mobile marketing vehicle showcasing new products to wholesalers around the country.
Lapour joined A. O. Smith in 2023 and comes with many years of industry experience. He most recently worked for Charlotte Pipe & Foundry, managing the north central region. Prior to that, he worked with Elkay Manufacturing for 17 years, with responsibilities including regional sales manager for the North Central U.S. and national account responsibility for Winsupply, where he received the “Account Manager of the Year” award in 2020. LaPour is also a veteran and served with the XVIII Airborne Corps in Desert Storm.
Jerry Lapour
“Having experienced leaders ready to assume these new roles is of great benefit to the organization and I am confident these transitions will be seamless,” said Dean.
Jimmy Hiller, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Hiller Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical (Hiller), was honored with his seventh “Most Admired CEO’s and Their Companies” Award from the Nashville Business Journal. This award marks Hiller’s seventh recognition in the 100-500 Nashville-area employee, private business category, following awards in 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, and Read more
Jimmy Hiller, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Hiller Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical (Hiller), was honored with his seventh “Most Admired CEO’s and Their Companies” Award from the Nashville Business Journal. This award marks Hiller’s seventh recognition in the 100-500 Nashville-area employee, private business category, following awards in 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021.
Each year, the “Most Admired CEO’s and their Companies” Award recognizes leaders who continually inspire those around them. This peer-award honors those who are “shining examples” of how companies should be run and managed, and who are well-respected as upstanding professionals among the community. Each year, Nashville Business Journal solicits nominations for those leaders believed to be among the best-of-the-best, and the final honorees are selected by a group of previous winner CEO’s.
During the reception and banquet, Mr. Hiller and other honorees were presented with the “Most Admired CEO’s and Their Companies” award via live announcement at the Four Seasons Nashville on Thursday, December 5, 2024. This special event not only honors each recipient for their contributions to their own companies, but celebrates their unique impacts on Nashville’s business community.
“It is always such an honor to receive this recognition from my peers”, remarked Jimmy Hiller. “This group of talented CEO’s has had such an impact on our city and business realm. I respect their contributions and leadership and feel fortunate to be named alongside them. I’d also like to thank each and every member of our team at Hiller”, he continued. “Without their inspiration, we would not be where we are today, and recognition like this would not be possible.”
For other leaders at Hiller Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical, this award does not come as a surprise. Nicholas Martin, the company’s Chief Marketing Officer, remarked, “There are very few leaders as impactful as Jimmy Hiller. He is committed to operating with the highest levels of integrity and professionalism, and his unique ability to motivate teams to achieve incredible goals is parallel to none. This award”, he continued, “Could not have been given to a more deserving individual, and I am proud to know and work with Jimmy”.
Launched in 1990 with a single truck and just $500, Hiller has grown to include over 600 trucks, 18 locations, and more than 800 employees across seven states. In addition to inspiring and leading members of his own organization, Jimmy Hiller has had a profound impact on more than 200 other contracting organizations through PRAXIS S-10, a national success college for HVAC and Plumbing contractors, as well as thousands of technicians who attend Total Tech School (a subsidiary of Hiller Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical).
Malco Tools, one of the nation’s top manufacturers of high-quality tools for the HVAC and building construction industries, announced that Philip Laiche of A/C Supply, Inc. in New Orleans, won the company’s 2024 Counterperson of the Year contest. As Counterperson of the Year, Laiche exemplifies the same values that make Malco great: dedication to excellent customer Read more
Malco Tools, one of the nation’s top manufacturers of high-quality tools for the HVAC and building construction industries, announced that Philip Laiche of A/C Supply, Inc. in New Orleans, won the company’s 2024 Counterperson of the Year contest.
As Counterperson of the Year, Laiche exemplifies the same values that make Malco great: dedication to excellent customer service and going above and beyond to ensure contractors have the Malco tools they need to get the job done. Laiche won a prize of a $500 gift card, plus a Malco golf shirt and hat.
Philip Laiche of A/C Supply, Inc. in New Orleans
“Philip is naturally a problem solver who provides recommendations that meet the unique needs of each customer and for our company,” said Mindy Rigney, Laiche’s nominator. “Philip’s commitment to service and his genuine passion for helping customers make him an invaluable asset to the team.”
“We are proud to recognize Philip for his service-oriented attitude and extensive product knowledge to ensure every customer gets what they need,” said Rebecca Talbot, vice president of marketing at Malco. “We appreciate his exceptional dedication to customer service and applaud his efforts over the past 20 years with A/C Supply as this year’s Counterperson of the Year!”
For more information about Malco Tools, visit www.malcotools.com.
NIBCO INC., a leading provider of flow control solutions, today announced its Board of Directors has promoted Ashley Martin to president and chief executive officer, effective immediately. Martin joined NIBCO in 2012 and has most recently served as president and chief operating officer since 2023. Before that, she held the position of executive vice president Read more
NIBCO INC., a leading provider of flow control solutions, today announced its Board of Directors has promoted Ashley Martin to president and chief executive officer, effective immediately.
Martin joined NIBCO in 2012 and has most recently served as president and chief operating officer since 2023. Before that, she held the position of executive vice president from 2021. She represents the fifth generation of family leadership since the company’s inception in 1904.
In this role, she will now oversee the overall vision, mission, strategy and performance of the company.
NIBCO Board of Directors has also announced that Steve Malm has been appointed as the new executive chairman.
“We are thrilled to have Ashley step into the chief executive officer position at NIBCO,” said Steve Malm, NIBCO executive chairman. “Ashley is a proven leader who has demonstrated her ability to lead the organization through challenging times while successfully pursuing growth and driving continuous improvement efforts throughout the company. She is ideally suited to drive the company forward, while remaining committed to the core values which have guided NIBCO’s success over the past 120 years.”
“These are exciting times at NIBCO, as we celebrate our 120th year of being in business,” said Ashley Martin, president and chief executive officer. “Fewer than one percent of companies make it to the fifth generation, so I am especially honored to take on this role and lead the company with excellence and integrity, as well as uphold our legacy of family ownership and stewardship. I’d also like to recognize and thank Steve for his leadership and impact on the organization over the past 25 years.”
F. Robert “Bob” Kerrigan of Wilmette, Ill., passed away August 17 at the age of 91. According to the Plumbing Contractors Association of Greater Chicago, Bob’s success and impact was seen as second generation co-owner and president of FJ Kerrigan Plumbing Company, Wilmette, Ill., and for his many years of devoted service as a Trustee Read more
F. Robert “Bob” Kerrigan of Wilmette, Ill., passed away August 17 at the age of 91. According to the Plumbing Contractors Association of Greater Chicago, Bob’s success and impact was seen as second generation co-owner and president of FJ Kerrigan Plumbing Company, Wilmette, Ill., and for his many years of devoted service as a Trustee of the Plumbers’ Local 130 Pension Fund. He will be fondly remembered as a respected plumbing professional and leader.