Taco Comfort Solutions is pleased to announce the appointment of Tony Furst as its newest Commercial Trainer. With over 40 years of distinguished experience in mechanical engineering and a comprehensive background in overseeing multimillion-dollar projects, Tony brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Taco team. Tony’s career spans significant roles across renowned organizations Read more
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Taco Comfort Solutions is pleased to announce the appointment of Tony Furst as its newest Commercial Trainer. With over 40 years of distinguished experience in mechanical engineering and a comprehensive background in overseeing multimillion-dollar projects, Tony brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Taco team.
Tony’s career spans significant roles across renowned organizations within the HVAC industry, including Armstrong Fluid Technology, where he served as the US Director of Application Engineering. His responsibilities included providing extensive application engineering support and developing technical education content for commercial HVAC systems. Tony’s commitment to excellence and innovation has consistently resulted in the successful completion of projects on time and within budget.
“We are thrilled to welcome Tony to Taco Comfort Solutions,” said Cheryl Merchant, CEO of Taco Family of Companies. “His deep understanding of mechanical systems and his passion for educating others will be invaluable as we continue to enhance our training programs for the commercial sector,” added Merchant.
Tony holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Dayton and an MS in Education from Michigan State University. He is certified in Plumbing Design by the American Society of Plumbing Engineering (ASPE) and is a LEED Accredited Professional with the US Green Building Council. Throughout his career, Tony has been a dedicated member of ASPE and ASHRAE, contributing significantly to technical education committees and serving as a speaker at various industry events.
“I truly enjoy sharing knowledge with others to make modern hydronic systems better,” said Furst. His commitment to advancing industry standards aligns perfectly with Taco Comfort Solutions’ mission to provide innovative and efficient solutions for HVAC systems.
In his new role at Taco, Tony will join a team of esteemed trainers, including Brett Zerba and Rich Medairos, enhancing the company’s capability to deliver comprehensive training programs tailored to the needs of commercial clients.
“It’s rare when you get the opportunity to add someone with Tony’s background, experience, and knowledge to your team,” said John Barba, Director of Training at Taco Comfort Solutions. “Adding Tony to our commercial training team is like having three Hall of Famers in your outfield. I’m looking forward to seeing Tony, Brett, and Rich share their wit, wisdom, and knowledge with our industry,” concluded Barba.
Furst’s appointment marks a significant addition to Taco Comfort Solutions, reinforcing its commitment to excellence in commercial HVAC training and education.
Rinnai America Corporation, a leading manufacturer of tankless water heaters in North America, announced today that Paul Nick has joined the company, and its Executive Leadership Team, as Vice President of Product and Marketing. The newly created position will lead the organization’s Product Management and Marketing teams and will support its growth goals of expanding Read more
Rinnai America Corporation, a leading manufacturer of tankless water heaters in North America, announced today that Paul Nick has joined the company, and its Executive Leadership Team, as Vice President of Product and Marketing. The newly created position will lead the organization’s Product Management and Marketing teams and will support its growth goals of expanding the product portfolio in existing and adjacent categories.
“I am thrilled and grateful to be joining a world-class organization,” said Nick. “I look forward to partnering with our talented Product and Marketing teams at Rinnai to drive profitable growth in continuing our important mission of ‘creating a healthier way of living®’, for consumers throughout North America.”
Nick joins Rinnai America with over 25 years of progressive experience in Marketing and Product leadership. Nick spent over 10 years with Polaris in a variety of different capacities, most recently as Vice President of Off-Road Products + Partnerships with the Parts, Garments & Accessories Divisions. Prior to his time with Polaris, Nick held leadership positions in Product and Marketing for well-known companies including two years at Target.com and 12 years with Kohler Company.
“We are happy to welcome Paul to Rinnai America and our Executive Leadership Team,” said Frank Windsor, President, Rinnai America Corporation. “Paul’s extensive experience in developing and executing growth plans for big brands will help to drive our growth in this important market.”
In 2024, Rinnai introduced multiple new products including its newest Condensing Tankless Water Heater, an expanded line of residential and commercial boilers, and its first Electric Heat Pump Water Heater. Rinnai also has made significant investments in the North American market in recent years including the construction of the company’s assembly facility in Griffin, Ga., and the opening of its state-of-the-art innovation center in Peachtree City, Ga. The addition of Nick’s position further demonstrates the company’s commitment to driving growth through innovation and product excellence in the market as well as delivering on the organization’s brand promise of Creating a healthier way of living.
MrPEX® Systems, a leading supplier of residential and commercial radiant heating/cooling, snowmelt systems, and PEX-a domestic water systems in North America, is pleased to announce the appointment of James Mullady as Vice President of Sales. In this role, James will spearhead the enhancement of business operations, customer service, and strategic positioning, driving MrPEX Systems towards Read more
MrPEX® Systems, a leading supplier of residential and commercial radiant heating/cooling, snowmelt systems, and PEX-a domestic water systems in North America, is pleased to announce the appointment of James Mullady as Vice President of Sales. In this role, James will spearhead the enhancement of business operations, customer service, and strategic positioning, driving MrPEX Systems towards achieving its goals.
James brings over three decades of expertise in sales within the residential and commercial construction sectors, with a focus on polymer products. His extensive experience includes developing robust sales strategies and delivering compelling presentations to facilitate optimal product selection. Previously, James served as VP of Sales at REHAU LLC, showcasing his proficiency in leadership and strategic vision.
Jan Andersson, President of MrPEX Systems. “I am excited in welcoming James Mullady to the team and anticipates that James’ leadership will undoubtedly contribute to the continued growth and success of MrPEX Systems.”
The nonprofit organization’s 13-member board celebrates how women in the skilled trades can redefine leadership roles Women in HVACR (WHVACR), a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering women in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration trades, wants to lead by example, and its 13-member board of directors showcases how women have advanced in the skilled trades Read more
The nonprofit organization’s 13-member board celebrates how women in the skilled trades can redefine leadership roles
Women in HVACR (WHVACR), a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering women in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration trades, wants to lead by example, and its 13-member board of directors showcases how women have advanced in the skilled trades industry since the group’s inception in 2002.
“This board includes some of the most powerful women in the HVACR and home comfort industries,” said Women in HVACR Executive Director Amy O’ Grady. “Women in HVACR wants to lead by example, and this board exemplifies this goal. This is a group that will encourage any woman entering the skilled trades industries by creating the type of dynamic environment that inspires them to succeed.”
The executive board of directors is comprised of five members, including:
- President Lori Tschohl: Tschohl is the owner of Eagle Pipe & Mechanical, a leading HVAC contractor in Poulsbo, WA, specializing in gas piping, heating and cooling. With more than 35 years of industry experience, she has been a driving force behind the company’s growth and success since 2015. She has received the Service Nation Women of the Year award in 2022 and the Boundless Benefactor Award in 2023 for her exceptional leadership and has received numerous awards for her charity work. She also serves as an advisory board moderator for AB80 Queens of Contracting and is a founding member and state chapter president of Women in Plumbing and Piping (WIPP).
- Vice President Kristin Gallup: Gallup is the director of product management for Carrier Enterprise, a joint venture between Watsco, Inc. and Carrier Corporation. She has been in HVAC Distribution for over 17 years in multiple leadership capacities and has been a supporting member of WHAVCR for more than 10 years.
- Immediate Past President Marcia Christiansen: Christiansen is the business unit manager for PECO Control Systems, an Astronics company, a manufacturer of thermostats for the HVAC, industrial and commercial cooking industries in Portland, Oregon. She is a key technical resource for PECO and has worked in the industry for 27 years.
- Secretary Tanya Steindl: Steindl serves as the director of marketing for the aftermarket parts division of Daikin Comfort Technologies, a company that provides heating, cooling, ventilation, air purification, refrigerants, and connected devices for residential and commercial spaces, located in Waller, Texas. During her time at Daikin, she has been instrumental in the development of private label parts and controls brands, which offers universal options available to any contractor.
- Treasurer Sarah Hammond: Hammond is the president of Atlas Electrical, Air Conditioning, Refrigeration & Plumbing Services in Alton, Texas. She also oversees Hummingbird Trailer Park and Alton X-Plex and is an investor in several local businesses. She also serves as the CEO for the Better Business Bureau in South Texas, and is the president of FemCity RGV, a community of more than 70 businesswomen in McAllen, Texas.
Other board members include:
- Erica Leonor, director of business development for Goodleap in Riverton, Utah.
- Laurelyn Arriaga, OME sales manager for McDaniel Metals, Inc. in Houston, Texas.
- Becky Hoelscher, senior account manager for Arkema in Sidney, Ohio.
- Jane Sidebottom, president and founder of AMK in Bonita Springs, Florida.
- Crystal Williams, founder and marketing strategist for Lemonseed Marketing in Burke, Texas.
- Linda Rodriguez, marketing and events manager for Quietflex in Houston.
- Angela Miller, brand ambassador for Goettl Air Conditioning & Plumbing in Las Vegas.
- Nicole Norris, strategic relationship manager for Service Nation in Coppell, Texas.
For more information about Women in HVACR, visit www.womeninhvacr.org.
RefrigiWear, the leading manufacturer of insulated industrial workwear, accessories, and personal protective equipment, announces the appointment of Leigh Stadelmeier as Vice President of B2B Outdoor Sales. In this role, Stadelmeier will lead RefrigiWear to further position itself as the market leader in insulated industrial workwear, building sales strategies to drive growth and revenue in the Read more
RefrigiWear, the leading manufacturer of insulated industrial workwear, accessories, and personal protective equipment, announces the appointment of Leigh Stadelmeier as Vice President of B2B Outdoor Sales. In this role, Stadelmeier will lead RefrigiWear to further position itself as the market leader in insulated industrial workwear, building sales strategies to drive growth and revenue in the B2B Outdoor division.
“We are thrilled to have Leigh join us as Vice President for our Outdoor division,” says RefrigiWear Chief Commercial Officer Wes Dye. “Leigh’s experience and passion for safety and protective gear strengthen our position in the outdoor market, where we are seeing robust growth in outfitting teams with PPE across construction, farming, transportation, and utilities. He knows what it takes to keep people protected while they’re working in cold, harsh conditions.”
Stadelmeier brings over 20 years of experience in construction distribution to the role. He is also an Authorized OSHA Outreach Trainer. Having experienced a traumatic fall while serving in the Army, Stadelmeier devoted his career to safety and training to prevent accidents on the job. His background also includes strategic leadership in corporate safety, expertise in personal protective equipment (PPE), and safety training for construction teams focused on fall prevention and safety best practices.