People in the News

Uponor’s Board of Directors has appointed Michael Rauterkus as President and CEO of Uponor Group and Chairman of the Executive Committee. He will join the company and assume the CEO responsibility on 21 August 2021. Michael Rauterkus has long experience, wide knowledge and good networks from the industry, as his most recent operative role was Read more

Uponor, Uponor Appoints Michael Rauterkus as President and CEO, piping, PEXUponor’s Board of Directors has appointed Michael Rauterkus as President and CEO of Uponor Group and Chairman of the Executive Committee. He will join the company and assume the CEO responsibility on 21 August 2021.

Michael Rauterkus has long experience, wide knowledge and good networks from the industry, as his most recent operative role was the CEO of Grohe AG, a German sanitary technology manufacturer. During his tenure as CEO in 2015-2019, he developed Grohe into a global leader of bathroom and kitchen solutions. Prior to this, he has worked in various roles at Grohe since 2006. Earlier in his career he has been working for companies like in Hasbro Inc., Levi Strauss & Co., Kraft Jacobs Suchard (now Mondelez).

“I am very pleased that Michael Rauterkus has accepted the assignment to lead Uponor into the next phase and I look forward to working with him. Michael is a seasoned visionary leader with strong strategic competence. He understands the dynamics of our industry inside out,” says Annika Paasikivi, Chair of the Board of Directors, Uponor Corporation.

Weil-McLain, a leading North American designer and manufacturer of hydronic comfort heating systems, is partnering with plumbing & mechanical firm 4950 Sales to represent the company’s full line of residential and commercial boilers in the Alaska region. Based in Palmer, Alaska, the company, which serves the commercial, industrial and plumbing & mechanical and construction sectors Read more

Weil-McLain, a leading North American designer and manufacturer of hydronic comfort heating systems, is partnering with plumbing & mechanical firm 4950 Sales to represent the company’s full line of residential and commercial boilers in the Alaska region. Based in Palmer, Alaska, the company, which serves the commercial, industrial and plumbing & mechanical and construction sectors, is led by Charles Benshetler and Nick Benshetler.

“We are very excited to partner with Weil-McLain and offer its premium line of residential and commercial boilers in the Alaska market,” said Charles Benshetler, who has more than 30 years of heating and plumbing experience. “Working with an industry leader like Weil-McLain will tremendously benefit our many clients in the state.”

“We couldn’t have found a better fit and more experienced partner than 4950 Sales to represent our products and strengthen our sales channel in Alaska,” said Michael Langen, director of sales for Weil-McLain. “We look forward to working with Charles and Nick to provide our premium boilers to residential, commercial and industrial clients in the region.”

4950 Sales will offer Weil-McLain’s full-line of commercial boilers including the Weil-McLain Stainless Vertical Firetube (SVF) commercial condensing boilers with industry-leading thermal efficiencies up to 96.8%, the SlimFit® boiler designed for limited spaces, Evergreen® Pro and the full line of Weil-McLain cast iron boilers.

Residential boilers offered will include the new ECO® Tec high-efficiency premium residential boiler, the Evergreen® stainless steel condensing boiler, the Ultra corrosion-resistant boiler, GV90+® high-efficiency cast iron boiler and the AquaBalance combi or heat-only boiler.

Charles Benshetler has worked more than three decades in the process piping, heating and plumbing industry representing industry leading manufacturers. Nick, a graduate of the University of Mary, is passionate about plumbing and heating and learning from leaders in the industry.

To find a Weil-McLain regional sales office visit www.weil-mclain.com/en/weil-mclain/about-us/locations/.

RepMasters, Inc., of Denver, Colorado, has been named Watts Representative of the Year and winner of The Golden Regulator Award for driving significant sales growth during the 2020 pandemic year.  RepMasters has been a Watts authorized sales representative since 2016, and earlier they represented Watts’ FEBCO brand. They represent Watts in Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana Read more

RepMasters, Inc., of Denver, Colorado, has been named Watts Representative of the Year and winner of The Golden Regulator Award for driving significant sales growth during the 2020 pandemic year.  RepMasters has been a Watts authorized sales representative since 2016, and earlier they represented Watts’ FEBCO brand. They represent Watts in Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana.

Award Winners: The RepMasters team

Peter and Chris Brown of Walmar Mechanical Sales Ltd. based in Nepean, Ontario, received the Watts Lifetime Achievement Award. Both have worked tirelessly to help build a backflow program in conjunction with the City of Ottawa, among other achievements. Walmar has been a Watts authorized sales representative for three generations and represents Watts in Ottawa, Canada.

Award Winners: Chris and Peter Brown of Walmar Mechanical Sales.

The awards were presented during the 2021 Watts National Sales Meeting, held virtually this year.

“We believe we have the best sales reps in the industry,” said Andrew Windsor, Watts Senior Vice President – Sales. “2020 was a tough year, but our sales reps adapted and found new ways to continue to service our customers and for that we are truly thankful.”

Elkhart, Ind. — NIBCO INC. announced that its Board of Directors appointed Ashley Martin as executive vice president effective immediately. Reporting to Steve Malm, president and CEO, Martin continues in her role as corporate officer and Executive Leadership Team member; and serves as member of the Board of Directors, a position she has held since Read more

Elkhart, Ind. — NIBCO INC. announced that its Board of Directors appointed Ashley Martin as executive vice president effective immediately. Reporting to Steve Malm, president and CEO, Martin continues in her role as corporate officer and Executive Leadership Team member; and serves as member of the Board of Directors, a position she has held since 2018. She is responsible for maximizing the company’s operating performance and achieving its financial goals.

“Ashley’s business acumen, industry connections and experience have prepared her well,” said Steve Malm in announcing Martin’s appointment. “Her innate leadership qualities and strategic vision will successfully propel NIBCO forward into its fifth generation.”

Since joining NIBCO in 2012, Martin has held a variety of positions including senior vice president, sales; vice president of wholesale sales; general manager of PEX; and director of distribution and transportation.

Martin co-founded the American Supply Association Women in Industry group in 2013. She served a two-year term as chairperson, beginning in 2016.

Martin received her bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Ind. She holds a master’s degree in business administration with a concentration in strategy and operations management from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.

Bradford White Corporation subsidiary recognizes the experienced executive’s contributions to the company and industry with promotion to senior VP and general manager post Bradford White Corporation, an industry-leading manufacturer of commercial, residential and industrial water heating and storage applications, has named Rich Simons senior vice president and general manager of Laars® Heating Systems Company. “I’ve Read more

Bradford White Corporation subsidiary recognizes the experienced executive’s contributions to the company and industry with promotion to senior VP and general manager post

Bradford White CorporationRich Simons, Bradford White, LAARS, boilers, water heaters, hydronics, water heating, Laars Heating Systems Company, an industry-leading manufacturer of commercial, residential and industrial water heating and storage applications, has named Rich Simons senior vice president and general manager of Laars® Heating Systems Company.

“I’ve often said that Rich is the epitome of a general manager, because he can bring insight and ideas to every facet of the Laars Heating System’s business,” said Bruce Carnevale, president and CEO of Bradford White Corporation. “His broad knowledge base, tireless work ethic and industry experience have made him an invaluable part of our corporate leadership team.”

Simons, a graduate of Case Western Reserve University and the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Business, joined Laars in 2016 as vice president and general manager. His responsibilities encompass the overall operation of the business as well as its strategic direction and financial results. Simons has more than 30 years of experience in the boiler industry.

“The opportunities that we are taking to deliver innovative customer solutions have never been better and we are excited about our future,” Simons said.  “It’s about our customers and our people, and as a member of the Bradford White family, I am very proud of what we have accomplished. I believe we embody a customer commitment that is second to none as one of the industry’s premier boiler manufacturers.”

In January, Simons was appointed to the board of directors of the American Boiler Manufacturers Association.

“When Rich arrived at Laars, his priority was to spend time with our customers and manufacturers’ representatives so he could truly understand their needs and learn about any challenges they were experiencing,” Carnevale said. “Under his leadership, the Laars team has brought new products to market in record time and implemented improvements across the major functional areas of the company.”