People in the News

Irving, Texas – The Plastics Pipe Institute, Inc. (PPI) has named David M. Fink as its new President and Executive Director effective at the end of January  2020.  Mr. Fink, a veteran of the plastics pipe industry, previously served as the Chairman of the PPI Board of Directors from 2017 to 2019, and has held Read more

David Fink Named President of the Plastic Pipe InstituteIrving, Texas – The Plastics Pipe Institute, Inc. (PPI) has named David M. Fink as its new President and Executive Director effective at the end of January  2020.  Mr. Fink, a veteran of the plastics pipe industry, previously served as the Chairman of the PPI Board of Directors from 2017 to 2019, and has held a number of other leadership positions within the organization.  PPI is the major North American trade association representing all segments of the plastic pipe industry.

“David brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to PPI,” stated Peter Zut of KraussMaffei, chair of the PPI Board of Directors and chair of the executive search committee.  “With his more than 25 years of experience in the plastics industry, including 13 years at a major plastic pipe manufacturer, David has key insights into all segments of the markets served by PPI, and for many years has been instrumental in developing and executing the PPI Strategic Plan.”

Fink most recently served as the Senior Vice President at PPI member company, WL Plastics, and previously at Dow Chemical in the company’s polyolefin resin business with the majority of the years being part of growing its plastics pipe resin business.  While at WL Plastics, he oversaw significant growth of the company’s sales in the polyethylene pipe market segments including gas gathering and distribution, municipal water distribution, industrial and mining applications, telecommunication conduit, and geothermal.  He has participated in a number of related standard setting organizations and related associations, including the Alliance for PE Pipe, ASTM International, American Petroleum Institute (API), American Gas Association (AGA), American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), American Water Works Association (AWWA), NSF International, and the Canadian Standards Association (CSA).  Fink currently chairs the PPI Statistics Committee and co-chairs the newly established PPI Safety Committee.

“I am excited to take on my new responsibilities as president of PPI,” Fink remarked.  “I look forward to working with PPI’s exceptional staff and serving PPI’s membership to continue developing the association as The Voice of an Industry.  Through research, education, and advocacy, we will work together to further advance the acceptance and use of plastic piping systems throughout North America and around the world.”

Fink earned his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh, and B.S. in Chemistry from Gannon University (Erie, PA).  Fink resides in Keller, Texas with his wife, Brittainy, and their two sons, Logan and Ty.

For additional information, go to the Plastics Pipe Institute’s website at:  www.plasticpipe.org.

When Jonathan Cheever snowboards in World Cup races this winter, he has the Viega logo on his uniform. When he installs hot water heaters this summer, he’ll have Viega fittings in his toolbox. Viega LLC is stoked to announce its sponsorship of Jonathan Cheever, a 2018 Olympian and a 14-year member of the U.S. Snowboard Read more

When Jonathan Cheever snowboards in World Cup races this winter, he has the Viega logo on his uniform. When he installs hot water heaters this summer, he’ll have Viega fittings in his toolbox. Viega LLC is stoked to announce its sponsorship of Jonathan Cheever, a 2018 Olympian and a 14-year member of the U.S. Snowboard Team as a snowboard cross racer. Jonathan is also a licensed journeyman plumber who supports himself in the off-season installing water heaters and plumbing bathrooms.

World Cup Snowboarder Jonathan Cheever is sponsored by several industry brands including Viega, Bradford White and American Standard.

“Jonathan is a natural fit for Viega. In addition to being a world-class athlete, he understands the challenges and rewards of plumbing. When he endorses a product, it’s because it’s proven to be the best performer,” said Molly Morrow, channel marketing manager for Viega.

“I’ve been using Viega fittings since I began working as a plumber in 2004,” Jonathan said. “I’m proud to have the company as a sponsor and to spread the word about its fittings and pressing systems. Snowboard cross is all about speed and Viega fittings make every job faster and easier.”

This winter Jonathan is competing in the FIS Snowboard World Cup, which started in Austria this month and will conclude in March in the Czech Republic. He is racing for the United States as an independent athlete.

To support himself in the off season he works as a plumber out of Park City, Utah, where he’s done jobs for teammates and coaches. He also sometimes returns in the summer to his hometown of Saugus, Mass., to work with his father and brother, who own Mark Cheever Plumbing & Heating.

“Snowboarding is my passion but, for me, plumbing is more than just a way to make a buck,” Jonathan said. “I like the challenge of figuring out the best way to solve a problem and improving people’s lives.”

Jonathan also advocates for people to enter the skilled trades, which face a shortage of workers.

“Plumbing and the other trades offer exciting work, job security and good pay without the crippling student loan debt that often comes with a four-year college education,” he said. “It’s a rewarding career path more young people should consider.”

Justin King Named Vice President of Engineering; Rob Trefz, Vice President Marketing Emerson announces two promotions within its Professional Tools business: Justin King has been named Vice President of Engineering and Rob Trefz, Vice President of Marketing. The moves mark the company’s continuing commitment to creating synergies between the RIDGID and Greenlee brands that professionals Read more

Justin King Named Vice President of Engineering; Rob Trefz, Vice President Marketing

Emerson announces two promotions within its Professional Tools business: Justin King has been named Vice President of Engineering and Rob Trefz, Vice President of Marketing. The moves mark the company’s continuing commitment to creating synergies between the RIDGID and Greenlee brands that professionals know and trust.

Justin King Named Vice President of Engineering

King

Both King and Trefz bring extensive leadership skills and experience working for Emerson brands to their new roles. In their positions, King will lead the development and evolution of the entire Professional Tools line of Pipe and Electrical products, including RIDGID and Greenlee. Trefz will oversee all product management, product marketing and marketing strategy; assuring the products meet the needs of tradespeople worldwide and that the benefits are effectively communicated.

“Both Justin and Rob have demonstrated their ability to lead and innovate within the Emerson brands for a number of years. These promotions will strengthen the collaborative culture we’ve built within the Professional Tools organization, assuring we continue to develop innovative solutions that help professional tradespeople do their jobs safely and more efficiently. We look forward to the ideas Justin and Rob will bring to their roles,” said Paul McAndrew, Vice President – General Manager of Pipe and Electrical Solutions.

Rob Trefz, Vice President Marketing

Trefz

King has worked with Greenlee since 2007, joining the company as Country Manager for China; he then held various roles in strategy and business development, product management, and engineering. Following Emerson’s acquisition of Greenlee in 2018, King became Director of Engineering and Innovation for Greenlee within the Professional Tools business.

He has a Master of Business Administration degree from London Business School in the UK and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. King also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Brown University.

Trefz has worked with Emerson since 2004, joining the company as a Global Commodity Manager. He held procurement roles for Emerson and their motor division before moving into various marketing and business development roles at RIDGID. He most recently held the position of Vice President of Marketing for Greenlee.

Trefz is a licensed Professional Engineer, has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Business Administration degree from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.

SFA SANIFLO®, the worldwide leader in macerating and grinding toilets and drain pumps, is pleased to announce the appointment of Teresa Cardona as new Marketing and Communications Manager for North America, effective November 1, 2019. “We are honored to welcome onboard Teresa Cardona. Her knowledge and expertise will surely enhance the execution of our company’s Read more

SFA SANIFLO®, the worldwide leader in macerating and grinding toilets and drain pumps, is pleased to announce the appointment of Teresa Cardona as new Marketing and Communications Manager for North America, effective November 1, 2019.

“We are honored to welcome onboard Teresa Cardona. Her knowledge and expertise will surely enhance the execution of our company’s strategy to support our revenue goals and continued expansion. We welcome her talent and leadership,” says Regis Saragosti, current CEO for SANIFLO North America.

As SANIFLO’s Marketing and Communications Manager, Cardona will be responsible for developing communications strategies that further promote SANIFLO’S mission, products and services. She will be leading the Marketing and Communications team from SANIFLO’s head office in New Jersey.

“I am truly grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the advancement of SANIFLO’S continued innovation and growth. I look forward to working closely with our exceptional team to create value for our stakeholders and foster the company’s relationships with our clients,” says Ms. Cardona.

Prior to her role at SANIFLO, Cardona was the Marketing and Social Media Manager for Aramark, where she excelled at determining trends and studying consumer habits.

Teresa Cardona

A graduate of the University of Hartford, Cardona holds a bachelor’s degree in Illustration and Design with a minor in Communications and Marketing. Experienced in Social Media, Event Planning, Marketing and Media Relations, Teresa has worked in multiple industries such as Art, Academic, Food, and Services. She was part of the Women’s Advancement Initiative L.E.A.D Program, and the University of Hartford’s Honor’s Program.

A. O. Smith Corporation, a leading water heater manufacturer, today announced that Jim Margoni, senior vice president of wholesale sales at A. O. Smith Water Products, will be retiring from A. O. Smith in early 2020, and Rick Hawk, current vice president of sales for national accounts, has been named the successor, effective January 1 Read more

A. O. Smith Corporation, a leading water heater manufacturer, today announced that Jim Margoni, senior vice president of wholesale sales at A. O. Smith Water Products, will be retiring from A. O. Smith in early 2020, and Rick Hawk, current vice president of sales for national accounts, has been named the successor, effective January 1, 2020. Margoni has agreed to remain on with the organization for a brief period after January 1 to assist with the transition.

“In his more than 40 years of service with A. O. Smith, Rick has proven to be a strong leader and mentor of others. He has a thorough understanding of the A. O. Smith organization and the overall marketplace,” said Dave Warren, president and general manager for A. O. Smith’s North America water heating division. “Rick has been instrumental in helping to guide the company’s North American water heating sales team to where it is today, and I have the utmost confidence in him as he takes the helm for our sales organization.”

“I want to take this opportunity to thank Jim Margoni for his nearly three decades of service to A. O. Smith. Under his tenure and leadership, the A. O. Smith water heating division further secured its position as a leading supplier of residential and commercial water heaters,” said Warren. “Jim has been dedicated to serving our industry for 40 years. His friendship, years of experience, and leadership will be missed by many.”

As vice president of sales, Hawk will be responsible for overseeing the company’s water heating wholesale sales team across the United States. Rick has bachelor’s degree in management and human resources from Trevecca Nazarene University.