People in the News

Amy O’Grady went from the fashion industry to an effective contractor and leader in the heating and cooling industry 

Women in HVACR (WHVACR), a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering women in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration trades, today announced it has appointed industry sales and marketing expert and licensed HVAC contractor Amy O’Grady as its first executive director.

O’Grady brings more than 13 years of experience as a licensed contractor, sales and marketing director and events manager to the WHVACR family. She also served four years as the executive director for the North Florida Air Conditioning Contractors Association (NFACCA).

“Women in HVACR has always been a completely volunteer-only organization, but since we now offer such a long list of networking events, educational programs and scholarship funds to our members, we needed someone on our permanent staff to manage all the good work that we do,” said 2024 WHVACR President Lori Tschohl. “With her background in the HVAC industry and executive director leadership, Amy brings a unique blend of creativity and strategic vision to our organization. We are confident she will provide the necessary oversight to help our board achieve its goals and take Women in HVACR to new heights.”

O’Grady is a graduate of Florida State University with a bachelor’s degree in textiles and consumer sciences. After starting her career as a product developer and assistant buyer in the fashion industry, O’Grady began honing her leadership skills in business development, marketing and event planning as a  marketing manager for a regional grocery chain and for Charlie’s Tropic Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. in Atlantic Beach, Florida.

“It was during my tenure as marketing director for Charlie’s Tropic that I discovered my passion for the HVAC industry and entrepreneurship,” O’Grady said. “I was able to modernize the company’s identity by crafting unique content and developing data-driven marketing programs to stay on top of the ever-changing digital market.”

She also reached a significant milestone at the HVAC company by becoming a licensed contractor, which helped her master her craft and put her on her current career trajectory.

Her next position was as the executive director for the NFACCA, where she demonstrated her adaptability and willingness to learn new skills. She spent more than four years in this role before accepting the position at WHVACR.

“My role at NFACCA certainly helped prepare me for the job I’m taking on at Women in HVACR,” she said. “I look forward to bringing my industry knowledge to our team so that I can help this organization grow and create a dynamic environment that inspires more women to start careers in the skilled trades.”

For more information about Women in HVACR, visit www.womeninhvacr.org/.

GF Building Flow Solutions Americas (formerly Uponor North America), a global provider of Uponor-branded products, today announced that Hailey Mick, business development manager of Engineering Services, was recently selected as the incoming president of the ASHRAE Tennessee Valley Chapter. Her two-year term will begin on July 1, 2024.

ASHRAE, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, advances the arts and sciences of HVACR and their allied fields while striving to achieve a healthy and sustainable built environment for all. As a long-standing member, Hailey was voted in as president by the ASHRAE Board and will draw on the theme of “Building on Foundations, Empowering Today, and Shaping Tomorrow.”

According to Hailey, “Being actively involved in ASHRAE is crucial for driving advancements in HVAC and refrigeration systems. As the incoming local chapter president, I am committed to fostering innovation, sustainability, and professional development within our industry. Our collective efforts not only enhance the efficiency and performance of the built environment but also ensure that we are leading the charge in promoting environmentally responsible practices. Through collaboration and continued education, we can inspire the next generation of engineers and uphold the highest standards of excellence in our field.”

As president, Hailey will represent the Tennessee Valley Chapter at both regional and national conferences, leading with education to bring value to the industry and inspiring others to take the necessary steps to improve the built environment.

“We couldn’t be more excited for Hailey as she steps into this role with an organization that’s highly committed to sustainability and innovation,” says Matt Bahr, vice president of Sales at GF Building Flow Solutions Americas. “Hailey is uniquely suited for this role with a passion for protecting the environment, advancing the industry with a new way of thinking, and inspiring others along the way.”

To learn more about the ASHRAE Tennessee Valley Chapter, visit ashraetnvalley.org.

Seasoned Industry Veteran Gary Morgan of Borealis Continues at the Helm as Chair

The Plastics Pipe Institute, Inc. (PPI) has announced its new Board of Directors, effective June 1, 2024.  PPI is the major North American association representing the plastics pipe industry.

“Our board has always exemplified the depth of experience and knowledge that members have counted on within our association,” stated David M. Fink, president of PPI.  “There are certainly new positive challenges within our industry and association including how to manage the growth in the use of plastic pipe, and how to accommodate new members.  We had record attendance at our past three membership meetings.  I am confident that this new slate of directors will enable PPI to satisfy those requirements, and I thank them in advance for their service to PPI and the industry.”

The past and current PPI Board of Directors, from top, Doug Keller, LyondellBasell, past chair, Jim Johnston, McElroy, vice chair, Gary Morgan, Borealis, chair, David Fink, president, PPI, Carl Baker, Shell Polymers, Power & Communications Division past chair, Dell Doyle, Dow, advisory council representative, Dustin Langston, WL Plastics, Energy Piping Systems Division past chair, Stefan Lupke Croma, Drainage Division past chair, Kate Olinger, Uponor, treasurer, and Barb Donaldson, Sovereign Pipe, Municipal & Industrial Division past chair. Not pictured, Joe Poniatowski, Asahi-America, PPI Building & Construction Division past chair.

The returning board members are:

• Gary Morgan of Borealis, Chair
• Jim Johnston of McElory Manufacturing, Vice Chair
• Doug Keller of LyondellBasell, Past Chair
• Kate Olinger of Uponor, Treasurer
• Dell Doyle of Dow Chemical Company, Advisory Council Representative

Plus, David M. Fink, PPI staff representative.  Members of the board serve for two years, and then move up to the next position.

Additionally, the chairs of each PPI division have a seat on the board.  Joining the PPI board in 2024 are:

• Bill Melvin of Legend Valve, Building & Construction Division Chair
• Craig Douglass of Fratco, Drainage Division Chair
• Mike Leathers of Pipeline Plastics, Energy Piping Systems Division Chair
• Heath Casteel of Performance Pipe, Municipal & Industrial Division Chair
• Christian Herrild of Teel Plastics, Power & Communications Division Chair

PPI Chair Morgan. who has actively participated in PPI activities during the past 22 years, has a diverse background in the plastics industry.  He began his plastics career designing extrusion equipment for 15 years followed by managing the R&D department for a major PEX tubing manufacturer.  Morgan’s experiences also include roles in quality assurance and managing plumbing codes and standards before taking the role of application development engineer for Borealis Compounds Inc., where he works today.

PPI Board Chair Gary Morgan

“I’ve witnessed,” he said, “in the past five to seven years, PPI working more hand-in-hand with other plastics-based trade associations to build synergies between the different organizations to overall promote the plastics pipe industry.

“I think the other big thing that has evolved at PPI during the last decade is that each division has a management committee, which also allows for prompt decision-making.  Each division having a very well-established management committee has also helped the overall success of PPI.

“I think that we are faced with challenges not only from competing materials, but also from the anti-plastics faction.  Also important to us,” Morgan continued, “is the whole picture of government advocacy that goes hand-in-hand with the sustainability advantages of our products; we don’t stand in the same light as single-use plastics by any means.

“Our products are intended to last 50 years to 100 years or longer in some applications.  And certainly, we have a great story to tell, and we’re  striving to do a better job of conveying that positive message to the world and certainly to the regulators in Washington, DC.  Obviously, we have an aged and failing infrastructure here in the United States, and we believe that our plastic piping products aren’t as susceptible to most of the troubles found in traditional materials such as cast iron, steel, and copper.”

Morgan concluded, “I know the board also wants to make sure our members realize that there’s truly a return on their investment for their membership in PPI, and we want to promote active involvement.  That’s where companies get the value. When their members get involved and become active, that the real payback, not only for each member company but also our association, and the plastic piping industry.”

Additional information about PPI can be found at:  www.plasticpipe.org.

This past March at their annual National Sales Meeting, Watts honored the three recipients of this year’s Manufacturers’ Rep Lifetime Achievement Award:

• Roger Withers of Fitzpatrick Sales Inc.,
• Dave Watson of Dave Watson Associates, Inc.
• Roland Lajoie of Lajoie, Inc.

The Manufacturers’ Rep Lifetime Achievement Award is a testament to a career marked by dedication, leadership, and innovation. It signifies not only individual accomplishments, but also the profound impact these individuals have had on the plumbing industry and beyond.

In addition to celebrating these individuals and their accomplishments, Watts also honored Hugh M. Cunningham Companies as their Manufacturer’s Representative of the Year. This award highlights outstanding sales performance, excellent customer service, deep product knowledge, successful market expansion, and high professionalism throughout their agency.