People in the News

Board members approved, outstanding contributions recognized, and no dues increase for 2021

Plumbing Manufacturers International (PMI) announced the election of Todd Teter as president of the 2021 PMI Board of Directors during PMI’s 66^th Annual Meeting of the Membership yesterday. The senior vice president and general manager of the House of Rohl North America, a division of Moen Inc., Teter succeeds Joel Smith, the director of faucets product engineering at Kohler Co.

In his acceptance remarks, Teter outlined three goals for the coming year: accelerating PMI member value, increasing engagement and leveraging diversity, and exploring the art of the possible. He encouraged PMI members to be bold and courageous during these difficult times and thanked Smith for his contribution as the 2020 PMI board president. Relating the expectations of medical experts, Teter said a COVID-19 vaccine will make the 67^th Annual Meeting of the Membership an event members and guests will be able to attend in person, as part of the PMI21 Manufacturing Success Conference at Paradise Point in San Diego, Nov. 15-18, 2021.

Other members of the 2021 board will be Smith, immediate past president; Martin Knieps, Viega LLC, vice president; Sal Gattone, LIXIL, secretary/treasurer; and at-large directors Daniel Gleiberman, Sloan Valve Co.; Fernando Fernandez, TOTO USA; Bob Neff, Delta Faucet Company; and Chip Way, Lavelle Industries.

Other highlights of the virtual meeting:

• PMI members voted to approve the board’s recommendation to have no dues increase in 2021, in an acknowledgment of the difficult business environment created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Smith recognized Jerry Desmond, PMI’s California government affairs consultant, with the 2020 PMI President’s Award.
• Receiving 2020 PMI Ambassador Awards were Troy Benavidez, LIXIL, co-chair of the PMI Advocacy/Government Affairs Committee, and John Bertrand, formerly of Moen, Inc.

In remarks summing up 2020, Smith said his tenure as board president was more “exciting and complex than I ever imagined.” He called PMI a “healthy, dynamic and forward-looking organization” and thanked those who shared their time, despite having to deal with challenges posed by the pandemic.

In his state of the association address, PMI CEO/Executive Director Kerry Stackpole contrasted the highs of the bullish pre-COVID-19 economy with the lows of the pandemic. Still, he said, PMI and its members rose to the occasion by achieving essential business designations in the United States, Canada and Mexico; developing and participating in virtual professional development offerings; and contributing to pandemic relief by keeping water flowing and manufacturing personal protective equipment (PPE) and innovative products, such as touchless fixtures that aid infection control.

In alignment with its strategic focus on enhancing customer experiences and differentiating through innovation, Uponor North America (Uponor) is pleased to announce the appointment of Brett Boyum to the position of Vice President of Marketing & Offerings and a member of the company’s Senior Management Committee.

In this critical role, Boyum will focus on growing business by accelerating the innovation pipeline, managing the product portfolio, connecting the technical aspects of solutions to the needs of Uponor’s customers, and building stronger connections between company strategies and customer experiences.

“We believe Brett is a great fit for Uponor, as he will help move our company into the future,” said Bill Gray, President, Uponor North America. “Specifically, we were impressed with his range of expertise in creating differentiated solutions to solve customer challenges; a passion for developing strategic portfolio growth opportunities; and an ability to deliver award-winning digital and analog engagement marketing strategies.”

Boyum most recently served as Senior Vice President of Marketing for Eden Prairie, Minn.-based Cambria, a leading quartz brand in the surfaces industry. Previously, he worked more than 17 years at Marvin Windows in marketing roles of increasing responsibility, ultimately serving as Vice President, Brand Strategy and User Experience. He also owned a marketing consultancy and worked early in his career at both Recovery Engineering, Inc. (PUR brand) and Northern Hydraulics, Inc.

He earned an MBA from Walden University in Minneapolis, an undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota, and completed marketing-focused executive development programs at both the University of Minnesota and Columbia Business School.

REHAU today announced the appointment of Mark Hudoba to vice president of building solutions for the Americas region. Hudoba will lead the business division and drive growth of the company’s plumbing and mechanical product lines including radiant heating/cooling, pre-insulated piping, geoexchange, snow melting, plumbing and municipal water service.

Hudoba replaces Mike Dietrich, who will leave REHAU during January 2021. Based at the company’s Americas headquarters in Leesburg, Virginia, Dietrich has capably served in various roles throughout his 20-year career with REHAU. Beginning as a marketing specialist, Dietrich rose to product manager of radiant heating/cooling for several years before being promoted to vice president in 2013, initially responsible for North America and then for the entire Americas region.

“On behalf of our building solutions team, I would like to recognize Mike’s significant contributions to REHAU. His leadership and commitment to building long-term relationships with employees and customers has been vital to securing our strong reputation and position in this sector,” said Thomas Troeger, chief sales and marketing officer of REHAU Americas. “We wish Mike well in his future professional endeavors.”

Hudoba has worked in the building materials manufacturing industry for 25 years, with a proven track record in market-share growth and profitable sales for established and new product lines. Most recently, he was director of product management for building materials with the offsite construction start-up Katerra. Prior to his role at Katerra, Hudoba was director of product management and senior director of strategy and innovation at Uponor North America, where he led cross-functional teams through strategic business planning, product development and innovation to penetrate new segments of the hydronic heating/cooling and commercial plumbing markets. Previous positions with companies including 3M, Andersen Windows, Wayne-Dalton Corporation and SageGlass lend to Hudoba’s extensive industry experience.

“Mark’s broad construction industry experience and his depth of knowledge in hydronic and plumbing markets were key factors in his selection,” said Troeger. “From start-ups to established global companies, he has worked with executive teams to expand their product portfolios, penetrate new markets and chart new strategic directions. We are pleased to welcome Mark to REHAU and I am confident his track record in product engineering and business planning will help keep our building solution division at the forefront of emerging trends.”

Hudoba earned his MBA from the University of West Florida and holds Bachelor of Science degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Business Marketing from the University of Minnesota. Additionally, he is a LEED accredited Green Associate and is listed as an inventor on 10 U.S. patents.

“I was attracted to REHAU because their core values — trust, reliability and innovation — are closely aligned to mine,” said Hudoba. “The decision to join an already strong team representing a solid portfolio of PEX-based applications was simple. REHAU is known for its top-notch engineering and commitment to customer success. I am looking forward to leading the building solutions business toward continued growth and innovation.”

For additional information, contact REHAU, 1501 Edwards Ferry Rd., N.E., Leesburg, Va., 20176. Phone: 1.800.247.9445. Fax: 1.800.627.3428. E-mail: rehau.mailbox@rehau.com. Web site: http://www.na.rehau.com.

REHAU is the premium worldwide brand for polymer-based innovations and systems in construction, automotive and industry. The company generates continuous growth through its expertise and innovative capabilities in materials development, systems design and surface technology. Approximately 20,000 employees at more than 170 locations around the world ensure success of the independent, privately held company.