People in the News

The Taco Family of Companies Executive Chairman and owner John Hazen White, Jr. has announced the promotion of Cheryl Merchant to Chief Executive Officer of the 100-year old, third generation family-owned company. Merchant, who joined Taco in 2019, was previously President of Global Operations.

“During her time at Taco, Cheryl has proven herself a capable and talented leader. I feel confident that our company will continue to move in a positive direction under her leadership. This promotion demonstrates the full confidence and trust that the White family has in her,” said White.

White added, “I will remain actively involved in the company. This executive transition will allow me to focus on global growth of the company as well as continue to nurture and strengthen the crucial relationships we have with our employees, reps, suppliers, customers, and the communities where we work.”

Prior to joining Taco, Merchant spent the last 19 years as the President and CEO of Hope Global Industries, based in Cumberland, Rhode Island.

Ontario, Calif. — The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO), in recognition of his vital work in Washington, D.C., and across the globe, has promoted Dain Hansen to Executive Vice President of Government Relations.

Since joining The IAPMO Group in 2010, Hansen has overseen an unprecedented expansion of the association’s influence among government policymakers both in the United States and abroad, including notably India, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East, where national standards based on IAPMO’s codes have been established. Hansen manages IAPMO’s global policy interests before foreign governments, U.S. Congress, the White House, federal and state regulatory agencies, and state legislatures.

Further, Hansen has guided IAPMO’s work with the U.S. Department of Commerce to help facilitate exports of U.S. plumbing products abroad and with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to ensure continuation of the popular and highly effective consumer product labeling program, WaterSense.

Hansen has also served as the chairman of the High-Performance Buildings Coalition (HPBC), a private-sector coalition of stakeholders who provide guidance and support to the High-Performance Buildings Caucus of the U.S. Congress.

He also helps manage International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH), The IAPMO Group’s charitable arm. In this role, Hansen made great strides in developing IWSH into a well-recognized and highly regarded philanthropic entity in the water sector. He has organized and participated in Community Plumbing Challenge projects, bringing clean water and safe sanitation to people who lack them, in Nepal, India, South Africa, Indonesia and in Navajo Nation here in the United States. He will continue his important role with the IWSH team.

“Since joining IAPMO almost 10 years ago, Dain has ascended to be a trusted and competent member of IAPMO senior staff,” said IAPMO CEO GP Russ Chaney. “I’m proud of the work our Government Relations team has accomplished under Dain’s direction.”

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 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 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.”