Peachtree City, Ga. — Rinnai America Corporation, Rinnai America Corporation announced that Frank Windsor has been promoted to President of the Peachtree City, Georgia-based company. Windsor joined Rinnai as General Manager in 2014 and was later promoted to Chief Operating Officer in 2016. During his time with Rinnai, Windsor has led major strategic initiatives including Read more
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Peachtree City, Ga. — Rinnai America Corporation, Rinnai America Corporation announced that Frank Windsor has been promoted to President of the Peachtree City, Georgia-based company.
Windsor joined Rinnai as General Manager in 2014 and was later promoted to Chief Operating Officer in 2016. During his time with Rinnai, Windsor has led major strategic initiatives including the start of the organization’s North American Manufacturing facility in Griffin, Georgia. The facility produced its first tankless water heater in April of 2018, making Rinnai America Corporation the first major tankless water heating brand to manufacture in the United States. He has also supported the organization’s vision for future growth by leading the expansion of the company’s Peachtree City headquarters, which opened in September of 2018. In 2019 the company will open a state-of-the-art training and innovation center at the headquarters that will be used to develop innovative products for the North American market. With the future in mind, Windsor also established an innovation department in 2018 that combines engineering and product management teams and is responsible for developing new product initiatives for existing and new markets.
“Rinnai has identified the North American market as a strategic growth vehicle for the global organization,” said Yuji Kondo, Director and Senior Managing Executive Officer, General Manager of Overseas Business Headquarters. “We have achieved significant milestones under Frank’s leadership and look forward to continuing to expand our presence in North America.”
Prior to joining Rinnai, Windsor spent 23 years with Kohler Company in various leadership positions leading up to Vice President of Sales Kitchen & Bath Americas.
“I am proud to be part of a thriving business that is investing in the growth of the North American Market,” said Windsor. “Our vision is ‘enhancing lives by changing the way water is heated.’ We have a talented team in place and are well positioned to continue to drive the growth of the water heating and space heating categories.”
For more information on Rinnai and its portfolio of products, visit rinnai.us.
Cranston, R.I.—Taco Family of Companies CEO and owner, John Hazen White, Jr., announced that Cheryl Merchant will join the company on January 1, 2019 as President of Taco Family of Companies, North America. Ms. Merchant has spent the last 19 years as the President and CEO of Hope Global Industries, based in Cumberland, Rhode Island Read more
Cranston, R.I.—Taco Family of Companies CEO and owner, John Hazen White, Jr., announced that Cheryl Merchant will join the company on January 1, 2019 as President of Taco Family of Companies, North America. Ms. Merchant has spent the last 19 years as the President and CEO of Hope Global Industries, based in Cumberland, Rhode Island.
“Cheryl’s addition to our senior leadership team will ensure Taco’s continued success as a high-performing, customer focused company,” White told his Cranston-based workforce this week. “Cheryl’s track record at Hope Global speaks for itself and we are fortunate to have her join the Taco family.”
Luca Bolcati, currently Vice President of Taco International, will be named President of Taco International, effective January 1, 2019 as well.
The members of Plumbing Manufacturers International (PMI) elected Nate Kogler president of the 2019 PMI Board of Directors at PMI’s 44th annual meeting of the membership held during the PMI Conference last week. The director of product management at Bradley Corporation, Kogler succeeds Pete Jahrling, director, product engineering and intellectual property at Sloan Valve Company Read more
The members of Plumbing Manufacturers International (PMI) elected Nate Kogler president of the 2019 PMI Board of Directors at PMI’s 44th annual meeting of the membership held during the PMI Conference last week. The director of product management at Bradley Corporation, Kogler succeeds Pete Jahrling, director, product engineering and intellectual property at Sloan Valve Company, who served as board president in 2017 and 2018. Jahrling will continue to serve on the board as immediate past president.
Nate Kogler. Photo by Tavits Photography
Kogler said PMI leadership will work to expand educational opportunities for members and use new technologies to share information. Collaboration will be key, he said. “None of us is smarter than all of us. We will build on the collective knowledge of our members and on the power of our relationships. Engagement, enthusiasm and support will drive us.”
Jahrling noted the strong commitment of the board members. “I enjoyed every minute of working with a great group of people who served on the board beside me,” Jahrling said. “It was an honor to serve as the president of this healthy, dynamic and forward-looking organization. I certainly benefited from the support and guidance of my fellow board members.”
Joel Smith, director – new product engineering at Kohler Co., was elected as vice president and Todd Teter, vice president and general manager – U.S. wholesale for Moen Inc., will serve as secretary/treasurer.
Elected as directors at large were Chip Way, director of OEM sales at Lavelle Industries, and Michael Miller, director of product partnerships at LSP, who will serve their terms through 2019.
Two new directors will serve two-year 2019-2020 terms. They are John Finch, principal engineer at Masco Corporation, and Carol Baricovich, director – global brand communications, government relations, and marketing/business development at InSinkErator.
“I hope to apply my innovation experience to help create and execute new solutions for PMI, including identifying a couple of new actionable efforts that both engage and provide great value to PMI members,” Finch said.
Baricovich stated that she looks forward to becoming an effective board member by focusing on areas where her expertise can make a difference. “We’ll work together with members to navigate the ongoing challenges of ensuring safe, responsible plumbing – PMI’s mission – with a continued focus on sustainability and also encourage members to draw on the organization’s many resources and benefits.
Other highlights of the membership meeting were PMI Association Manager Jodi Stuhrberg receiving the President’s Award and Mariana Nicolae of Sloan Valve Company receiving recognition for her long and dedicated service to PMI.
Cranston, RI – The Taco Family of Companies Chairman and owner John H. White, Jr. announced today that he will reassume the role of company CEO effective immediately. The company also announced that John White III and Benjamin White have been named Vice Presidents of Taco Comfort Solutions. “Nearly four years ago I asked Wil Read more
Cranston, RI – The Taco Family of Companies Chairman and owner John H. White, Jr. announced today that he will reassume the role of company CEO effective immediately. The company also announced that John White III and Benjamin White have been named Vice Presidents of Taco Comfort Solutions.
“Nearly four years ago I asked Wil VandeWiel to take the Company into Europe and grow our businesses domestically and internationally,” Mr. White said. “With Taco well on its way to meeting those goals, Wil has decided that he would like to pursue other opportunities and I have accepted his decision.”
“Everyone in the Company wishes Wil good luck wherever the future may take him and I personally wish to thank him for all of his efforts while a part of the Taco family.”
Weil-McLain®, a leading designer and manufacturer of hydronic comfort heating systems for residential, commercial and institutional buildings, has named Michael Langen as its director of sales. He will be based at the company’s Burr Ridge, Ill., headquarters. As director of sales, Langen is responsible for leading the US sales organization in executing Weil-McLain’s growth strategy, including Read more
Weil-McLain®, a leading designer and manufacturer of hydronic comfort heating systems for residential, commercial and institutional buildings, has named Michael Langen as its director of sales. He will be based at the company’s Burr Ridge, Ill., headquarters.
As director of sales, Langen is responsible for leading the US sales organization in executing Weil-McLain’s growth strategy, including channel management and contractor engagement initiatives.
Langen has more than 20 years of experience in sales strategy and execution. Most recently, he was the sales director for the electrical and hydronic business at Honeywell International.
“Michael’s deep experience as a hydronics sales leader and his proven track record of using advanced selling tools to drive growth will help build on our recent successes and keep us well positioned for the future,” said John Swann, president of Weil-McLain. “We are excited to welcome him to the team and look forward to his leadership as we continue to execute on our growth strategy.”
Langen has a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Northern Illinois University and an MBA from Keller Graduate School of Management.