People in the News

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, 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.

Rinnai Corporation, manufacturer of the number-one selling brand of tankless gas water heaters in North America, announced Peter Reiner has joined the organization as its Vice President of Marketing. Reiner’s experience includes developing innovative marketing strategies in executive leadership positions with companies such as LG Electronics, Toys R Us, and Sara Lee Corporation. Reiner received his MBA from Cornell University and a BS from Emerson College.

“Reiner is a highly experienced marketing executive with a wide-ranging career in various industries,” said Frank Windsor, President of Rinnai America Corporation. “We’ll leverage his expertise to build on our success as we expand our product portfolio into new and existing categories.”

As VP of Marketing, Reiner will use his extensive marketing knowledge and leadership to develop innovative solutions for growing the company’s market share in both residential and commercial markets. “I look forward to joining Rinnai and working with a great team to take the company’s innovative products to an even broader audience,” said Reiner.

Over the past several years Rinnai has made significant investments in the North American market with initiatives including opening its first North American manufacturing facility in Griffin, Georgia, and expanding its corporate headquarters to include a state-of-the-art innovation center of excellence, where it will leverage new technologies to introduce innovative products into the market. “Our brand promise is focused on ‘creating a healthier way of living’ for our customers, our employees, and our society,” said Windsor. “Peter will play a critical role in delivering that promise through marketing initiatives and superb product launches in the near future.”

To learn more about Rinnai, visit www.rinnai.us.

When Forrest Anderson Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning Inc. (Forrest Anderson), a family-owned business in the Phoenix area since 1961, was asked to remove a medical gas system from a commercial building, they chose to donate it to P.I.P.E industries for training purposes. Highlighting their commitment to training and development, the company’s donation will help future industry experts learn how to manage similar situations and contracts.

Carl Triphahn, Director of P.I.P.E. (L) accepts the medical gas system training donation from Dennis Correll of Forrest Anderson Plumbing and AC (R)

Forrest Anderson was contracted to remove an oxygen gas manifold from a commercial property as the new owners were not allowed to use it. Upon removing the box, piping, thermostats, and pressure gauges, the team mounted it on a 4×8 piece of plywood to be used by P.I.P.E industries for their medical gas piping classes.

“When I went through the training, they didn’t always have these components on hand,” explained Mark Stevens of Forrest Anderson. “They would just pull pieces out of a box, so newer technicians might not understand how it was installed. By donating it this way, we hope it helps people across the industry who are brought on for similar projects.”

While removing the system would not require additional qualifications, installation could only be done by technicians with specific training. The team from Forrest Anderson was able to remove the medical gas system within a few hours, mounting it onto the board off-site.

“We are committed to supporting the plumbing and HVAC industry through training and development,” said Audrey Monell, CEO of Forrest Anderson. “This is an exciting industry with numerous opportunities for career development once individuals are trained and experienced. To continue to attract smart and ambitious people to the industry, we hope to support their education with donations like this medical gas system.”

The Piping Industry Progress and Education Trust Fund (P.I.P.E.) is a non-profit 501-C5 established in 1954. P.I.P.E. supports training programs for apprentice and journeyman crafts people to provide participating contractors with thoroughly competent workers. All P.I.P.E. certified journeymen undergo a five-year apprenticeship program to become fully trained in all aspects of the plumbing, pipefitting, and air conditioning industry.