General News

Wilo USA, a provider of pumps and pump solutions for building services, water management, and groundwater, is pleased to name Dana Mullen as the new Regional Sales Manager of Water Management for the Northeastern region of the United States.

With over 28 years in fluid handling and a BS in Business Management from Franklin Pierce College, Mullen has an in-depth understanding of how to manage and improve sales channels within the pump industry. In his new position at Wilo, he is responsible for overseeing the sales operation within the Northeast region, which includes servicing the needs of customers, developing sales strategies and setting targets, and collecting customer feedback and market research.

“Dana’s name stood out right away,” says Tim Ruppert, Managing Director of Wilo USA. “His knowledge in sales management and extensive product experience make him a perfect candidate to help us grow Wilo products in the Northeast.”

Throughout his career, Mullen has worked as sales manager, marketing manager, and business developer in the pump industry. Mullen’s previous stops have shown his ability to consistently increase sales as well as increase product growth within the marketplace.

Wilo’s Water Management Division provides durable and efficient submersible pumps for portable, wet-pit, and dry well applications.

Hiller Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical (Hiller), the region’s premier provider of residential and commercial service and repair, is pleased to announce the acquisition of McKinzie Mechanical Heating and Air Conditioning of Goodlettsville, TN.

McKinzie Mechanical has serviced over 3,000 homes in the Goodlettsville, Hendersonville, and Gallatin areas in North Nashville over the past 30 years. McKinzie has built a successful business founded on exceptional service, honesty, and loyalty to its customers, which resulted in continual growth. In order to support this growth and continue to deliver excellent customer satisfaction, McKinzie has decided to join Hiller Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical.

“This partnership was a good fit because the way Hiller takes care of their customers corresponds with the way that McKinzie takes care of ours”, says Steve McKinzie, owner of McKinzie Mechanical. “Now that McKinzie Mechanical is a part of the Hiller team”, he continued, “Our customers and our employees will benefit from the additional resources that are available at Hiller”.

Hiller, founded on the same values of high quality customer service, loyalty, honesty, and caring about its customers, has also experienced tremendous growth over the past 26 years. Since 1990, the company has grown to include over 400 trucks, employ over 600 team members, and operate out of 11 locations. As a result, Hiller is capable of providing key resources and benefits, such as mobile dispatch technology, streamlined scheduling, continuing training and education programs for technicians, and a 100% satisfaction guarantee, to its customers.

“One of the things that made McKinzie a very attractive partner for us”, said Jimmy Hiller, founder and owner of Hiller Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, & Electrical, “was their high integrity and their focus on customer service. This acquisition allows us to better service our existing customers in the Robertson and Sumner County areas and ensure that they will continue to receive the high quality service they have come to expect from both Hiller and McKinzie Mechanical”.

Hiller Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical, provides residential and commercial service and repair throughout Tennessee, Southern Kentucky, and Northern Alabama. Hiller, recently named the fifth fastest-growing private company in Middle Tennessee, employs over 600 people across 11 locations, boasts a fleet of 420 “happy face” trucks, and proudly services over 35,500 loyal customers. For more information about Hiller, visit http://www.happyhiller.com or e-mail press@happyhiller.com.

Tim Dallas to fill the role of Regional Sales Manager; Joe Bisignano as Business Development Manager

Franke, the largest stainless steel kitchen sink manufacturer in the world and a leading name in kitchen faucets, announced the expansion of Kitchen Systems North America by welcoming two new managers to the team. Tim Dallas has been named Luxury Regional Sales Manager for the Mid-West region, and Joe Bisignano has been named Business Development Manager – Wholesale. These kitchen and bath industry veterans will assist in the growth of both the Luxury and Retail segments of Franke.

“We’re excited to welcome these talented salesmen to the Franke team,” said Gary Langbo, President of Franke Kitchen Systems. “They embrace Franke’s dedication to producing the highest quality sinks and faucets for people who love to cook and entertain. I’m confident that under their management our brand will continue to grow throughout North America.”

Tim Dallas

Tim Dallas returns to Franke as Luxury Regional Sales Manager for the Mid-West region, bringing with him 17 years of experience in the retail and wholesale channels of the home improvement industry. Known for his energetic approach to training, Dallas has built and managed teams to drive sales for a number of companies including Blu Bathworks, GEBERIT and Black & Decker. He also spent three years as one of Franke’s Regional Sales Managers from 2004-2007. Dallas has traveled extensively across North America to work with builders, architects, designers, plumbing distributors and the plumbing trades. He is actively involved in the Chicago chapters of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry and the American Society of Interior Designers and is a graduate of St. Louis University. He lives in Oswego, Illinois with his wife and four children.

Joe Bisignano

With over 16 years of sales experience in the cabinets, countertops and plumbing wholesale industries, Joe Bisignano joins Franke as the new Business Development Manager – Wholesale. Bisignano previously served as sales manager for Global Industrial, Elkay, Ellsworth Kiel and Black & Decker, and he has represented a wide range of high-end plumbing lines such as Kindred, Hansgrohe, Rohl, Rocky Mountain Hardware and Wood Pro. Bisignano’s experience as a senior sales executive has resulted in strong relationships within the architect, designer, builder and plumbing engineer communities; and he has participated in Elkay’s School for Success, Rohl’s Sales Rep Training and Black & Decker’s Product Sales & Development program. He’s a graduate of Kean University and currently lives in Jamesburg, New Jersey with his wife and two daughters.

About Franke

Franke is the largest stainless steel kitchen sink manufacturer in the world and a leading name in kitchen faucets; hot- and cold-water filtration; topmount, undermount and apron front sinks; and waste disposers. The Franke Group is a world-leading provider of solutions and equipment for domestic kitchens, washrooms, professional food service, coffee preparation and beverage delivery. The group has 72 subsidiaries with more than 9,000 employees in 37 countries and generates consolidated sales of CHF 2.1 billion. For more information, visit www.franke.us/ks or call 800- 626-5771.

Mr. Rooter Plumbing Celebrates Top Performers and Another Year of Company Success

Mr. Rooter Plumbing, a leader in the full-service plumbing industry, announced today Brad and Amanda Sims have been named the company’s Franchisee of the Year as a result of the tremendous success their Mt. Pleasant, Michigan business achieved in 2015. Additionally, the brand continued to make waves in their development efforts with the opening of new Mr. Rooter Plumbing locations in markets such as Birmingham, Ala., Williamsburg, Va., and Woburn, Mass. The company is on track to open nearly 20 additional locations this year.

“Mr. Rooter is poised for a year of aggressive growth as we look to expand our presence in new and existing markets including New Orleans, Kansas City, Salt Lake City and Tulsa,” said Doyle James, president of Mr. Rooter Plumbing. “The tireless efforts of our corporate team and our franchisee’s commitment to the brand continue to propel us forward, and I look forward to seeing what this dynamic team can do in 2016. On behalf of the entire company, I’d also like to congratulate Brad and Amanda Sims on their Franchisee of the Year Award and the incredible success they achieved in 2015. The Sims, along with our entire network of franchise partners, uphold the highest level of customer service, and we thank them for their intrepid dedication to the communities they serve. ”

Brad and Amanda Sims became Mr. Rooter Plumbing franchisees nearly a decade ago when they purchased the Mt. Pleasant, Michigan market. Brad first became part of the Mr. Rooter family well before that while working for the company as a technician when he was younger. A results-driven industry veteran, Brad is an experienced business owner who’s taken his strong family values and turned it into franchise success. An industry leader in her own right, Amanda was named Mr. Rooter Plumbing’s Woman of the Year Award in 2014. The Sims have long been dedicated to creating a close-knit team that shares a common desire to create and maintain a family oriented culture, all while delivering exceptional service to clients, which helped them surpass $1.5 million in revenue in 2015.

“Amanda and I are honored to be named the 2015 Mr. Rooter Plumbing Franchisee of the Year,” said Brad Sims. “Our success would not be possible without the phenomenal support from the corporate team, Mr. Rooter’s proprietary systems, guidance from our franchise consultants and the loyalty of our large network of franchisees. We pledge to continue delivering the service our clients have come to know us for and look forward to growing with this incredible brand for many years to come.”

Since 1970, Mr. Rooter Plumbing has been known for its exemplary customer service and commitment to maintaining the highest standards. A subsidiary of The Dwyer Group, Inc., family of service franchises, Mr. Rooter Plumbing provides services to both residential and commercial customers at more than 250 locations in the United States and Canada, and more than 100 locations internationally through master licensees. The brand has been recognized by Entrepreneur magazine among its “Franchise 500” ranking, and was named to Franchise Times’ Top 200 listing.

Mr. Rooter Plumbing is currently seeking single- and multi-unit operators to join in the brand’s rapid expansion. For more information about franchise opportunities, visit http://www.leadingtheserviceindustry.com/mr-rooter-llc/ or call 888-492-3396.