People in the News

NIBCO INC., a leading provider of flow control solutions, today announced its Board of Directors has promoted Ashley Martin to president and chief executive officer, effective immediately. Martin joined NIBCO in 2012 and has most recently served as president and chief operating officer since 2023. Before that, she held the position of executive vice president Read more

NIBCO INC., a leading provider of flow control solutions, today announced its Board of Directors has promoted Ashley Martin to president and chief executive officer, effective immediately.

Martin joined NIBCO in 2012 and has most recently served as president and chief operating officer since 2023. Before that, she held the position of executive vice president from 2021. She represents the fifth generation of family leadership since the company’s inception in 1904.

In this role, she will now oversee the overall vision, mission, strategy and performance of the company.

NIBCO Board of Directors has also announced that Steve Malm has been appointed as the new executive chairman.

“We are thrilled to have Ashley step into the chief executive officer position at NIBCO,” said Steve Malm, NIBCO executive chairman. “Ashley is a proven leader who has demonstrated her ability to lead the organization through challenging times while successfully pursuing growth and driving continuous improvement efforts throughout the company. She is ideally suited to drive the company forward, while remaining committed to the core values which have guided NIBCO’s success over the past 120 years.”

“These are exciting times at NIBCO, as we celebrate our 120th year of being in business,” said Ashley Martin, president and chief executive officer. “Fewer than one percent of companies make it to the fifth generation, so I am especially honored to take on this role and lead the company with excellence and integrity, as well as uphold our legacy of family ownership and stewardship. I’d also like to recognize and thank Steve for his leadership and impact on the organization over the past 25 years.”

F. Robert “Bob” Kerrigan of Wilmette, Ill., passed away August 17 at the age of 91. According to the Plumbing Contractors Association of Greater Chicago, Bob’s success and impact was seen as second generation co-owner and president of FJ Kerrigan Plumbing Company, Wilmette, Ill., and for his many years of devoted service as a Trustee Read more

F. Robert “Bob” Kerrigan of Wilmette, Ill., passed away August 17 at the age of 91. According to the Plumbing Contractors Association of Greater Chicago, Bob’s success and impact was seen as second generation co-owner and president of FJ Kerrigan Plumbing Company, Wilmette, Ill., and for his many years of devoted service as a Trustee of the Plumbers’ Local 130 Pension Fund. He will be fondly remembered as a respected plumbing professional and leader.

Leading provider of Denver home services ranks No. 1,812 on prestigious list DENVER – August 13, 2024 – High 5 Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, a family-owned and operated home service company serving residents in the greater Denver metropolitan area, announced today that they have been named one of the fastest-growing private companies after being ranked No. 1,812 Read more

Leading provider of Denver home services ranks No. 1,812 on prestigious list

DENVER – August 13, 2024 – High 5 Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, a family-owned and operated home service company serving residents in the greater Denver metropolitan area, announced today that they have been named one of the fastest-growing private companies after being ranked No. 1,812 in the prestigious Inc. 5000 list. This is the third consecutive year High 5 has received the recognition.

“Year after year, High 5 continues to find new ways to evolve and grow to support our community with excellent services,” said Levi Torres, co-owner of High 5. “Being named to the Inc. 5000 three years in a row is a direct reflection of the hard work our team puts in each day and the support we have from our partners and the community. We have no plans of slowing down and are optimistic about what the future holds.”

High 5 Plumbing, Heating & Cooling announced today that they have been named one of the fastest-growing private companies after being ranked No. 1,812 in the prestigious Inc. 5000 list.

High 5’s growth has been evident over the past eight months. In January, they held the grand opening of their new headquarters in Golden, Colorado. The space, which was designed with future growth in mind, includes a podcasting room, high-tech training room which seats up to 56 people, and a new materials room staged with grab-and-go crates for each technician, providing for a more efficient workflow.

In addition to a new headquarters, High 5 Plumbing, Heating & Cooling launched their new HVAC division in April, a direct result of the company’s explosive growth over the years.

“One of the greatest joys of my job is going through the Inc. 5000 list,” says Mike Hofman, who recently joined Inc. as editor-in-chief. “To see all of the intriguing and surprising ways that companies are transforming sectors, from health care and AI to apparel and pet food, is fascinating for me as a journalist and storyteller. Congratulations to this year’s honorees, as well, for growing their businesses fast despite the economic disruption we all faced over the past three years, from supply chain woes to inflation to changes in the workforce.”

The Inc. 5000 class of 2024 represents companies that have driven rapid revenue growth while navigating inflationary pressure, the rising costs of capital, and seemingly intractable hiring challenges. Among this year’s top 500 companies, the average median three-year revenue growth rate is 1,637 percent. In all, this year’s Inc. 5000 companies have added 874,458 jobs to the economy over the past three years.

For complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, location, and other criteria, go to www.inc.com/inc5000. All 5,000 companies are featured on Inc.com starting Tuesday, Aug. 13, and the top 500 appear in the new issue of Inc. magazine, available on newsstands beginning Tuesday, Aug. 20.

To learn more about High 5 Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, visit http://high5homefix.com/.

Malco recognized as a MNSTAR facility and takes home Governor’s Safety Award Malco Tools, one of the nation’s leading solution developers and manufacturers of a variety of high-quality tools for the HVAC and building construction trades, announced that it has earned two of the state’s top safety recognitions: Minnesota STAR (MNSTAR) certification from the Minnesota Read more

Malco recognized as a MNSTAR facility and takes home Governor’s Safety Award

Malco Tools, one of the nation’s leading solution developers and manufacturers of a variety of high-quality tools for the HVAC and building construction trades, announced that it has earned two of the state’s top safety recognitions: Minnesota STAR (MNSTAR) certification from the Minnesota Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MNOSHA), and the 2024 Governor’s Safety Award, awarded by the Minnesota Safety Council.

Malco’s headquarters in Annandale is one of just 36 MNSTAR-certified facilities in the state, recognized as a leading company that goes beyond basic compliance with all applicable OSHA standards to prevent job-related injuries and illnesses. Prior to earning this top recognition, Malco rigorously maintained its MNOSHA Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (MNSHARP) recognition since 2004.

The MNSTAR certification was marked by a flag-raising ceremony held at Malco’s plant in Annandale on Wednesday, Aug. 7, attended by state and local officials.

Malco hosted a ceremonial flag-raising event on Aug. 7 to celebrate its MNSTAR certification.

Additionally, as a result of its safety-first culture, Malco has earned the Governor’s Safety Award 14 times in the last 20 years. Malco was presented with the award during a ceremony in early May.

Key elements of Malco’s comprehensive health and safety program include:

  • A Safety Management System based on one of the country’s highest safety programs, complete with annual safety goals that are shared across the organization
  • Monthly full-company reviews of safety performance metrics
  • An active and engaged Safety Committee that reviews safety procedures, completes additional safety trainings throughout the year and monitors progress
  • Paid time for associates to participate in safety-related activities
  • Regular safety inspections and safe work observations

“Our number one priority at Malco is keeping our 150+ associates safe,” said Chris Strand, safety and environmental manager at Malco. “We are very committed to safety, from the highest levels of the organization on down. We have always highly valued our relationship with MNOSHA, and are very proud to receive the MNSTAR recognition.”

Scott Crane, chief strategy officer at Malco, added: “It is great to be recognized with these top safety designations, as it is testament to our team’s collaborative efforts in developing successful safety and health programs that we are all very proud of and that make Malco a great place to work.”

For more information about Malco Tools, visit www.malcotools.com.

Taco Comfort Solutions is pleased to announce the appointment of Tony Furst as its newest Commercial Trainer. With over 40 years of distinguished experience in mechanical engineering and a comprehensive background in overseeing multimillion-dollar projects, Tony brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Taco team. Tony’s career spans significant roles across renowned organizations Read more

Taco Comfort Solution, Training, Hydronics, contractors, plumbing, heating, pumping, Tony Furst Taco Comfort Solutions is pleased to announce the appointment of Tony Furst as its newest Commercial Trainer. With over 40 years of distinguished experience in mechanical engineering and a comprehensive background in overseeing multimillion-dollar projects, Tony brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Taco team.

Tony’s career spans significant roles across renowned organizations within the HVAC industry, including Armstrong Fluid Technology, where he served as the US Director of Application Engineering. His responsibilities included providing extensive application engineering support and developing technical education content for commercial HVAC systems. Tony’s commitment to excellence and innovation has consistently resulted in the successful completion of projects on time and within budget.

“We are thrilled to welcome Tony to Taco Comfort Solutions,” said Cheryl Merchant, CEO of Taco Family of Companies. “His deep understanding of mechanical systems and his passion for educating others will be invaluable as we continue to enhance our training programs for the commercial sector,” added Merchant.

Tony holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Dayton and an MS in Education from Michigan State University. He is certified in Plumbing Design by the American Society of Plumbing Engineering (ASPE) and is a LEED Accredited Professional with the US Green Building Council. Throughout his career, Tony has been a dedicated member of ASPE and ASHRAE, contributing significantly to technical education committees and serving as a speaker at various industry events.

“I truly enjoy sharing knowledge with others to make modern hydronic systems better,” said Furst. His commitment to advancing industry standards aligns perfectly with Taco Comfort Solutions’ mission to provide innovative and efficient solutions for HVAC systems.

In his new role at Taco, Tony will join a team of esteemed trainers, including Brett Zerba and Rich Medairos, enhancing the company’s capability to deliver comprehensive training programs tailored to the needs of commercial clients.

“It’s rare when you get the opportunity to add someone with Tony’s background, experience, and knowledge to your team,” said John Barba, Director of Training at Taco Comfort Solutions. “Adding Tony to our commercial training team is like having three Hall of Famers in your outfield. I’m looking forward to seeing Tony, Brett, and Rich share their wit, wisdom, and knowledge with our industry,” concluded Barba.

Furst’s appointment marks a significant addition to Taco Comfort Solutions, reinforcing its commitment to excellence in commercial HVAC training and education.