People in the News

Rheem®, a leading global manufacturer of water heating and HVACR products, today announced that Chris Haynes, vice president of Global Procurement, has been named as a Supply & Demand Chain Executive “2023 Pros to Know” award recipient. The award recognizes outstanding executives whose accomplishments offer a roadmap for other leaders looking to leverage their supply chain for competitive advantage.

As vice president of Global Procurement, Haynes oversees the global strategic sourcing across Rheem’s air and water divisions that include an array of products, such as tank-type and tankless water heaters, air conditioners, furnaces and HVAC systems for residential and commercial applications.

“I am honored to be chosen by my peers for the Pros to Know award and to be in the company of the other esteemed winners in my field,” said Haynes. “With the fast-paced world of supply chain becoming highly volatile in recent years, this is great recognition of Rheem’s unwavering commitment to deliver high-quality products for our customers. Today’s environment requires us to constantly reinvent what it means to be a supply chain professional and I’m incredibly proud to help lead Rheem’s global sustainability practices, which we have implemented rapidly on a large scale.”

Haynes has had an illustrious career with Rheem spanning more than a decade. He manages a global team with 60 direct and 125 indirect reports across 25 locations in 10 countries. Haynes also is passionate about mentoring staff and investing in talent to build strong teams across Asia, Europe, Latin America and North America.

Facing global supply chain disruptions, post- COVID-19 recovery and inflation, Haynes always ensures Rheem can deliver outstanding results for its customers by spearheading and revolutionizing Rheem’s inbound supply chain process. Serving as a company leader on Rheem’s “A Greater Degree of Good” sustainability initiative, Haynes has worked with global suppliers and manufacturing facility leaders to reduce Rheem’s carbon footprint, utilize recycled materials and work toward achieving the zero waste to landfill goal.

“Chris is not only a ‘Pro to Know,’ he is one of Rheem’s supply chain heroes and sustainability champions,” said Rheem President Global Water, Rich Bendure. “Chris is customer-focused in everything he does and, as a leader, inspires his teams to put that into practice every day. Chris knows that exceeding our customers’ expectations, particularly in times of uncertainty, gives us a competitive advantage in the marketplace, and solidifies Rheem’s long-term reputation as a manufacturer that delivers on our commitments. Congratulations, Chris, on this much-deserved award.”

Visit https://www.sdcexec.com/awards/pros-to-know to view the full list of “Supply & Demand Chain Executive 2023 - “Pros to Know” winners and visit rheem.com to learn more about Rheem’s latest news.

A company-wide kickoff event on February 22 unveiled plans for the group and its engagement activities throughout the year.

Franklin Electric Co., Inc. (NASDAQ: FELE) announced the formation of a new employee resource group (ERG) dedicated to providing an avenue for women to grow both professionally and personally through education, networking and advocacy. Known as Franklin Women’s Network (FWN), the group’s promise is to, “build a welcoming, inclusive community, provide professional alliances, equip Franklin women with relevant development tools and resources, and guide Franklin women to identify and achieve career milestones.”

Companies have implemented ERGs in recent years in response to a growing awareness and support for employee betterment. ERGs create a network of like-minded employees who want to collaborate and grow personally and professionally.

While months of planning went into formalizing the group, the idea for the FWN stemmed from a chance encounter in the company’s hallways between Franklin Electric Engineering Manager Sukaynah Abu-Mulaweh and Global Business Operations Vice President Amy Stauffer. The two struck up a conversation, and Stauffer began meeting with Abu-Mulaweh on a regular basis for mentorship sessions. “Sukaynah and I were from two uniquely different business areas. Our ability to meet and connect took planning, but we both valued the discussions we had during those sessions,” explained Stauffer. “As a new manager, Sukaynah wanted to form connections that would help her grow and learn about the business from someone who has worked in this industry for more than 20 years.”

During Stauffer and Abu-Mulaweh’s mentoring conversations, the two discussed the importance of taking the experience they shared and creating a more formal network. From there, the idea grew. With the help of steering committee members from various areas of the business, including Human Resources, Finance & Accounting, Engineering, Marketing and Supply Chain, the FWN was born.

While the ERG is targeted towards women – who are often underrepresented in the industries Franklin Electric serves – the group has made it a point to invite all Franklin Electric employees to participate.

The group’s kickoff event, hosted in Fort Wayne on February 22, was an example of this inclusiveness in action. More than 70 employees participated, including leaders at all levels of the organization. Franklin Electric Chairperson of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Gregg C. Sengstack, welcomed attendees. Abu-Mulaweh then presented plans for the year that will include quarterly networking seminars as well as frequent interactive workshops and personal development opportunities.

“We wanted to kick this off with a real community feel, and this event accomplished that,” said Stauffer. “Seeing everyone come together for this common goal of learning and advancement is so important to the future of our business, and really, the future of the industries we serve.”

Vice President of Global Water Engineering Don Brown also knows how important programs like this are to the members of his team, including Abu-Mulaweh. “When I first learned of the plans to form the Franklin Women’s Network, I was excited about the benefits it could bring to our company. The strength of a company is in its people, and this initiative will help us demonstrate that we are a company that values diversity in its workforce, and diversity in the ideas of its people. The very existence of this group will help us retain the best women in our workforce, and – just as important – it will help us to recruit more women into our company.”

To learn more about Franklin Electric’s FWN and the organization’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, visit franklin-electric.com.

Mikrofill Systems Ltd. (Mikrofill), part of the U.K.-based Stuart Turner Group, has appointed Illinois-based AIM Solutions as its representative for the U.S. Midwest. The representative will introduce the Mikrofill 3 line of hydronic pressurization devices to professionals in the plumbing, HVAC, and industrial and municipal markets in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, and Wisconsin.

With over 20 years of industry experience, AIM Solutions is a distributor of and manufacturers representative for centrifugal pumps, vacuum pumps, blowers, motors, variable frequency drives, and related products for the plumbing, HVAC, industrial and municipal waterworks markets. Based in the western Chicago suburb of Downers Grove, Illinois, the agency comprises a team of professionals with backgrounds in the pump industry, manufacturing, engineering, wholesaling and contracting.

“I believe Mikrofill has created a genius solution with the one-of-a-kind Mikrofill 3,” says Tom Buchanan, who works in Application Sales for AIM Solutions. “I was on a mission to work with this company, and I’m looking forward to what I believe will be a great partnership with Mikrofill and Stuart-Turner for many years to come.”

“We welcome the opportunity to work with AIM Solutions, its customers and industry contacts,” says Stuart Martin, Group OEM & Export Manager for Stuart Turner. “Their in-depth product and application knowledge will be an outstanding complement to our team.”

For more information on the Mikrofill 3 or technical assistance, visit mikrofill.us or telephone 312 761 5826.

For more information on AIM Solutions, please visit https://www.aimsolutions-inc.com/

As of Jan. 6, 2023, Mark Ingrao is no longer the chief executive officer of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors—National Association (PHCC).

Former PHCC Educational Foundation Chief Operating Officer Cindy Sheridan, CAE, has been named PHCC’s interim chief executive officer. Sheridan joined PHCC as the membership director in 2000 and became the Foundation Chief Operating Officer in 2010.

“We are delighted to have Cindy serve as staff leader for our PHCC team,” said PHCC President Dave Frame. “She is a well-respected professional who knows our association and industry well. Her extensive knowledge and expertise will help guide us as we collaborate together to build the future for our industry.”