HVAC industry veteran Steven R. Scarbrough has been named senior vice president and general manager of Air Conditioning Technologies for LG Electronics USA. Scarbrough, who brings nearly two decades of experience to his new role at LG, will be responsible for leading LG’s commercial, residential, and applied air conditioning business in the United States. Based Read more
People in the News
HVAC industry veteran Steven R. Scarbrough has been named senior vice president and general manager of Air Conditioning Technologies for LG Electronics USA. Scarbrough, who brings nearly two decades of experience to his new role at LG, will be responsible for leading LG’s commercial, residential, and applied air conditioning business in the United States.
Based at LG’s U.S. air conditioning headquarters in Alpharetta, Ga., Scarbrough reports to Senior Vice President DJ Kang, who leads the LG Electronics Air Solutions division in the U.S. Scarbrough succeeds Kevin McNamara, who has retired from LG.
Scarbrough joins LG from Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC U.S., where he has held a variety of key roles over the past decade, most recently as vice president overseeing its U.S. residential business. Previously, he was President of HVAC distributor Climatic Comfort Products. He brings strong sales leadership capability, industry experience and expertise in wholesale distribution sales management to LG.
“Steve’s broad experience in the residential and commercial air conditioning sector will take our vision to the next level,” said Kang. “His market expertise and focus on the customer and strategic growth will help strengthen our position as an HVAC industry innovator.”
Scarbrough added, “LG has made tremendous inroads over the past decade with an incredible leadership team and has a well-defined vision for bringing groundbreaking HVAC products and controls to market. My focus is to build on this momentum to help the business achieve its full potential while further increasing recognition of the powerful reputation the LG brand has created in the HVAC industry.”
Watts has announced new leaders for several key business units as it continues to strengthen its commitment to customers. Jim Koepsell has been appointed the General Manager of Watts’ Drains and Industrial businesses. Previously, Koepsell led Watts’ Commercial Operations organization. He is responsible for Watts’ cast iron, BLÜCHER stainless steel, and Orion chemical waste drainage Read more
Watts has announced new leaders for several key business units as it continues to strengthen its commitment to customers.
Jim Koepsell has been appointed the General Manager of Watts’ Drains and Industrial businesses. Previously, Koepsell led Watts’ Commercial Operations organization. He is responsible for Watts’ cast iron, BLÜCHER stainless steel, and Orion chemical waste drainage solutions, along with Watts’ Mueller Steam industrial strainer, check valve, and butterfly valve solutions.
Atul Sharma has been appointed the Director of Watts’ Commercial Operations and General Manager for Watts’ Syncta business. Previously, Sharma led multiple strategic projects for Watts and served on the Corporate Strategy & Business Development team.
Carlos Haddad has been appointed General Manager for Watts’ Dormont Gas Business Unit in addition to his existing role as Vice President of Marketing and Business Development (Americas and Europe). He is responsible for Watts’ Gas connector and Gas safety systems for residential, commercial, and food service applications.
“In appointing these leaders, we are positioned to provide the highest level of support to our customers,” according to Andrew Windsor, Watts Senior Vice President, Sales. “As always, our top objective is to deliver the products and solutions that will help our customers succeed.”
For more info, watts.com.
The Cast Iron Soil Pipe Institute (CISPI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Grant Dow as Vice President of Field Services. In this key post, Dow will recruit, train and lead a team of regional representatives, each of whom is responsible for educating plumbing industry professionals in their territories about the benefits of cast Read more
The Cast Iron Soil Pipe Institute (CISPI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Grant Dow as Vice President of Field Services. In this key post, Dow will recruit, train and lead a team of regional representatives, each of whom is responsible for educating plumbing industry professionals in their territories about the benefits of cast iron soil pipe and fittings. Dow will build alliances and partnerships, and oversee operational policies and procedures in support of the Institute’s strategic initiatives. Dow will also be representing Arizona and Colorado.
Dow has an extensive background in management, operations and training, most recently serving as the Director of Sales-US with CB Supplies, Ltd. He has more than 30 years of experience in the plumbing industry, entering the management side after several years as a field plumber.
According to CISPI Executive Vice President Dave Parney, “The Institute is confident that with someone of Grant’s caliber at the helm of field services, we’ll be able to have the best-trained and high-performing professionals in the field to support plumbing industry professionals.”
Dow says that, “I am honored to be with the go-to expert on cast iron soil pipe and fittings and DWV plumbing systems. Working with the Institute will allow me the opportunity to influence the next generation of plumbers.”
Dow was recruited and placed by executive search firm Brooke Chase Associations, Inc.
Oatey Co., a leading manufacturer in the plumbing industry since 1916, announced the promotion of Dalithia Smith, SPHR, CCP, SHRM-SCP, to Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer. Smith joined Oatey just over two years ago as Vice President, Human Resources. With more than 20 years of experience in Human Resources leadership, she has significant Read more
Oatey Co., a leading manufacturer in the plumbing industry since 1916, announced the promotion of Dalithia Smith, SPHR, CCP, SHRM-SCP, to Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer.Smith joined Oatey just over two years ago as Vice President, Human Resources. With more than 20 years of experience in Human Resources leadership, she has significant expertise in all areas of human capital management, talent acquisition and overall HR strategy. Prior to joining Oatey, she spent 10 years at Lincoln Electric, most recently as Vice President, Human
Resources, Americas Welding.
As Chief Human Resources Officer, Smith will continue to lead all HR functions at Oatey and will also have responsibility for Environmental, Health, Safety and Security as well as Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. She continues to report to Neal Restivo, CEO.
Arlington, Va. — The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) regrets to inform the HVAC community of the passing of ACCA past Chairman, Bob Keingstein, president of BOSS Facility Services, Inc. in Hauppauge, NY. He passed away on June 20, 2020, after battling lung cancer. Keingstein was a strong supporter of ACCA and its programs Read more
Arlington, Va. — The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) regrets to inform the HVAC community of the passing of ACCA past Chairman, Bob Keingstein, president of BOSS Facility Services, Inc. in Hauppauge, NY. He passed away on June 20, 2020, after battling lung cancer.
Keingstein was a strong supporter of ACCA and its programs. He served on ACCA’s Board of Directors in the 90s before becoming Chairman in 1999. He was a long-time member of ACCA’s Masters of Achievements MIX® Group, served on several ACCA committees including the Commercial Contractors Committee, and served as a judge for ACCA’s prestigious Contractors of the Year Award for the past eight years.
Keingstein’s influence on the HVAC industry and ACCA stretch far beyond the day-to-day business, as is seen through the memories shared by his friends and current industry leaders.
“I had been a member of ACCA for a while before I met Bob at an ACCA conference in 1999,” said John Sedine, president of Engineered Heating & Cooling in Cedar Springs, MI, and ACCA past chairman. “Bob became chairman that year, and at the chairman’s gala there were lighthouses on all the tables. During his speech he said the lighthouses represented ACCA as the light in the world of HVAC for contractors to find their way. I remember sitting there thinking how lucky I was to have joined ACCA and how excited I felt about being part of a large group of successful HVAC contractors. A few years later he invited me to be a part of his MIX Group, and our friendship continued to grow from there. Bob was an awesome mentor who was fun to talk business and he helped me grow. He leaves a big legacy and will long be remembered.”
“Bob had a way of coming up with ideas and then being able to make them be so compelling to others that we all wanted to be a part of it,” said Mike Beaver, president of Beaver Brothers, Inc. in Salisbury, NC. “Working with other contractors was in his blood and so much of what he did with ACCA came out in our MIX Group and vice versa. Bob was ACCA and ACCA was Bob.”
“I met Bob in the mid-90s, and it didn’t take long to forge a long-lasting friendship with him,” said Ken Bodwell, retired president of ISS Mechanical in Orlando, FL. “He introduced me to what it really meant to be in an ACCA MIX Group and sponsored me to join his. Through that experience, Bob, Past ACCA Chairman Jim Hussey, Past ACCA Chairman Skip Snyder, and I became like the four musketeers, close friends who never hesitated to reach out in the good times or tough times. Bob’s impact on the industry will continue to live on through all of us he helped over the years.”
“Bob had an infectious passion for ACCA and our industry,” said Lanny Huffman, president of Hickory Sheet Metal in Hickory, NC and ACCA chairman of the board. “He didn’t have secrets, he shared his knowledge freely with other contractors, which made us all better. We lost a great friend and asset with Bob’s passing.”
“Bob was a devoted ACCA member, who rolled up his sleeves after his time as chairman to continue to give back to other contractors,” said Barton James, ACCA President & CEO. “Volunteer leaders such as Bob are why ACCA continues to exist and are able to serve contractors. We are grateful for him being a strong advocate for ACCA and our programs, because he helped foster the next generation of ACCA leaders through his mentorship and example.”
“Bob was one of the funniest people I knew,” said Alan Barnes, Sr., ACCA past chairman. “He found the bright side of any situation and was a true optimist. He was animated and warmly engaged in any situation whether serious or light-hearted. In any conversation with Bob, he couldn’t resist showing a warm smile and injecting humor. Those qualities made him a great negotiator and problem-solver.”