Ontario, Calif. — The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO), in recognition of his vital work in Washington, D.C., and across the globe, has promoted Dain Hansen to Executive Vice President of Government Relations. Since joining The IAPMO Group in 2010, Hansen has overseen an unprecedented expansion of the association’s influence among government Read more
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Ontario, Calif. — The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO), in recognition of his vital work in Washington, D.C., and across the globe, has promoted Dain Hansen to Executive Vice President of Government Relations.
Since joining The IAPMO Group in 2010, Hansen has overseen an unprecedented expansion of the association’s influence among government policymakers both in the United States and abroad, including notably India, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East, where national standards based on IAPMO’s codes have been established. Hansen manages IAPMO’s global policy interests before foreign governments, U.S. Congress, the White House, federal and state regulatory agencies, and state legislatures.
Further, Hansen has guided IAPMO’s work with the U.S. Department of Commerce to help facilitate exports of U.S. plumbing products abroad and with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to ensure continuation of the popular and highly effective consumer product labeling program, WaterSense.
Hansen has also served as the chairman of the High-Performance Buildings Coalition (HPBC), a private-sector coalition of stakeholders who provide guidance and support to the High-Performance Buildings Caucus of the U.S. Congress.
He also helps manage International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH), The IAPMO Group’s charitable arm. In this role, Hansen made great strides in developing IWSH into a well-recognized and highly regarded philanthropic entity in the water sector. He has organized and participated in Community Plumbing Challenge projects, bringing clean water and safe sanitation to people who lack them, in Nepal, India, South Africa, Indonesia and in Navajo Nation here in the United States. He will continue his important role with the IWSH team.
“Since joining IAPMO almost 10 years ago, Dain has ascended to be a trusted and competent member of IAPMO senior staff,” said IAPMO CEO GP Russ Chaney. “I’m proud of the work our Government Relations team has accomplished under Dain’s direction.”
Milwaukee, Wis. — Caleffi North America, Inc. announced the appointment of Sharon Alexander to the position of brand marketing manager. She will work closely with our sales and media networks and be responsible for advertising, public relations, trade merchandising, trade exhibitions and promotion development. Alexander has been involved in marketing within the heating, plumbing and Read more
Milwaukee, Wis. — Caleffi North America, Inc. announced the appointment of Sharon Alexander to the position of brand marketing manager. She will work closely with our sales and media networks and be responsible for advertising, public relations, trade merchandising, trade exhibitions and promotion development.
Alexander has been involved in marketing within the heating, plumbing and solar industry for over 18 years. Before joining Caleffi, she spent 11 years as marketing manager at Hot Water Products headquarters (Milwaukee, Wis.) and 7 years with Solar Service Inc. (Niles, Ill.). She holds a bachelor’s degree in social science from North Central College (Naperville, Ill.) and marketing strategy certification from Johnson Graduate School of Management (Cornell University).
“I have always deeply admired Caleffi’s commitment to total product quality, exceptional technical expertise and guidance, as well as their innovative marketing efforts,” said Alexander. “I am overjoyed to join the team and help Caleffi continue its unique brand story throughout North America.”
Irving, Texas – The Plastics Pipe Institute, Inc. (PPI) has named David M. Fink as its new President and Executive Director effective at the end of January 2020. Mr. Fink, a veteran of the plastics pipe industry, previously served as the Chairman of the PPI Board of Directors from 2017 to 2019, and has held Read more
Irving, Texas – The Plastics Pipe Institute, Inc. (PPI) has named David M. Fink as its new President and Executive Director effective at the end of January 2020. Mr. Fink, a veteran of the plastics pipe industry, previously served as the Chairman of the PPI Board of Directors from 2017 to 2019, and has held a number of other leadership positions within the organization. PPI is the major North American trade association representing all segments of the plastic pipe industry.
“David brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to PPI,” stated Peter Zut of KraussMaffei, chair of the PPI Board of Directors and chair of the executive search committee. “With his more than 25 years of experience in the plastics industry, including 13 years at a major plastic pipe manufacturer, David has key insights into all segments of the markets served by PPI, and for many years has been instrumental in developing and executing the PPI Strategic Plan.”
Fink most recently served as the Senior Vice President at PPI member company, WL Plastics, and previously at Dow Chemical in the company’s polyolefin resin business with the majority of the years being part of growing its plastics pipe resin business. While at WL Plastics, he oversaw significant growth of the company’s sales in the polyethylene pipe market segments including gas gathering and distribution, municipal water distribution, industrial and mining applications, telecommunication conduit, and geothermal. He has participated in a number of related standard setting organizations and related associations, including the Alliance for PE Pipe, ASTM International, American Petroleum Institute (API), American Gas Association (AGA), American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), American Water Works Association (AWWA), NSF International, and the Canadian Standards Association (CSA). Fink currently chairs the PPI Statistics Committee and co-chairs the newly established PPI Safety Committee.
“I am excited to take on my new responsibilities as president of PPI,” Fink remarked. “I look forward to working with PPI’s exceptional staff and serving PPI’s membership to continue developing the association as The Voice of an Industry. Through research, education, and advocacy, we will work together to further advance the acceptance and use of plastic piping systems throughout North America and around the world.”
Fink earned his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh, and B.S. in Chemistry from Gannon University (Erie, PA). Fink resides in Keller, Texas with his wife, Brittainy, and their two sons, Logan and Ty.
For additional information, go to the Plastics Pipe Institute’s website at: www.plasticpipe.org.
When Jonathan Cheever snowboards in World Cup races this winter, he has the Viega logo on his uniform. When he installs hot water heaters this summer, he’ll have Viega fittings in his toolbox. Viega LLC is stoked to announce its sponsorship of Jonathan Cheever, a 2018 Olympian and a 14-year member of the U.S. Snowboard Read more
When Jonathan Cheever snowboards in World Cup races this winter, he has the Viega logo on his uniform. When he installs hot water heaters this summer, he’ll have Viega fittings in his toolbox. Viega LLC is stoked to announce its sponsorship of Jonathan Cheever, a 2018 Olympian and a 14-year member of the U.S. Snowboard Team as a snowboard cross racer. Jonathan is also a licensed journeyman plumber who supports himself in the off-season installing water heaters and plumbing bathrooms.
World Cup Snowboarder Jonathan Cheever is sponsored by several industry brands including Viega, Bradford White and American Standard.
“Jonathan is a natural fit for Viega. In addition to being a world-class athlete, he understands the challenges and rewards of plumbing. When he endorses a product, it’s because it’s proven to be the best performer,” said Molly Morrow, channel marketing manager for Viega.
“I’ve been using Viega fittings since I began working as a plumber in 2004,” Jonathan said. “I’m proud to have the company as a sponsor and to spread the word about its fittings and pressing systems. Snowboard cross is all about speed and Viega fittings make every job faster and easier.”
This winter Jonathan is competing in the FIS Snowboard World Cup, which started in Austria this month and will conclude in March in the Czech Republic. He is racing for the United States as an independent athlete.
To support himself in the off season he works as a plumber out of Park City, Utah, where he’s done jobs for teammates and coaches. He also sometimes returns in the summer to his hometown of Saugus, Mass., to work with his father and brother, who own Mark Cheever Plumbing & Heating.
“Snowboarding is my passion but, for me, plumbing is more than just a way to make a buck,” Jonathan said. “I like the challenge of figuring out the best way to solve a problem and improving people’s lives.”
Jonathan also advocates for people to enter the skilled trades, which face a shortage of workers.
“Plumbing and the other trades offer exciting work, job security and good pay without the crippling student loan debt that often comes with a four-year college education,” he said. “It’s a rewarding career path more young people should consider.”
Justin King Named Vice President of Engineering; Rob Trefz, Vice President Marketing Emerson announces two promotions within its Professional Tools business: Justin King has been named Vice President of Engineering and Rob Trefz, Vice President of Marketing. The moves mark the company’s continuing commitment to creating synergies between the RIDGID and Greenlee brands that professionals Read more
Justin King Named Vice President of Engineering; Rob Trefz, Vice President Marketing
Emerson announces two promotions within its Professional Tools business: Justin King has been named Vice President of Engineering and Rob Trefz, Vice President of Marketing. The moves mark the company’s continuing commitment to creating synergies between the RIDGID and Greenlee brands that professionals know and trust.
King
Both King and Trefz bring extensive leadership skills and experience working for Emerson brands to their new roles. In their positions, King will lead the development and evolution of the entire Professional Tools line of Pipe and Electrical products, including RIDGID and Greenlee. Trefz will oversee all product management, product marketing and marketing strategy; assuring the products meet the needs of tradespeople worldwide and that the benefits are effectively communicated.
“Both Justin and Rob have demonstrated their ability to lead and innovate within the Emerson brands for a number of years. These promotions will strengthen the collaborative culture we’ve built within the Professional Tools organization, assuring we continue to develop innovative solutions that help professional tradespeople do their jobs safely and more efficiently. We look forward to the ideas Justin and Rob will bring to their roles,” said Paul McAndrew, Vice President – General Manager of Pipe and Electrical Solutions.
Trefz
King has worked with Greenlee since 2007, joining the company as Country Manager for China; he then held various roles in strategy and business development, product management, and engineering. Following Emerson’s acquisition of Greenlee in 2018, King became Director of Engineering and Innovation for Greenlee within the Professional Tools business.
He has a Master of Business Administration degree from London Business School in the UK and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. King also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Brown University.
Trefz has worked with Emerson since 2004, joining the company as a Global Commodity Manager. He held procurement roles for Emerson and their motor division before moving into various marketing and business development roles at RIDGID. He most recently held the position of Vice President of Marketing for Greenlee.
Trefz is a licensed Professional Engineer, has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Business Administration degree from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.