• Laars Heating Systems, a subsidiary of Bradford White Corp., appointed Lou G. Vorsteveld, Ph. D., to the position of director of engineering. Vorsteveld is an international executive with notable success in sales and engineering. He will oversee Laars’ engineering functions, including project execution, design quality, strategic technology direction and development, and optimal design for manufacturing, and work closely with engineering resources across Bradford White to ensure continued development of best-in-class products to all Bradford White subsidiary customers.

  • Brasscraft Manufacturing Co. promoted George Werner to vice president, sales. In his expanded role, Werner will develop and implement strategies that position the company for profitable growth in all its sales channels, Brasscraft explains. Werner is a 15-year Brasscraft veteran. Since 2011, he has held the position of vice president, retail sales, and in 2019 assumed additional leadership responsibility for the wholesale sales channel.

  • Viega promoted Greg Palmer to manager, regional sales of the company’s newly created Florida region. Palmer will manage Viega’s sales strategies in Florida, which previously was part of the Southeast region. Since joining Viega in 2018, Palmer has been a district manager, responsible for the Tampa metro and central/west Florida markets. Before joining Viega, Palmer held positions of increasing responsibility in sales leadership in the wholesale distribution and manfufacturers agency sector.

  • United Pipe & Steel and Merfish Pipe & Supply announced Patrick Starkey has been promoted to Western regional sales manager and will be working with the company’s West Coast sales team based out of Huntington Beach, California. Starkey has been with the company for more than four years as an outside sales rep in Texas. West Coast distributors can contact Starkey at pstarkey@unitedpipe.com.

  • Caleffi North America hired Dan Firkus to the position of application engineer. Firkus is responsible for supporting and answering technical calls, emails and social media inquiries. “Dan’s extensive 27-year background in the trades combined with his product and application knowledge makes him a perfect fit for us and our customer,” said Kevin Freidt, Caleffi director of product management and technical support.

  • Larry L. Melton Jr., PMP, has joined the board of directors of privately held national consulting firm Dewberry. Melton brings decades of experience in engineering and construction to his leadership role, including management of major public infrastructure projects throughout the U.S. and Canada. He spent more than 20 years with Bechtel. Also at Dewberry, the firm announced Merdith W.B. “Bo” Temple, P.E., PMP, has been named vice chair of the board of directors. Temple joined the board in 2013 and has more than 40 years of experience in engineering and construction. He served in the U.S. Army for 37 years, retiring in September 2012.

  • In more Dewberry news, the firm announced Seth Talmadge has joined its Roanoke, Virginia office as the design manager for plumbing and fire protection projects in the mechanical, electrical and plumbing group. Talmadge has more than two decades of experience in plumbing and fire protection design.

 

Bradford White updates e-commerce policy for U.S. wholesalers

Bradford White Water Heaters announced a revised e-commerce policy that permits the sale of its products to professional contractors by authorized U.S.-based wholesalers who agree to comply with the company’s online selling and internet minimum advertised price, or IMAP, requirements. The new policy has been driven by two key factors.

“First, our customers are demanding it,” Bradford White Senior Director of Marketing Carl Pinto Jr. said. “There has been a growing demand by our wholesale customers to sell their complete lines, including Bradford White products, through e-commerce channels to remain competitive with the big-box stores who are targeting contractors. And second, by having an official and enforceable policy, we can more effectively address the unauthorized online vendors who are not selling our products in a way we believe is in the best interest of the plumbing wholesale community or professional installers and their customers.”

Potential authorized online sellers of Bradford White products will be required to complete an e-commerce application and bring their e-commerce websites into compliance with Bradford White’s e-commerce requirements and IMAP. Beginning Dec. 20, the company will commence formal enforcement of its IMAP policy.