BNP Media announces the debut of Bath & Kitchen Pro, a unique publication created for a powerful audience of bath-and-kitchen installers, distributors with showrooms and designers. Unlike other magazines that focus purely on design, Bath & Kitchen Pro will provide information on installation and purchasing as well as design trends.

Bath & Kitchen Pro will be published three times in 2008; its Winter, Spring and Fall issues will be distributed at major B&K shows in addition to its 55,000 circulation drawn from the readers of Plumbing & Mechanical, Supply House Times, Tile, Stone World, and Environmental Design + Construction.

The first issue of Bath & Kitchen Pro will be distributed at the International Builders Show and in the February issues of the participating magazines. Editorial closing is Dec. 14, 2007. Advertising closing is Jan. 2.

BNP Media also is pleased to announce the addition of Jennifer Salvadori to the Bath & Kitchen Pro ad sales team. Salvadori, who has worked on the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show and the ISH North America Show, can be reached at 770-552-8717 or jsalvado@bellsouth.net.

For additional information, contact Publisher Bob Miodonski at 630-694-4007 and miodonskib@bnpmedia.com or Managing Editor Kelly Johnson at 630-694-4379 and johnsonk@bnpmedia.com. Or, visit www.bathandkitchenpro.com.

Jim Greenway

Danze Inc. has promoted Jim Greenway to regional sales manager of its Northeast region. Greenway previously served as regional builder sales manager in the Midwest region for the company.

Elkay Manufacturing Co. announced that Ronald C. Katz, chairman and chief executive officer, intends to retire from his position effective Dec. 1, 2007, and will assume the position of executive chairman of the board of directors. In addition, John P. (Jack) Edl has announced plans to retire from his position as president and chief operating officer on the same date, and he will continue to serve on Elkay’s board of directors and will assume the position of vice chairman. Also, Elkay has appointed Timothy J. Jahnke, most recently group president, Home and Family Products Group of Newell Rubbermaid, president and CEO.

Basco Shower Enclosures has promoted 20-year company veteran J.R. Grau to the new position of glass regional sales manager for the Central region, which includes Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and upstate New York.

Jim Coretti

MJSI Inc. hired Jim Coretti as its national sales manager. Most recently, he held that position at Suncast Corp. MJSI is maker of the HydroClean water fill valve.

Seachrome Corp. hired Brian Reel as its national sales manager. He has spent 22 years in the wholesale plumbing industry with companies including Familian Pipe, Lasco Bathware and American Standard. Most recently he was director of sales and marketing for AquaOne Technologies. Seachrome designs and manufactures bath products and accessories.

Elegant Designs, a division of Penco Corp., announced that the staff for its new 5,300-sq.-ft. luxury bath, kitchen and plumbing showroom includes Lisa Venables, showroom manager, and two sales/design consultants: Jodi L. McElwee and Jeff Zhelesnik.

Almo Corp. has named Brad Van Lenten regional sales manager for the company’s Specialty Appliance Division for the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.

The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) has announced the 2008 Executive Committee. Full story >>

US Supply Co. Inc. has announced the grand opening of its new location at 3560 Schuylkill Road, Spring City, PA, on Dec. 11, 2007. The event will feature a signing session with former Philadelphia Eagle Hugh Douglas.

Private investment firm Sun Capital Partners Inc. said its affiliate has inked an agreement, pursuant to which it will have controlling interest in the Global Bath and Kitchen business of American Standard Americas, a company recently formed by Bain Capital Partners through its acquisition of the Global Bath and Kitchen business of American Standard Companies, Inc. (ASD). The company's products are marketed under brand names like American Standard, Porcher, and Jado. Terms were not disclosed.

Component Hardware Group (CHG) has announced that Accents in Water, a division of Kloppenberg Manufacturing based in Englewood, CO, is utilizing CHG’s SANIGUARD antimicrobial treatment to keep their customized indoor waterfalls and other fountains free of bacteria, molds and viruses.

David Crossley

David Crossley, Southwest regional sales manager for Duravit USA, was named "Manufacturing Professional of the Year" by the Decorative Plumbing & Hardware Association (DPHA) for his ongoing dedication to building and strengthening the partnership between manufacturer and showroom. 

Bradford White Corp., a Middleville, MI, manufacturer of residential and commercial water heaters, has pledged 100 water heaters to Habitat for Humanity to be used for the "Building Today, Framing Tomorrow" campaign that has hopes of building 20 homes per year over the next five years.

Craft-Art announced that it has donated custom wood countertops to be used in the TV cooking show of personality Rachael Ray — an Edge Grain Maple top to be used on the show set and an End Grain Maple used for the prep kitchen.

ThermaSol debuted its new steam shower generators, controls and showroom POS display (pictured) at the 6th Annual DPHA Conference and Product Showcase held Oct. 5-7, 2007, in Boston. The display featured working fixtures from ThermaSol’s new collections with chromatherapy, aromatherapy and surround sound music.

Sloan Valve Co. was honored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with the Green Power Leadership Award for its green power purchase. The award is part of a national competition that recognizes the leading market-based deployments of renewable energy technologies. Sloan offsets 100% of the energy used in its Franklin Park facility with renewable energy.

At GreenBuild 2007, TOTO introduced HydroTect, a tile that uses photocatalysts to remove the nitrous oxides and sulfuric oxides from the air and return them to the earth as oxygen, carbon dioxide, water, sulfate, and nitrate. TOTO also introduced its High-Efficiency 1.28 gpf Single Flush Toilets (HET), High Efficiency Urinals (HEU) with EcoPower Self-Generating HydroPower .5 gpf Flush Valve, and EcoPower Self-Generating HydroPower Faucets Spout Designs at the show.

November’s Environmental Design + Construction magazine features certified sustainable products recently approved for a Credit Interpretation Ruling (CIR) to earn an "Innovation in Design" credit within the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system using products certified with the Sustainable Materials Rating Technology (SMART). Full story >>

The 2008 AHR Expo will debut "Plumbing and Hydronics Symposium-PM Live," featuring four well-known industry experts in two separate seminars designed to help plumbing and heating contractors enhance their business operations.  Full story >>

Phylrich and Erik Kolacz, finalist on the first season of Bravo’s "Top Design" and co-owner of the Chicago design firm, Contrast Design Group, identified these trendsetting finishes:
Polished Chrome: Dress this standard up or down.
Antique Bronze: Use with medium wood tones and natural stone.
Satin Nickel: Accents crisp white or rich dark cabinetry.
Satin Copper Antiqued: Pair with natural slate. Add a hand-hammered copper sink.
Polished Brass: Ideal for the vanity.
Satin Black Nickel: Combine with white glossy subway tiles, distressed light-colored cabinetry and fluffy beach towels.
Pewter: Add leaded windows and alabaster light fixtures for an Old World look.
Polished Nickel: Complements transitional, art nouveau or mid-century modern styles.
Satin Jewelers Gold: Partner exotic wood with hand-cut glass tile for Hollywood glamour.
Polished Black Nickel: Works wonderfully with natural teak and handwoven linen for a spa effect.