Jim Scott

Steve Rogers

Elkay’s Plumbing Products Division announced that its president, Jim Scott , plans to retire Jan. 1 after more than 30 years of service. Before becoming president of the PPD in January 1999, he held many key executive positions, including corporate vice president of administrative services and vice president of operations. He also served on Elkay’s Corporate Executive Council.

Steve Rogers will become the new president of the Plumbing Products Division and will also become a member of the Corporate Executive Council. He joined Elkay in 2004, serving as vice president of engineering for the PPD. Prior to that he spent 27 years with ISPAT International, NV/Inland Steel in various management positions.

Don Gamble

Basco Shower Enclosures has hired Don Gamble in the newly created position of executive vice president. Gamble will be responsible for overseeing Basco sales and marketing in all distribution channels. Prior to joining Basco, Gamble served in senior sales and marketing leadership roles at Whirlpool Corp. and Eljer, Inc.

Coastal Industries has hired Chris Carreiro as regional sales manager for the southern Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi markets. Carreiro brings more than 11 years of experience in the glass industry, including former positions at Craftsman Fabricated Glass in Houston and AFGD.

Steamist appointed Tom Walker as director of operations. Prior to joining Steamist, Walker spent 18 years with The Woodbridge Group in the automotive urethane technologies industry.

Penco Corp. (Seaford, DE), a 58-year-old, six-branch plumbing and HVACR wholesaler, hosted two grand openings in October for its 5,300-sq.-ft. freestanding showroom. It operates as a division of the company under the name Elegant Designs and has its own webhttp://www.bathandkitchenpro.com
www.elegantdesignsshowroom.com . Located at 1415 W. Stein Highway in Seaford, the new showroom is just down the street from the wholesaler’s corporate headquarters. Jeff Peterson, vice president at Penco, is in charge of the showroom. Designed by Masco Design Solutions, an independent division of Masco Corp., with help from industry consultant Peter Schor, the product mix offered by Elegant Designs includes Kohler Premier, Delta Brizo, Elkay, Dornbracht, Ginger, Hansgrohe, Jaclo, Jason, Linkasink, Oceania Baths and Rohl, among others.

Portland, OR’s George Morlan Plumbing hosted a private concert at its Design Center showroom Friday, Oct.12, for more than 250 of its customer base of builders, contractors and interior designers. The concert featured the band World Classic Rockers (pictured), made up of musicians formerly of Toto, Journey, Santana, Steppenwolf and Lynyrd Skynyrd. The family-owned business hosts one to two similar concerts each year.

Ihrie Supply Co. Decorative Kitchen and Bath hosted the August 2007 Home Builders Association meeting in New Bern, NC. The meeting featured a Hawaiian luau theme and a short presentation by Kinetico Water Systems on water softeners. On display at the event was Kohler’s Infinity tub with ceiling spout, pictured right.

Hoboken Wood Flooring, a 77-year-old independent distributor of hard-surface flooring, has reportedly closed its doors, according to The Record ( www.northjersey.com ). Termination notices were sent to the Wayne, NJ, headquarters and employees at its main warehouse in Pompton Plains, NJ, Oct. 29. The following day employees were told that the offices would be permanently shuttered. Last week the company filed a voluntary petition for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, according to other published reports.

California Faucets is offering mix and match faucets so spouts and handles in different finishes can be switched for a new look. For example (see photo), take a standard Catalina faucet in satin nickel finish, mix and match it with Monterey lever handles and change the finish to espresso bronze for an entirely different presentation.

Delta Faucet Co. announced its 20th year of industry partnership with the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors—National Association (PHCC) in sponsoring annual student scholarships. At the InSinkErator Awards Luncheon at Network ’07 Oct. 25, Delta Faucet Co. and the PHCC awarded six $2,500 scholarships to students attending four-year colleges who are entering a plumbing/heating/cooling career.  Go here for a list of the scholarship winners.

LA-CO Industries Inc./Markal Co. has announced the first 25 plumbing, mechanical and HVAC contractors who will receive a radio-controlled Ford truck in its "Pick Up and Win" Promotion. Full story >>

Steam shower manufacturer ThermaSol announced it will celebrate its 50th anniversary by holding its annual holiday party at the Ronald Reagan Library Friday, Dec. 21. The event will feature the ThermaSol Awards, recognizing the Team Member of the Year, Sales Person of the Year and the David Altman Award, which is named after the founder of ThermaSol.

Elkay Plumbing Products Division is transforming its Broadview, IL, sink manufacturing facility into the Elkay Technology Center, a new "rapid production facility" that will produce high-end sinks featuring innovative shapes, sizes and finishes.

Component Hardware Group (CHG), a manufacturer and distributor of plumbing and specialty hardware components to healthcare, foodservice, institutional and commercial markets, has announced that Sloan Valve Co. will use CHG’s SANIGUARD antimicrobial protection on key touch points for products commonly used in public restrooms, hospitals and other applications, such as the Sloan Flushometer pictured right.

ISH North America (ISH NA), the international trade show for Kitchen & Bath; Plumbing; Commercial/Industrial Pipes, Valves & Fittings (PVF); Heating and Air Conditioning, will be held Oct. 1-3, 2008, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA. ISH NA will offer numerous seminars and workshops relevant to the industries’ diverse interests, including a renewable energies pavilion featuring green building products.

McGraw-Hill Construction released The Green Homeowner SmartMarket Report. The survey of homeowners found that while costs and the availability of green homes are still an obstacle, the most important issue is lack of awareness. Full story >>

Moen’s Commercial Division has introduced a new brochure focused on water savings to help explain the basics of water conservation, including LEED certification and tips for making water last.

FlexHead Industries has published a brochure (pictured) explaining how its fire sprinkler products support LEED principles by helping to minimize hydrostatic testing during initial installation and eliminate the need to drain sprinkler piping during tenant fitups and/or sprinkler head relocations.

The Geberit Group is jointly sponsoring the 2008 Next Generation Design Competition focusing on water conservation from Metropolis Magazine, a competition that awards a $10,000 prize and is open to any designer or architect in practice for 10 years or less whose entries reflect considerations of sustainability.

Associated Sales, an Anaheim, CA-based manufacturers rep firm, has launched a new Web site (pictured) at www.associatedsalesdp.com. The site is easy to navigate and features a new product section, downloadable price lists, a portfolio of product lines and direct e-mail links to each of the firm’s 10 members. Included in the company’s roster of clients are Blanco, Hansgrohe, Mr. Steam and Robern.

Delta Faucet Co. announced that both its Delta website (www.delta.com) and its Brizo website ( www.brizo.com) have earned Consumer Goods Standard of Excellence Awards in the 2007 WebAwards competition, hosted annually by the Web Marketing Association.

Simonton Windows, a manufacturer of vinyl windows and doors, has redesigned and introduced a new company website at www.simonton.com. The site features a "trade professional" section with a variety of installation instructions and detailed product information.

Bath and Kitchen Buying Group’s Fall Conference took place Oct. 17-20 in Atlanta, GA, with over 350 members in attendance, representing 135 member showrooms and 70 vendor companies. Full story >>

The Water Quality Association’s Water Information Library, available at wqa.org, allows Internet searches into the content of 13 of BNP Media, Inc.’s trade publications, including Supply House Times, Plumbing & Mechanical, PM Engineer, Reeves Journal, and National Driller. In addition to joining the library, they are linking their own sites to WQA.

Grandy & Associates is offering "Basic Business Bootcamp," three days of intensive business training geared to increase profitability. Go here for dates and more information.

CertaPro Painters and decorative paint specialist Shannon Kaye from the DIY network’s "Fresh Coat," offer these home painting tips for the holidays:
  >> Neutrals. Mix warm grays, creamy tans and soothing taupe with bolder shades to add dimension to a room. Fiery reds look balanced, crisp blues feel warmer and deep greens provide a soothing backdrop.
  >> Bold contrasts and edgy colors. Try over-the-top graphic patterns against brightly colored walls and smooth lacquered furniture, such as black and white against yellow or cobalt blue. Or use cool gray as a backdrop for accent colors, posters or patterns.
   >> Natural colors and organic-inspired accessories. Partner rough-hewn wooden furnishings with silk drapes.

GE Lighting.com is offering tips from HGTV designer Carey Evans and host Brice Cooper on how using the right light in the right fixture can make all the difference in a home.