Mona Franklin

North Carolina-based Murray Supply Co. hired Mona Franklin to serve as one of the showroom consultants for The Fuller House showroom in Winston-Salem, NC. Formerly, Franklin worked for Hughes Supply, where she served as the showroom manager. She has five years of experience in the kitchen and bath industry and 10 years of experience in the HVAC and commercial market. In her new position Franklin will be responsible for assisting customers in the showroom, along with quoting jobs for builders, architects and designers.

Standard Plumbing Supply, Co.’s showroom manager, Lindsay Worthington (pictured), is the June winner of a spa certificate in Mr.Steam ’s Passport to Luxury incentive program. The program provides Mr.Steam’s showrooms and sales associates with prizes and enhanced marketing and sales tools. Worthington was selected from a group entered in the drawing by selling qualifying Mr.Steam products. Worthington has worked at Standard Plumbing Supply in Salt Lake City for the last two years. Standard Plumbing Supply is one of Mr.Steam’s First Class Dealers and is now entering its 53rd year of business with 68 branches servicing eight states, including Utah, Idaho, Oregon, California, Wyoming, Arizona, Nevada, and Colorado. The Passport to Luxury Program culminates in December 2007 when the leading Mr.Steam sales associate will win an all-inclusive trip for two to Rome.

WinWholesale Inc. is continuing its national expansion by opening three new locations in the South and East for a total of seven to date in 2007. Learn more. >>

Publisher's News

   Bath & Kitchen eNews and Supply House Times magazine wish to welcome Bob Miodonski (pictured) to BNP Media as publisher of PM Engineer, and associate publisher of Plumbing & Mechanical and Supply House Times.
   Miodonski had been both Publisher and Editorial Director of Contractor Magazine for the past five years. He has been Contractor’s Chief Editor since 1994.
   “I’ve known Bob for 17 years,” said George Zebrowski, Publisher of Plumbing & Mechanical and Group Publisher of PM Engineer and Suppy House Times . “He is well-known and highly regarded in the plumbing trade magazine industry and I’m glad to once again have him as a colleague.”
   Miodonski and Zebrowski had worked together, along with Jim Olsztynski, who holds editorial titles on the three magazines, and Scott Franz, Publisher of Supply House Times, at the former Horton Publishing Co.
   At points in his journalistic career, Miodonski served as Supply House Times’ Managing Editor and then Editorial Director.
   “I’m thrilled to get the chance to work again with George, Scott and Jim,” Miodonski said. “As a competitor, I have respected the job they’ve done with PM Engineer, Supply House Times and Plumbing & Mechanical. I look forward to working alongside them once more.”
   Miodonski can be contacted at Miodonskib@bnpmedia.com or 630-694-4007.

Supply House Times and its sister magazines have unveiled a website for the plumbing and heating industry filled with news, events, products and resources. The new gateway is called MyPlumbingPortal.com, and we urge you to bookmark the site. It will feature daily updates, such as industry news, economic and market flux information, links to useful tools and products, training events — a one-stop online portal for your industry! And more features will be added in the coming weeks. Don't miss out on this new access to knowledge.

appliance DESIGN magazine, a publication of BNP Media, has acquired International Appliance Manufacturing magazine from Ashokan International to further its service to the global appliance industry. Established in 1997 by Malcolm Barnes and Katie O’Donnell, International Appliance Manufacturing magazine annually publishes a broad collection of technical papers covering the design and manufacturing of household appliances. The publication has a global circulation of about 5,000 professionals consisting of both managers and engineers at companies that manufacture household appliances.

Vendor News

Fagor America Inc. announced its partnership with Porcelanosa USA , bringing together two leading appliance and home interior manufacturers of Spanish origin. As Porcelanosa USA begins to introduce a new line of kitchen cabinetry in their showrooms, Fagor’s appliances will be integrated and sold to promote a total kitchen solution environment. Influenced by European design, Fagor’s all stainless steel appliances provide a crisp industrial feel. Porcelanosa’s cabinetry line features fashionable tones and minimalist layouts with clean, simple lines.

Candice Olson, designer and host of HGTV’s “Divine Design,” will be featured in a new television commercial for Cosentino North America, makers of the Silestone countertop surface. The commercial (pictured), produced by Mike Hulsey and directed by Locke Bryan, consists of live action, computer animation and special effects created by Janimation. Launch of the new commercial is scheduled for this fall on HGTV and the advertising campaign also features print and radio ads. Silestone’s combination of Microban, NSF certification and Greenguard certification will be highlighted in the commercial.

Masco Corp. reported lower profits and sales for the second quarter and attributed the drops to fewer national housing starts. Learn more. >>

Green Street

The new Phoenix Solar Water Heater (pictured) from Heat Transfer is the first solar water heater to combine domestic hot water storage with a 97%-efficient, gas-fired backup in one unit to meet the hot water demands of residential and commercial solar thermal systems. What also makes the sealed-combustion, direct-vent Phoenix Solar exceptional is its ability to deliver both space heating and domestic hot water in a single, energy-saving package. The Phoenix Solar incorporates a dedicated solar heat exchanger at the base of the unit, for transferring heat from solar panels to the water in its 80- or 119-gallon storage tank. Side tappings in the water heater’s jacket permit auxiliary connections to a hydro-air system for space heating.

The U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Greenbuild annual conference and exhibition will be held Nov. 7-9, 2007, in Chicago. Greenbuild is the world’s largest conference and exhibit hall dedicated to green building. More than 20,000 attendees are expected to attend to learn more about the rapidly growing green home building industry, including the LEED® green building rating system, which was developed by the USGBC as a tool to build healthy, energy-efficient, resource-friendly structures. Visit the newly launched Greenbuild Web site for more information.

Kohler Co. has teamed up with Cherokee Investment Partners to build a home that will reduce water consumption by at least 50% in a demonstration project designed to prove that green building can be both functional and earth-friendly. The National Homebuilder Mainstream GreenHome™ (pictured) near Cherokee’s world headquarters in Raleigh, NC, uses Kohler’s water-efficient KOHLER and STERLING brand fixtures and faucets. Along with touchless faucet technology that saves water and reduces the spread of germs, Kohler is providing water-conserving plumbing fixtures that minimize the water usage of toilets, showers and faucets, yet still provide adequate flow and practical, convenient design. Click here for more information about the Mainstream GreenHome.

Recently, GE launched the ecomagination Homebuilder Program — a program designed to achieve the following, compared to an industry-accepted average new home: 20% in household energy savings, at least 20% savings on household indoor water consumption, at least 20% fewer household emissions of CO2, SO2 and Nox, and improved indoor air quality. Currently, two properties are implementing the ecomagination Homebuilder program: Withers Preserve in Myrtle Beach, SC, and Shenandoah Springs in Thousand Palms, CA. Learn more here.

Homeowners waste gallons of water every day leaving the faucet running while washing their hands and performing other tasks at the sink. But, new hands-free electronic faucets, like the Destiny powder room faucet (pictured) from ShowHouse by Moen, conserve water while reflecting your personal style. With a sleek minimalist design and a distinctly styled spout that produces a sheeting water flow, the Destiny faucet reduces water waste, providing water only when it is needed.

Visit Environmental Design & Construction’s home page to find out more about Green Building Design techniques and products that impact your industry.

Rep Update

Danze recently recognized its top independent sales agencies responsible for sales to plumbing wholesale customers. Recognition for most improved territory performance and for overall excellence was awarded in four regions of the United States. Most Improved award recipients were: Wayne Peden & Associates (Chadds Ford, PA); Brennan Brothers (Kenner, LA); SBH & Associates, Inc. (Overland Park, KS); and Marketing Pro’s (Scottsdale, AZ). Winners of the Best Overall agencies were: Metro Reps (Franklin Square, NY); McCain Sales (Birmingham, AL); Access Marketing (Rochester Hills, MI); and Pinnacle Marketing (Bellevue, WA).

Association News

Aquatic Industries of Leander, TX, is the most recent manufacturer to affiliate with PremierDPH Buying Group as a Preferred Vendor. Founded in December 2006, PremierDPH is made up of decorative plumbing and hardware showroom members with qualified manufacturers as its vendors. The PremierDPH Fall Conference is scheduled for Nov. 15-17, 2007, in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

All Stars training camp attendees re- ceive instructions on Broan products.

With over 130 dealers and distributors from the Westye Group Southeast, ARD Distributors and Holsten Distributors attending, Best by Broan® continued its All Stars training camp July 10-11 at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel, Atlanta. The training camp allowed dealer and distributor salespeople to learn about the importance of proper ventilation as well as Best by Broan products, features and applications, according to Fred Rogers, director of sales. Best by Broan All Stars training camps will be held in Newark, NJ, and Chicago later this summer.

The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), in collaboration with the Housing Education and Research Association (HERA), announces a call for papers on kitchen and bath design. Selected papers will be published in a Fall 2008 special kitchen and bath design edition of Housing and Society, the official journal of HERA. The journal is distributed to HERA members as well as libraries around the world. Additional copies of this special issue will be distributed through the NKBA. Papers can be based on traditional research, educational strategies or commentary notes, ranging in length from 5 to 30 pages. Possible topics include sustainable design, technology in kitchens and baths, universal design, industry trends, best practices and teaching methods and techniques. The submission deadline is April 1, 2008. Visit www.housingeducators.org for more information.

TOTO announced that it has decided to place a wide white bar across the “happy bottoms” on its “Clean is Happy” billboard in New York’s Times Square to remove any hint of anatomical features. The billboards, which wrap the building on the corner of 51st Street and Broadway, are intended to create consumer awareness for TOTO’s Washlet.

The organic shape of the new Mr.Steam steamhead allows for seamless integration into a bath or shower, matching with Mr.Steam in-shower Tempo controls. When combined with the Aromasteam™ aromatic oils system, this steamhead design also allows for more efficient infusion of aromatherapy oils into the steam/shower environment. It is available in a variety of designer finishes including polished chrome, brushed nickel, oil rubbed bronze and antique brass.

Bristol and Bath’s new Vintage Wine Barrel basin is part of its Second Chance Collection, where items that once served a purpose are given new life. This wine container is now a distinctive, well-curated piece of bath furniture ideal for residential or commercial application.

The new Danze 300-series features five single-setting showerheads in new shapes. The 8-inch, double-plated styling of the Danze 350 and 360 showerheads channels water for maximum force and coverage. The slim profiles of the 6-inch Danze 300, 310 and 315 showerheads offer a more minimalist design aesthetic. The new Danze 400-series features five multi-function showerheads with the latest technology of three distinctive spray settings — Double Cone, Pulse Massage and Aerated Drench — to ensure a customized spa-like experience.

MTI Whirlpools has unveiled the Boutique Collection, featuring the Elise, a freestanding tub that combines organic design with solid-surface construction. Augmenting the Elise is a collection of sinks featuring clean, contemporary lines. Each product in the Boutique Collection is constructed using MTI Whirlpools’ exclusive “ESS” composite material, a mixture of ground natural minerals and binding agents that are liquefied, poured and then hardened. These “Engineered Solid-Surface” products are non-porous, stain resistant, mold and mildew resistant. The Elise soaking tub has a nature-inspired aura with its soft lines and seamless design. It is 72" x 37-1/8" x 24" and is available in white, with a natural matte finish.

The Essence vanity from Xylem is a blend of chunky wood, right angles, and complements Xylem’s Segment vessels. The Essence vanity also boasts roomy lower shelf storage for stacked towels or baskets. An accompanying mirror completes the ESSENCE powder room package that can be customized in a rich Walnut finish or a blond and brown striped Zebra Wood finish.

Hansgrohe has unveiled several shower products, including the Square 180 and Square 120 showerheads, with spray faces measuring 7 in. and 5 in., respectively, providing a more contemporary alternative to traditional round showerheads. Also new, Bodyspray Flex gives bathers three interchangeable bodyspray options: full, massage or fog spray.

Sloan Valve Co. ’s new HYSO sensor-operated door handle dispenser automatically releases a burst of cleaner on a door handle on a pre-set basis. The battery-powered HYSO dispenser is ideal for handles on public restroom exits and stalls. Other applications include doorknobs and handles in hospital patient rooms, assisted-living facilities, medical centers/laboratories, school classrooms, foodservice establishments and health clubs. The dispenser mounts inches above the target surface and only releases cleaner when the sensor detects that users are out of range.

AEC Store Featured Product

PM magazine’s wildly popular History of Plumbing Series is now available on CD-ROM. History articles cover informative topics such as ancient plumbing, water-borne diseases, early-American innovation, the history of hydronic heating and more!

PM's History Of Plumbing Series is great for the history buff, industry researcher, student or proud craftsman. Click here to find out more about this product.

To view other plumbing resources or to order your very own History of Plumbing CD, go to aecstore.com or call Stephanie at 248-244-1275.