The Swan Corp. has just announced that it is undergoing a company-wide transformation via Focus 20/10, an initiative that defers to a clear new vision for the company and includes a strategic refocus on core products, the introduction of custom installation and new products in core categories within the next year. The company manufactures and markets Swanstone solid surface materials and products for the bath and kitchen. Read more about these changes in upcoming editions of Bath & Kitchen Pro E-News.

Scott Bardreau

 Matco-Norca  named Scott Bardreau, formerly of Watts Regulator Co., its new vice president of sales. Bardreau has spent the past 13 years in sales positions at Watts, most recently as national sales manager for its Wholesale Group. Lynn McVay, Matco-Norca's president, is also a veteran of Watts and has worked with Bardreau. Matco-Norca supplies code-compliant plumbing and PVF products for use in residential, commercial and industrial installations.

NSF International promoted David Kirkpatrick to director of corporate sales. Most recently, he was NSF's corporate retail accounts executive. NSF International is an independent, not-for-profit organization that certifies products and writes standards for food, water and consumer goods.

SEN Design Group winners: (L to R) George Menihtas, Boston Kitchens; Carol Lindell, DCI Home Resource; Kevin Telaak, Appliance Associates; Bruce Bauerle, Five Star Kitchens; Jack Kellerman, Kellerman Kitchen & Bath; and Dan Luck, Bella Domicille.

The SEN Design Group presented industry awards during its Spring Conference March 13-15 in St. Augustine, FL. Read more.

Winners of the biannual Kitchen Design Contest by Sub-Zero and Wolf Appliance have been announced. They were chosen based on superior and unique use of space, beautiful kitchen design and integration of Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances. Read more.

PremierDPH, a decorative plumbing and hardware buying group, will hold its Fall Conference Sept. 11-13, 2008 at the Arizona Grand Resort in Phoenix, AZ.  For information, contact Glynne Morgan at 713-723-3545 or glynne@thebgs.com.

Bath & Kitchen Buying Group (BKBG) will hold its Fall Conference Oct. 22-25, 2008 at the Westin Boston Waterfront in Boston. For information, contact Nyra Mueller at 636-464-7550 or nyra@thebgs.com.

Peter Raleigh

Century Bathworks, a manufacturer of shower enclosures and medicine cabinets, hired Peter Raleigh as national sales manager. He has more than 20 years of experience in the kitchen and bath industry.

W.A.C. Lighting named Michael T. Hadank national sales manager. He has nearly 20 years of sales management experience, including a stint as national programs manager at W.A.C. Lighting. The company designs and manufactures track, recessed, undercabinet, decorative and monorail lighting.

Building Green: Trish Holder, a writer and marketing consultant for the HVAC industry, and husband Mark Raines, will soon break ground on a new "green" home in the Pleasant Oaks subdivision in northwest Guilford County in Greensboro, NC.  Their goal is to create a high-performance, environmentally friendly home that visually fits into an existing suburban middle-class neighborhood. The home will be equipped with dual-flush toilets, low-flow fixtures and solar tube lighting. The couple's green building experiences will be shared at www.greenspirationhome.com.

Prevent Limescale In Water Systems: According to HydroCare, 0.11 inches of limescale in a domestic water system wastes 18% in energy costs. The company offers a physical water conditioner as a non-chemical alternative to protect against limescale formation. It transmits a signal directly into the water 24 hours a day, both up and down the system (pictured).

The new QDE series of ENERGY STAR-qualified range hoods by Broan (pictured) offer a total savings of 564 kilowatt-hours compared to an equivalent model featuring halogen lights, the company says. The range hoods meet all of the requirements for the three major green building programs - ENERGY STAR, U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Homes and the National Association of Home Builders' (NAHB) Model Green Home Building Guidelines.

Ferguson  (Newport News, VA) announced that its Fort Myers, FL, location will host an Earth Day event from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. on April 22. Local representatives from Kohler, Rinnai, Seisco, Whirlpool Corp., Seagull Lighting and Salco will participate. Customers can see live demonstrations and speak with "green" experts. Ed Del Grande, master plumber, author, celebrity host and Kohler's national "how to" expert spokesperson, will also attend. Every hour Kohler will give away a high-efficiency toilet.

Moen Canada has launched a new Web site, www.moen.ca, that provides product information specifically tailored to the Canadian market. Its home page offers the option of viewing content in English or French. The site's Canadian-specific content includes listings of where to buy Moen products, online Canadian product catalogs and Moen Canada contact information.

Adelphi Kitchens & Cabinetry, a manufacturer of custom kitchen cabinets, has custom-designed and installed a contemporary kitchen in Fromm Electric Supply 's new Lighting & Appliance Design Center in Allentown, PA. The Adelphi kitchen vignette features cabinetry doors in a deep walnut natural wood (pictured), an island made of a light Birdseye Maple wood, black granite countertops, stainless steel GE Monogram appliances, Andes Collection Peruvian Travertine tile and adjustable soft lighting from Translite Sonoma. The display is fully functional and live cooking demonstrations are planned.

The Design Center, which opened in late March, is intended to be a conceptual showcase for residential remodeling, building and interior design industry professionals. Builders, architects, kitchen contractors, electricians and interior designers can offer their customers a visual and hands-on experience in this facility. These working vignettes include kitchens, bathrooms, dining rooms, laundry rooms and a home theater.