Blackman Plumbing Supply presented the new Design Inspirations sinks designed for Elkay by Jamie Drake and Fu-Tung Cheng during an architect/ designer event held at its Manhattan showroom on Fifth Ave. in late October. Among those attending (L to R): Robert Mannheimer, president of Blackman Plumbing Supply; Scott Dellon, owner, CEO and marketing manager of Dellon Sales; Steve Rogers, president of Elkay; Mark Whittington, senior vice president of sales and Tim Jahnke, CEO, both with Elkay; Richard Blackman, chairman of Blackman; David Lyon, director of showrooms for Blackman; and designers Jamie Drake and Fu-Tung Cheng.

Blanco appointed Pan American Sales & Marketing (Sunrise, FL) as its sales representative for Florida east of the Apalachicola River (excluding Tallahassee), and for Puerto Rico, Bermuda and the Caribbean.

Tasman Sinkware North America named Summit Sales (Olathe, KS ) to represent the Oliveri line of kitchen sinks in Kansas, Missouri and southern Illinois.

Schréder Lighting USA appointed Alaska Pro-Sell Agents (Anchorage , AK) as its new sales agency in Alaska.

InSinkErator honored Dave Weiner, CEO of Marketing Support Inc. (MSI) for 50 years of service to the company. Pictured at left, Dave Weiner (L) with Jerry Ryder, president of InSinkErator.  Read more...

Haws hired William O'Keefe (pictured, right) as its corporate marketing manager. Most recently, he was the director of marketing at PolyPhaser Corp.

Italian manufacturer Elica, which offers a wide range of kitchen ventilation hoods, has recently begun establishing itself in North America. Here are some of the people Elica has assigned to building its North American business:

• Matt Holmes, vice president of marketing - Americas, has assumed all sales responsibilities for North America.  Since joining Elica in September 2007, Holmes has staffed and opened its North American offices and company showroom in the Chicago Merchandise Mart and implemented a long-term marketing strategy for Elica North America.

• Stefano Rosa Uliana continues as general manager-Americas, a position he has held since 2004. Uliana managed the construction and start-up of Elica's newest plant in Queretaro, Mexico, which opened in 2006 and serves customers throughout North, South and Central America. 

• James Adams was appointed sales director-Southern Regions in September 2008. He has more than 10 years of industry experience.

• Joe Otis remains national account sales director, managing retail sales, service & parts distribution. As of September 2008, Otis has assumed additional duties as sales director-Northern Regions.

Mike Straw, eastern regional sales manager for ThermaSol, gave a presentation on the green side of steam at a November meeting of the National Kitchen and Bath Association's South Florida Chapter. Pictured (L to R): Vice President of Next Plumbing Supply Larry Cohen, ThermaSol's Eastern Regional Sales Manager Mike Straw, NKBA President of the South Florida Chapter Cathie Armstrong-Moore, and President of Next Plumbing Supply David Lopatin.

The Carnegie Mellon University Solar Decathlon team recently won the 2008 Environmental Protections Agency's Lifecycle Building Challenge Award in the "Student-Built" category. Their prize-winning entry, TriPod, is a prefabricated house alternative outfitted with Whirlpool ENERGY STAR qualified appliances.

The Dyson Airblade hand dryer received the 2008 North American Hand Dryer Green Excellence of the Year Award from Frost and Sullivan at its Green Excellence Awards banquet last fall. Also, the Spark Awards honored Dyson in the Industrial and Consumer Tools and Equipment category at the second annual Spark's 2008 Winners Celebration and Exhibition.

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) recently released the first comprehensive report by a federal agency regarding acquiring, constructing, operating and maintaining sustainable buildings. More ...

Supply New England (Attleboro, MA) and the Kohler Co. co-hosted an evening devoted to the subject of water conservation for area plumbers, contractors, architects and builders.  The event included a private showing of the 3D documentary film, Grand Canyon Adventure: River at Risk.

Read Tim Fausch's blog here and be reminded of what really counts. It's a worthy piece to read at any time of the year but is particularly meaningful during the holiday season. Tim Fausch is publishing director of BNP Media's Architecture, Engineering & Construction and Mechanical Systems Groups, a collection of more than 20 trade magazines, Web sites and e-newsletters.

National disaster recovery and reconstruction experts headline the first National Disaster Reconstruction Expo's (NDRExpo) conference program. The NDRExpo was developed to unite the numerous vertical markets associated with disaster preparation, response, recovery and rebuilding. The conference program reflects this diversity with a robust line-up of industry experts. NDRExpo launches June 17-18, 2009 at the Morial New Orleans Convention Center.

Industry marketing specialist Reed Fry of Fry Communications shares his showroom marketing insights in a fact-filled, action-oriented format. His first Web-exclusive column addresses "Print Yellow Pages vs. Internet Search." Read on ...

Hansa's Hansacolourshower is available with an enhanced feature: the twister. The user pushes a button to obtain color for a stimulating shower experience that reduces stress, balances energy and creates a sense of well-being. It features a handheld body sprayer, adjustable showerhead and lotion/soap dispenser. The user can customize the temperature and pressure.

Moen's Level kitchen faucet features a sleek and modern design with clean geometric lines and minimalist styling. It is available in chrome and LifeShine® brushed nickel finishes. The pulldown faucet simplifies everyday tasks with multiple spray options and an extra-long hose.

Kohler Co. offers the Cordial entertainment sink. Self-rimming for easy installation, it provides ample working space with a 22-inch diameter and 7-1/2-inch deep basin. It is constructed of Kohler cast iron with an ultra-thick layer of enamel. Included in the purchase price are a cutting board for garnishes, a pouring tray for beverages and an ice-mold for creating a block of ice that nests in the basin with several holes to chill multiple bottles.

Bootz Industries offers the 5-foot Bootzcast bathtub in the standard 60-inch by 30-inch by 14-1/4 inch size or a 60-inch by 30-inch by 16-5/8 raised-outlet model. Both tubs are porcelain enamel steel encased with Syniron, feature 40-degree lumbar support and are offered in white or bone.

 Bath & Kitchen Pro, a publication created for bath-and-kitchen installers, distributors with showrooms and designers, looks at customizing kitchens and baths and profiles a contractor's showroom in the Fall 2008 issue.

Contact Publisher Bob Miodonski at 630-694-4007, e-mail: miodonskib@bnpmedia.com or visit the Web http://www.bathandkitchenpro.com www.bathandkitchenpro.com for more details.

Customer Service: The Path to Higher Profits

By the ASA Education Foundation

This interactive, 40-page workbook covers the basic concepts of customer service and the connection between "superb service" and increased profit levels. Learn what customers value most from the wholesale distributor. The book explains different measures of service and the connection between internal and external customers, and offers tips for communicating positively with customers.
Includes book, end-of-chapter quizzes with answer keys, final exam and certificate of completion.  Retail price: $36. CLICK HERE to order.
Visit AECstore.com   to view all of our Plumbing resources or call Stephanie at 248-244-1275 with any questions.