Is relief in sight? I'm talking about the weather and the extended winter that has blanketed much of the U.S. After all the snow and the sub-zero temperatures many of us have endured in the last few months, let's bask in the warmth of this snapshot of paradise. It's actually Montego Bay in Jamaica, site of Sonia's annual sales meeting. Is there relief in sight for the economy? Will the government's efforts to fix the financial turmoil succeed? Guess we'll have to wait and see on that.

Ferguson (Newport News, VA) has declared February National Plumber's Appreciation Month in all of its showrooms. More...

The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) announced the 2009 inductees into the Kitchen & Bath Industry Hall of Fame:

• Kenneth E. Anderson, CKD, founder of TASK Lighting Corp.
• James J. Bakke, president and CEO of Sub-Zero and Wolf Appliance.
• Mary Jo Peterson, CKD, CBD, CAPS, CAASH, an author, speaker and instructor for the NKBA, and owner of a design practice.

The Plumbing Manufacturers Institute will host its semi-annual meeting on April 5-8 at The Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC. The theme "Leading the Legacy" has been chosen to illustrate how PMI and its member companies are leading the way through the tumultuous economic downturn. Topics on the conference agenda include water efficiency, reducing lead content in products, proactive legislation and fair trade.

Gerber Plumbing Fixtures LLC will serve as the plumbing fixtures partner for American Eagle Outfitters' new corporate center in Pittsburgh. The national clothing retailer installed Gerber's wall-mounted faucets in its new corporate offices. The faucets are featured with a custom-designed tile sink created by the Design Alliance.

Cifial USA has opened Cifial Tech, an applied learning institute that provides customizable educational programs for manufacturers representatives, showroom salespeople and plumbing professionals. Among the workshops offered at the 1,500-sq.-ft. learning facility, located within the company's corporate headquarters, are faucet installation, designing custom shower systems, Roman tub applications and a Cifial hardware overview.

WAC Lighting

Mr. Steam awarded the final grand prize - an all-inclusive trip for two to Venice, Italy - in its 2008 Passport to Venice Program to Darla Jackson, manager of Win Kitchen and Bath Showcase in North Carolina. Jim Natale, sales associate for N&S Showroom in New York, received a spa gift certificate as the top sales representative for December.

Tim Vander Wall, owner of Denver-based rep firm InterArchitectural Products, received the Representative of the Year Award at the Decorative Plumbing and Hardware Association Conference in Phoenix, AZ.

Kaldewei has appointed six independent sales agency partners: Architectural Design Sales for Colorado, Utah and Wyoming; Altherm for the state of New York and New Jersey; AMSG & Associated for Idaho, Montana, Oregon and the state of Washington; Deery-Pardue & Associates for Illinois and Indiana; Northeast Sales Group for Connecticut, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont; and Silvertip Marketing Group for Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.

Millard Fuller, 74, the founder of Habitat for Humanity and The Fuller Center for Housing , which together have built more than 200,000 houses for the poor around the world, died Feb. 3. He was presented with the Presidential Medal of Honor in 1996. Fuller led Habitat for 29 years before founding the Fuller Center for Housing in 2005. More information...

Danco Inc., a manufacturer of repair and replacement plumbing parts, has initiated the transition of business activities currently performed in its satellite office in Boothwyn, PA, to its Irving, TX, headquarters. All business functions will have been transitioned by Feb. 27, the company said.

Ferguson opened a 10,500-sq.-ft. showroom at 704 N. Laverne Ave. in Fresno, CA, that carries plumbing, appliances, cabinets, countertops and lighting. Jamie Mello is showroom manager.

Seachrome Corp. recognized the following rep firms with SAMMY awards for outstanding achievement in sales of its ADA-compliant products and bathware accessories in 2008: Roy Nakama Inc. - Best Sales; Richard Hoffman Inc.,  R.E. Thompson Co. and Benz Air Eng Co. Inc. - Best Sales in a Supporting Role; and RedHawk Supply Inc. - Best Sales for a Newcomer.

The Marble Institute of America is partnering with BNP Media's Stone World magazine to offer 17 extensive one- and two-day seminars across the United States. Details...

Laura Domanico

Claudette Hoffmann

The National Kitchen & Bath Association promoted Laura Domanico to senior manager of education and Claudette Hoffmann to director of member services.

Caroma appointed Eddie Wilcut as national water conservation manager. Most recently he was conservation manager at San Antonio Water System.

Noritz named Hisashi Uryu, former president of its Hong Kong division, president of Noritz America Corp. The company manufactures tankless water heaters.

SFA Saniflo has introduced the Saniswift gray water pumping system which offers powerful, economical pumping action in a compact, contemporary design. It can handle up to 18 gallons of wastewater per minute from three different fixtures, including sinks and showers as well as washing machines and laundry tubs.

 ALNO announced that its sustainable wood kitchen cabinets were chosen by the owners of the Pasadena EcoHouse designed by StudioRMA and under construction. It is said to become the first concrete LEED Platinum home in the United States. The owners selected the ALNOCHIC collection, which has the look of wood but is eco-friendly.

 A.O. Smith said that some of its high-efficiency water heater models, including the Vertex product line and its tankless products, are eligible for a $300 tax credit. To qualify, units must be placed into service between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31.

The Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) announced at the International Builders' Show that a coalition for ENERGY STAR water heaters has been formed to encourage the support of consumers and industry leaders on the importance of this energy-saving home appliance. Hot water heaters are now the final home appliance to receive the label.  

EnerWorks said its solar water heating appliances are the first to qualify for the Department of Energy's new ENERGY STAR residential water heater program. Qualifying solar water heaters...

NSF International has developed a compositional standard for products that come in contact with drinking water, including faucets, in support of the new requirements in California that take effect Jan. 1, 2010. More information...

Moen introduced a section to its Web site, www.moen.com/sustainability that explains its corporate waste-reduction and recycling initiatives and allows visitors to download materials such as a video, literature and green product information.

ASA will host NetworkASA 2009: POWER Oct. 14-17 at the J.W. Marriott Hotel in Washington, D.C. NetworkASA 2010 is scheduled for Oct. 12-15, 2010 in Chicago, and NetworkASA 2011 is planned for Oct. 27-30, 2011 in Maui, Hawaii .

Chicago Faucets announced that its management systems have achieved ISO 9001:2008/ISO 14001:2004 certification of its U.S. headquarters in Des Plaines, IL, and three manufacturing sites.

Dave Kahle, a consultant and sales trainer, will present four 90-minute webinars in April to help companies sell more effectively in a down economy and emerge stronger and more profitable on the other side. For information, visit www.davekahle.com/sales_webinars.html, or call 800-331-1287.

2009 PREMIER DISTRIBUTORS SURVEY is underway! We rank the top 150 or so PHCP wholesalers in the U.S. and Canada based on their actual or estimated annual sales for the year just ended. If you are a wholesaler distributor of plumbing-heating-cooling-piping products, please take the survey. You can access it online or e-mail Pat Lenius at leniusp@bnpmedia.com for a survey form.

DuPont showed its Zodiaq Terra Collection at the 2009 International Builders' Show. This collection combines quartz crystal and resin with at least 50% pre-consumer recycled glass content to deliver four new colors: Calm Springs, Warm Taupe, Moroccan Morning and Mossy Green.

Price Pfister launched a line of handheld showers that can be configured in a slide bar or wall-mount format. Each comes with a 60-inch metal hose with an anti-twist connection. Five finishes are available: polished chrome, brushed nickel, oil rubbed bronze, rustic pewter and rustic bronze.

Chicago Faucets announced four new versions of its ceramic cartridge. Improvements include a tighter-fitting stem retainer clip plus a redesigned internal stem stop; and a redesigned seal washer retainer with color-coded identification. Cartridges affected by these enhancements include short stem models with an exposed cap design and long stem models with a concealed cap design.

HOUZER unveiled the Eston Series, its newest line of undermount stainless steel sinks designed for trade applications of countertop fabrication. Designs include rectangular single bowl, D-bowl, 50/50, 60/40, and 70/30 double bowl. Sink models are available individually boxed or on bulk nested pallets for high volume production shops or jobsites. Mounting clips are also included.

InSinkErator launched a chilled water tank that enables users to access instant cold (38 degree F.), high-quality water from the sink. The chilled water tank may be added to an existing hot/cool instant hot water system or used as a stand-alone unit with the new cold-only faucet. The tank fits under the sink and is air-cooled so no cabinet venting is required.

THG offers the Vogue Collection of luxury bath faucets and fixtures. The series features various gem stone accents including: turquoise, chalzedon, gray agate, rose quartz, thulite, cornaline, smoky quartz, rock crystal, amethyst and aragonite.

 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.

JUST RELEASED:

2009 Hydronics Know How II DVD

by John Siegenthaler - only $99

This DVD contains all the 200-plus columns and articles - covering everything from heat loss to hydraulic separation - that John Siegenthaler has written for Plumbing & Mechanical and PM Engineer. 

This digital collection is a virtual encyclopedia on modern hydronic systems and all the information is searchable. More information...