Brief items about financials, promotions, new hires, awards, special events, etc.

People news

  • Wolseley plc (London) appointed Rob Marchbank director of strategic planning and development. He is also vice president/strategic planning and information systems for Ferguson, a Wolseley subsidiary. Also, Mike Verrier has been named group treasurer at Wolseley.

  • Cooper B-Line named David Rice vice president/marketing, after more than 11 years of service with Cooper Bussmann.

  • Speakman Co. appointed Imants Stiebris and Russ Waters as the management team of Speakman Safety Products, a new, autonomous business unit.

  • Oasis Corp. named Bob Hanby pressure water cooler manager. He had been regional sales manager of international operations. In addition to his new duties, Hanby will continue to serve Oasis customers in the eastern United States and Puerto Rico. In other changes, Mike McDonnell has been named regional sales manager for the southeastern portion of the U.S. sales territory, and Rocky Crudele has been promoted to regional sales manager for the central and western regions.
  • PHCC-NA: The Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors-National Association elected a slate of new officers at its annual business meeting in Reno, Nev., in September. They include: President -- Bill Trombly, Trombly Enterprises, Manchester, N.H.; President-elect -- Eddie Hollub, Modern Plumbing Co., Pasadena, Texas; Vice President -- Steve Carder, Carder Plumbing Co., Sand Springs, Okla.; and Secretary -- Don Osborn, M.P.A. Plumbing & Air Conditioning, Mansfield, Texas.

  • John Mac Lyman has announced his retirement from Robert Manufacturing Co., which makes plumbing and gas supplies, including stainless- and polyester-braided water connectors and stainless and brass gas connectors. He has served as the company's vice president and general manager for more than 29 years. Bob Drach has joined the company as general manager. Most recently he was vice president/operations at Targus, a consumer products company. Before that he was director of the accessories SBU at Rain Bird Sprinkler and manager at Deloitte and Touche, a consulting firm. Gil Fanchin has been named western regional sales manager. He had been territory manager for southern California. LaRay Doyle has been named southeastern regional sales manager. He joined the company in 1986 as facilities manager for the Dallas distribution center.

  • Steve Greenspon has joined Dennis and Larry Greenspon as a partner in LDR Industries, a manufacturer, importer and distributor of plumbing and bath supplies. Steve Greenspon had been chief operating officer at Park Heating and Air Conditioning Supply Co., a division of Pameco Corp.

  • Orion Fittings has named Ken Moody its western region manager. His territory includes California, Oregon, Washington, Montana, Idaho, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, Utah, Alaska, Hawaii and Arizona. The company manufactures acid waste, high purity and double containment piping systems.

    New member

  • Kovalsky-Carr Electric Supply (Rochester, N.Y.) has joined IMARK Group, a member-owned marketing group for electrical distributors.

    Award

  • First Supply Group (Madison, Wis.) received Burnham's Platinum Boiler Club Award for achieving more than $1 million in purchases. First Supply is Burnham's largest distributor in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

    Other industry news

  • Payless Cashways bit the dust on Aug. 28. Once a $2.6 billion retail giant with 200 stores nationwide, the home center chain was down to 73 stores and operating in Chapter 11 when it told the bankruptcy court that it had no funds to continue operations and would seek liquidation. It's one of numerous competitors driven out of business by Home Depot and Lowe's.