AD is reporting member sales in the first nine months of 2021 were $44 billion, an increase of 34% across its 13 divisions and three countries. Same-store sales were up 19%. Member companies’ purchases from AD supplier partners grew 31%. Net distributions to its members were up 41%. 

AIM/R will hold its 50^th Annual Conference October 12 -15, 2022 at the Gaylord Rockies Resort in Aurora/Denver, Colorado. The Association is returning to its roots and where the first Annual Conference was held back in 1973. The theme is "Mission Celebrate." 

The Granite Group has promoted Chris Ploss from chief operating officer (COO) to president and Amir Rosenthal from chief financial officer (CFO) to COO. The promotions come as the company lays the foundation for its strategic growth plan.

Ferguson and Explore the Trades, a nonprofit organization with a mission to recruit individuals to the plumbing, heating, cooling and electrical trades, have partnered to introduce the skilled trades to a new generation. The two organizations came together to create Explore The Trades Skills Lab Built by Ferguson — a program that will provide support to career and technical education high schools across the U.S., as they establish new plumbing and HVAC career pathways. 

American Supply Association Director of Codes and Standards Jim Kendzel, MPH, CAE, was named the recipient of the IAPMO Joseph Kneidinger Sustainability Professional of the Year Award. The Joseph Kneidinger Sustainability Professional of the Year Award is presented to the professional that best fulfills or symbolizes the commitment to environmental sustainability. The nominated professional must be an IAPMO member.  

After months of negotiation and intense work on the part of the California legislature, American Supply Association and its coalition partners, AB 100 has been signed into law by California Governor Gavin Newsom. This is a positive result that provides manufacturers time to get compliant products into the supply chain and provides wholesalers/distributors a reasonable amount of time to reduce inventory. 

With the cultural shift in consumer needs moving from Boomers to Millennials and Gen Z, not only will there be a higher demand for a variety of options but there will also be an increase in wanting more knowledge around what's being installed.

Governor Gavin Newsom and the California State Legislature have enacted Assembly Bill (AB) 100 into law. Authored by Assembly member Chris Holden, AB 100 adopts industry standard NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 2020 as the lead-testing requirement for certified endpoint drinking water devices sold in California.

How many people reach a point to celebrate five complete decades working in the same industry? Better yet, who remembers the exact date they began their career? Bonomi Valves’ Rick Wentzell does. On Oct. 1, 1971, Wentzell began his career in the PVF industry and since that time has grown passionate about creating product, figuring out how best to sell it, and now, training the folks coming up.

Over the past 18 months, I have been in the unique position to hear first-hand how the booming remodel market, supply chain disruptions and material costs are affecting plumbing distributors and showrooms while simultaneously being the end-user customer who’s remodeling her kitchen.