General News

Wilo USA, a provider of pumps and pump solutions for building services, water management, and groundwater, is pleased to announce that Gary Mannus, former Group Senior Director / Managing Director of Sales Area UK/Ireland, has taken on the role of President Region Americas as of January 1st, 2017.

Mannus is responsible for overseeing the operations of Wilo for Region Americas, including both North & South America. His new role will involve ensuring the needs of our customers are met, developing both short-term and long-term strategies, analyzing markets and identifying key areas for growth as well as ensuring the ambitions of the Group are met.

Mannus has worked for Wilo for over seven years, and previously directed all activities for the UK and Ireland, as well as ad interim in North America. As of January 1st, he will now fully concentrate on developing the Region Americas.

“With his proven success in pump sales distribution and manufacturing, as well as his in-depth knowledge of commercial markets in North America and worldwide, Gary is an ideal fit for the role of President Region Americas,” says Tim Ruppert, Managing Director of Wilo USA. “His global experience in pump sales and effective management of North American sales will contribute to his success as President of the region.”

Mannus brings over 20 years of experience in our industry to his new position as President, having previously worked for over fourteen years in the HVAC industry, including six years as a CCO managing all company commercial matters worldwide. For the past seven years, he has demonstrated his expertise at Wilo. Mannus was born in Northern Ireland and has lived and worked in England, the Netherlands and the United States throughout his career. He has re-located with his wife to Illinois.

For more information on Wilo products and their employees, please visit www.wilo-usa.com.

Transition to Trades, an approved Career Skills Program (CSP) developed by Hiller Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical and U.S. Army Garrison, Fort Campbell, proudly graduates 42 members from its second series of classes for HVAC, Electrical, and Plumbing trades.

Transition to Trades, launched on July 5, allows separating soldiers the opportunity to attend Total Tech trade school (a subsidiary of Hiller, LLC) to learn valuable technical career skills while remaining active duty in the U.S. Army. Total Tech offers a unique approach to technician training through classroom and hands-on laboratory instruction in a 10,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility. As part of the program, students are guaranteed an employment interview at a Hiller branch location of their choosing. Soldiers desiring to return to their hometowns are provided key industry contact information to aid in employment searches in those respective areas.

To date, the Transition to Trades program has placed 45 soldiers in new careers in the industry, with 30 graduates now working at one of Hiller’s locations across the region. Another 10 soldiers are currently finalizing positions with companies out of state.

“Today, we are grateful for the opportunity to assist you in job placement”, remarked Jimmy Hiller, founder and CEO of Hiller Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical. “After Total Tech training, you have the tools to make you successful in the trades”, he continued, “and soldiers have the respect, team mentality, honor, and work ethic to make them ideal employees for our company”.

The graduation ceremony, held on Friday, January 6 by SSG Glenn H. English, Jr. in the Army Education Center at U.S. Army Garrison Fort Campbell, KY, marked the completion of the September, October, November, and December classes for the Plumbing, HVAC, and Electrical trades. 18 of the 42 transitioning soldiers were awarded graduation certificates in front of an audience of peers, family, members of the Army, associates from Hiller LLC and Total Tech LLC, and representatives from the press.

Keynote speakers included Mr. Hunter, Deputy Garrison Commander, Jimmy Hiller, Owner of Hiller Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical, and Don Miller, Institutional Director of Total Tech, LLC. In addition, Teresa K. English, Career Skills Program Coordinator for U.S. Army Garrison, Fort Campbell and student speakers SSG Dennis McGrath and SGT Brian Meyers addressed the audience.

“Getting out of the military can be a very scary reality. But Transition to Trades is giving veterans, like myself, an outlet and a way to make a living”, noted SGT Meyers. “And for that”, he continued, “I am grateful”.

Transition to Trades is an approved program developed by Hiller Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, and Electrical and the U.S. Army Garrison, Fort Campbell, to train transitioning active duty military service members for new civilian careers as plumbers, electricians, and HVAC service technicians. For more information about the program, visit http://www.transitiontotrades.com or e-mail dfrontz@happyhiller.com

Hiller Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical, provides residential and commercial service and repair throughout Tennessee, Southern Kentucky, and Northern Alabama. As the homeowner’s premier provider of choice with a 100% satisfaction guarantee, Hiller is Tennessee’s largest residential plumbing, heating, air conditioning, and electrical services provider. Hiller, recently named the fifth fastest-growing private company in Middle Tennessee and “Best in Business” from the Nashville Business Journal, employs more than 600 associates, boasts a fleet of 470 “happy face” trucks across 12 locations, and has responded to over 1.4 million service calls. For more information about Hiller, visit http://www.happyhiller.com or e-mail press@happyhiller.com.

Viega LLC announces the promotion of Scott Rea to regional sales manager, responsible for the Pacific Northwest region.

In this position, Rea replaces Matt Bohmer, who was recently appointed to lead Viega’s newly created Great Plains Region. Rea will lead a seasoned team whose mandate is to continue the development of traditional markets, while facilitating entry into new markets such as the marine and industrial sectors.

Rea has more than 17 years in the plumbing and heating industry. Prior to being promoted to his current position, he worked as a district sales manager in the Pacific Northwest region, based in the Seattle metro area. Before joining Viega, Rea worked in the manufacturer’s representative agency business, representing a variety of plumbing and heating products to the contracting and engineering communities in northwest Washington.

“Scott’s experience in managing a wide portfolio of products to customers all throughout the value chain has enabled him to quickly determine priorities and hone in on needs-based solutions best suited to the circumstances,” said Mark Evans, director of sales, North America, Viega. “This ability will allow him to gain effectiveness quickly, thus maintaining the phenomenal growth we have seen in this market in recent years.”

Rea lives in Lake Stevens, Wash. with his partner, Bonni. In his spare time he enjoys skiing, golfing and boating.

Two Bluewater water purifiers donated twelve months ago to Flint, Michigan, as the lead crisis unfolded continue to deliver hundreds of gallons of contaminant-free tap water every day to local citizens. The two Bluewater units being used by two Flint community care centers are designed to generate 52 gallons of safer, healthier tap drinking and cooking water every hour throughout the day.

“Not only do Bluewater water purifiers remove toxic metals such as lead as well as chemicals, microorganisms and pharmaceutical by-products from water, but they are also good news for the environment because they reduce the need to use single-use plastic bottles,” said Ms. Lin Guo, Bluewater Inc. National Representative. She estimated that if used to full capacity the two Bluewater units in Flint will have produced over 900,000 gallons of water in the last twelve months, which is the equivalent of 3.4 million one-liter (33.8 fl.oz) bottles of water.

One Bluewater water Pro unit is being used at the Catholic Charities of Shiawasseeand Genesee Counties facility in Flint, while a second is installed at Shelter of Flint, a program providing emergency shelter, transitional housing and outreach services.

Bluewater’s compact Pro water purifier harnesses patented second-generation reverse osmosis technology innovated in Sweden and designed for use in home and commercial environments, including schools, hospitals and restaurants. Bluewater’s patented filtration technologies capture practically everything down to 0.0001 micron (that’s around 500,000 times less than the diameter of a human hair).

Using 82% less water than a traditional reverse osmosis water purifier, Bluewater’s patented technology is designed to remove lead from tap water. During the crisis in Flint increased levels of the toxin has sparked complaints from residents of discolored water, headaches and skin rashes and increased fears of longer-term health issues.

Sheila Shegos, Director of Development at Catholic Charities, said: “Bluewater’s donation of its Pro water purifier is a blessing and true gift that is something to celebrate.” Catholic Charities provides numerous services for the financially hit community, supporting children, elderly and adults alike, including providing over 200,000 free meals a year.

“Flint was the victim of a tragedy not of its making. At Bluewater, we wanted to step in and help residents fight the health threat posed by their contaminated tap water with the unparalleled performance and award-winning technology and design of our point-of-use water purifiers that daily make a health difference to thousands of people in America and elsewhere wanting safer water to drink and cook with at home or in professional environments,” said Ms. Guo.