Pfister launches ‘American Plumber Stories’ docuseries, hosted by Craig Morgan
Pfister, a manufacturer in the plumbing industry since 1910, is introducing “American Plumber Stories,” a docuseries that features the lives of plumbers throughout the U.S. The biweekly digital series, hosted by country music entertainer and Army veteran Craig Morgan, launches Aug. 2 at www.americanplumberstories.com.
“American Plumber Stories” aims to promote the plumbing trade to the next generation of professionals. The show highlights the stories of plumbers around the nation, including how they got started in the plumbing trade and the passion they have for their profession. These stories show how they built a career that allows them to lead financially rewarding and fulfilling lives.
Featured will be plumbers and their unique hobbies, such as car racing, kitesurfing and many other exciting stories. Each episode is entertaining, but also highlights the true opportunity the plumbing trade has to offer those who are not aiming to pursue a college education or who are unsure which career path to take. Becoming an “American Plumber” is a true alternative. By foregoing significant student loan debt and entering a career early, young plumbing professionals can build a fulfilling life for themselves and their families.
The plumbing trade has been experiencing a significant shortage of workers. The most experienced professionals are nearing retirement age and are exiting the workforce. At the same time, the number of men and women willing to learn the trade continues to decline. Today, special high school programs and vocational or trade schools are scarce for aspiring students who want a career in the trades. Compared to higher learning and the promise and perceived security of a corporate career, there is also a negative stigma attached to the plumbing profession. Academic achievement became more favorable and the idea of trade education was left behind, Pfister explained.
“Young men and women who enter the workforce early can learn the plumbing trade and make it a long-term career,” said Spencer Brown, Pfister’s director of sales, and executive producer of the docuseries. “This also allows many to establish and build their own company. The goal of ‘American Plumber Stories’ is to update the perceptions of the plumber profession in a documentary-style format. We need to engage with young people, sharing an authentic look at the plumbing trade today and real plumbers’ success stories to encourage a new workforce. The goals of ‘American Plumber Stories’ are to inspire, educate and entertain. Our hope is that the docuseries changes the image of the industry, helping to attract and recruit new talent.”
Initially, 12 episodes will be released over the course of six months, starting Aug. 2. Pfister partnered with chart-topping country music star Craig Morgan as an official brand ambassador, and he’ll also host each episode. Morgan, who wrote and performed the docuseries’ original theme song “Good Life,” embodies the values of all those who work in the trade. His integrity, family values and grit echo the ideals of the “working man” and their passion for our country, which delivers on the narrative that each one of us deserves every opportunity to achieve the American dream.
Bradford White Canada wins Golden Leaf Award
Bradford White Canada, a subsidiary of Bradford White Corp., has been selected as the first recipient of the Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating Manufacturers’ Agent Council Golden Leaf Award. The award honors a CIPH member company with a proven track record of supporting the efforts of sales agencies and exclusively utilizing manufacturers’ agents.
“I would like to congratulate Mark Williamson and the Bradford White Canada team on being presented with the first annual CIPH Golden Leaf award,” said Ryan Bristow, managing partner at Equipco and chair of the CIPH Manufacturers’ Agents Council. “The award goes to a truly deserving manufacturer that checks all the boxes when it comes to supporting and working with manufacturers’ representatives. The company and its people exemplify what it is to be a partner in CIPH in so many ways, and they continually strive to maintain positive working relationships.”
“We at Bradford White Canada are honored to be the inaugural recipient of the Golden Leaf Award,” said Williamson, director of sales and marketing for Bradford White Canada. “This award showcases our vision and commitment to serving our industry. This is a total team award, and we could not have achieved it without the efforts of our whole group and our reps.”
Elkay celebrates installation milestone
Elkay recently reached an important milestone — the production of the one millionth bottle filling station. Since its launch more than 10 years ago, the Elkay ezH2O bottle fillers have saved more than 40 billion plastic bottles from ending up in landfills, enough to circle the Earth over 135 times, Elkay noted.
Leading the charge and upholding its commitment to delivering clean water and sustainable design, Elkay introduced the ezH2O rapid bottle filling station in February 2010 with the goal to reduce plastic waste, the company explained. During its first year of launch, 4,000 units were sold.
“We’re so proud of this accomplishment and what we have been able to achieve with the ezH2O bottle filling stations over the last decade,” said Ted Hamilton, president of Elkay Plumbing. “We set out to launch a first-of-its-kind bottle filling station with a sustainable design, and we’re excited to see where the next 10 years take us as we continue our mission in contributing to a cleaner environment and healthier communities for generations to come.”
The one millionth ezH2O bottle filling station will be installed at Garfield Park in Elkay’s hometown of Chicago. This installation will not only celebrate the production milestone, but is also part of marking the company’s recent 100th year in business where Elkay partnered with the city of Chicago and nonprofit organization Elevate to install 100 units across the Chicagoland area. The installations will bring access to clean drinking water across locations that need it most, from schools to parks to youth centers and facilities.
Uponor North America expands manufacturing capacity
To help meet growing customer and market demands for PEX pipe, Uponor North America is expanding its manufacturing capacity in Minnesota. Starting this month, the Lakeville distribution center, which was originally built in 2009, will begin construction to add 57,000 square feet on the southwest side of the building. The $5 million project is scheduled for completion in June 2022.
Additionally, the Hutchinson facility, which was purchased in 2017 and opened in 2018, is also expanding with a $5 million renovation project to create an additional 25,000 square feet of manufacturing space, scheduled to be complete in May 2022.
“As we enter the post-pandemic business climate, Uponor is positioning itself to increase capacity and productivity to effectively meet customer demand for our product,” said Bill Gray, president, Uponor North America. “We are grateful for the support of Uponor’s leadership as well as the support from the leaders of these local communities.”
RJ Ryan has been selected as the general contractor for the Lakeville expansion, and PCL will be the general contractor for Hutchinson.
This will be the company’s 12th and 13th expansions in North America since 1990. The most recent expansions include an $18-million, 90,000-square-foot expansion in 2016, and a $17.4-million, 58,000-square-foot expansion in 2017. After completion of both expansions in 2022, the total Uponor North America building square footage will exceed 1 million.
The New Flat Rate to host conference
The New Flat Rate, the first menu-pricing system for home service contractors, is gearing up for its third annual Business Uncensored conference in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The two-and-a-half-day event will take place from Oct. 18-20 at the Westin Chattanooga, kicking off with a reception on the night of Oct.18.
This high-level business conference offers attendees the opportunity for comprehensive training that will help home service business owners in a multitude of ways, from learning how to utilize online marketing to recognizing business plateaus. This year’s theme is “Drive,” which places an emphasis on helping business leaders drive their money, marketing, team and purpose.
“Since we started The New Flat Rate, our goal has been to help make the lives of contractors easier while also allowing them to be profitable as a company,” said Rodney Koop, founder and CEO of The New Flat Rate. “With Business Uncensored, we can do that by providing tools and knowledge that will not only help them increase profits but also unleash their full potential.”
Throughout the conference, attendees will gain lessons on a variety of different topics that will teach contractors how to develop successful business methods that drive the company overall. There will be several breakout sessions geared toward increasing focus on topics that can help business owners address needs in specific areas, such as friendship marketing or how to supercharge your service department, The New Flat Rate explained.
“Many business owners in the home service industry place their focus on revenue-generating areas such as the number of service calls they receive on a regular basis, oftentimes missing out on opportunities by rushing to finish the job,” said Danielle Putnam, president of The New Flat Rate. “We have sessions that will help contractors uncover those lost opportunities, act on them, and follow up for future business during the slow season.
“While keeping a steady flow of business is important, it isn’t the only thing that makes a company successful. Understanding what drives your team or the overall success of your customers is just as important. Those are some of the areas that we also focus on during Business Uncensored to help contractors grow and be successful.”
Speakers from The New Flat Rate will include Koop; Putnam; and Matt Koop, vice president. Also speaking at the event are contractors Roger Daviston, John Ellis, Rob Matheny, Steve Moon and Christopher Gibbons.
For more information about Business Uncensored, visit www.2021BU.com.
Rinnai America celebrates U.S. manufacturing facility
Rinnai America, a subsidiary of Rinnai Corp., based in Japan, has become the first major tankless water heater brand to have a U.S. manufacturing facility with advanced automation and precision assembly processes, the company noted.
Within the last few years, the company has looked toward new expansion opportunities, including investing in new markets to sustain innovation as well as operationalizing manufacturing and production to meet need. The North American market was quickly identified as one of the greatest growth vehicles for the company.
“Our goal is to be the growth driver for Rinnai Corporation, and that’s why we’re making the investments within Rinnai America,” said Frank Windsor, president, Rinnai America Corp. “We’re investing in domestic manufacturing as well as in our new corporate headquarters and an innovation center to drive our customers’ businesses forward while also contributing to the overall organizational growth initiative.”
In late 2021, Rinnai is set to complete construction on its North American manufacturing facility in Griffin, Georgia. Current production will be moved from the existing factory to a new 300,000-square-foot plant, which will enable the company to both increase production of residential and commercial products, while also bringing more than 150 jobs to the Griffin community.
“Creating jobs is a huge part of helping the company to grow,” Windsor continued. “We can’t manufacture and produce products to meet demand without top talent. We are committed to filling these crucial roles while also helping consumers and trade professionals see the importance of purchasing and installing domestically produced products. In lockstep with this expansion, is Rinnai’s commitment to creating a healthier way of living. There’s no better way to honor that promise than to help create a healthier economy.”
From Left to Right: Matt Smith, Bill Smith, Joe Welsh (LVC) and Greg Adams.
Leonard Valve Co. presents FCL Award to Contact Sales Co.
Each year, Leonard Valve Co., located in Cranston, Rhode Island, distributes its annual Frederick C. Leonard (FCL) award to the most outstanding overall sales representative firm. This prestigious award encompasses the century-old heritage of Leonard’s core values as well as performance throughout the year.
Leonard would like to extend congratulations to the recipient of the 2020 FCL Sales award to Denver-based Contact Sales Co.
“Their hard work and dedication through one of the most challenging years to date is simply put, exceptional,” the company noted. “Congratulations, Contact Sales on a phenomenal year!”
