“It’s all about the people,” is a phrase you’ll hear often around the PHCP-PVF industry. Although we’ve heard it a million times, the saying couldn’t be more true; it’s proven every year at the American Supply Association’s NETOWRK event. This year, more than 850 attendees — including 86 distributor-members that represent more than $50 billion in annual sales — gathered in Orlando, Florida November 8-10.

The two-and-a-half day agenda is jam-packed with panel discussion, roundtables, member meetings, education sessions, one-on-one supplier meetings and keynote speakers; there are endless opportunities to have great conversations with great people. Even with all of these scheduled events going on, it’s clear throughout the event that the “in between” moments are just as important.

The panel covering how to grow without inflation featured Torrco’s Don Polletta, Irr Supply Centers’ Patrick Duffy, Northeastern Supply’s Stan Allen, Reeves-Wiedemen’s Luke Wiedeman and Plumbing & Heating Wholesale’s Mike Plasier.

| Photo by Steve Woltman/ASA

It’s clear this industry is all about great people when the annual prestigious Fred V. Keenan Lifetime Achievement Award is presented and numerous industry patrons contribute kind words and stories about the recipients. This year’s recipients, InSinkErator’s Rob Grim and Coburn Supply Co.’s Don Maloney, were no exception.

Fred V. Keenan Lifetime Achievement Award winners. Rob Grim (left) and Don Maloney. 

| Photo by Steve Woltman/ASA

It’s also cleat this industry values its people when everyone jumps at the opportunities to learn from their peers. NETWORK’s agenda included a panel discussions where several members share their personal experience and expertise — “How to grow in a year without inflation.” In addition to the panel, attendees get to learn from one anther are the popular Great Ideas Roundtable sessions. This year’s roundtable sessions covered topics such as knowledge transfer between generations, evolving sales models, taking advantage of AI, and commodity trends and devaluating inventory.

One great conversation I got to have while at NETWORK during the "in between" moments was with NIBCO’s newly-promoted President and COO Ashley Martin and Dawn Bloch who is now the company’s chief people officer. The news about the executive team changes broke while we were at NETWORK, so I had the chance to talk to both Martin and Bloch about the transition.

PASSING THE TORCH

“It’s been in the works my entire life,” is how Martin describes the behind the scenes of the company’s recently announced Executive Team changes. In November the company announced that Rex Martin — who has a 48-year tenure with the family business — will move into the role of chairman emeritus as Ashley Martin represents the 5^th generation of Martin family to lead NIBCO.

The transition comes at a pivotal time as NIBCO began celebrating its 120^th year in business in November. Over the past couple of years the company has completed several impressive acquisitions including Matco-Norca and Milwaukee Valve. The company has huge plans for celebrating its big milestone next year.

In addition to Ashley Martin’s promotion, the company also announced that Dawn Bloch, who’s been with NIBCO 23 years, is now the chief people officer. “Dawn is a powerful testimony to the career advancement of women in our trades and at NIBCO,” said Martin. “It is an honor for her to join the executive leadership team as the first woman that is not a family member.”

Bloch joined NIBCO in 2000 as a customer service representative. She held several positions of increasing responsibility including technical specialist, radiant heating advisor; radiant heat technical coordinator; customer service manager, director retail sales; director, business development and customer service; and vice president, customer engagement.

“When I first started at NIBCO Rex told me, ‘people are going to love you because you're a Martin and people will hate you because you're a Martin, and neither one is right.’ What he was really telling me is you have to go out there and earn their respect. It doesn’t matter if they love you or hate you — it’s all about respect.”
— Ashley Martin, president and COO, NIBCO

Supply House Times Chief Editor Natalie Forster sat down with NIBCO leaders to discuss the recent changes at ASA NETWORK2023 in Orlando, Florida last month. From left, Sally Boyer, director, marketing-communications, Natalie Forster, Ashley Martin, president and COO, Dawn Bloch, chief people officer.

Needless to say, both women are excited to take on their new roles. According to Martin, she’s most excited to visit all of NIBCO’s team members. “I’m ready to get out and see our people,” she says. “Matco-Norca joined us just 10 months ago so I haven’t had the chance to meet all of the associates; so I’m really excited to spend next year meeting and connecting with our people.”

Both Martin and Bloch have had tremendous role models from the Martin family to prepare them for these leadership roles — Rex Martin and the late Alice Martin.

For Ashley Martin, one piece of advice from Rex stands out the most. “When I first started at NIBCO Rex told me, ‘people are going to love you because you're a Martin and people will hate you because you're a Martin, and neither one is right.’ What he was really telling me is you have to go out there and earn their respect. It doesn’t matter if they love you or hate you — it’s all about respect.”

She says this is one of the best pieces of advice he’s given her, and she still works to earning the NIBCO team’s respect every day.

Bloch worked closely with Alice Martin from early on in her NIBCO career. She says Alice instilled in her that with hard work, she can be anything she wants to — even in this male-dominated industry. “When I started at NIBCO I didn’t have any formal education past high school,” she explains. “Alice taught me that despite that, I can be anything I want to be in this industry as long as I focus on the people. She taught me the pay it forward mentality; I always remember her saying, ‘you have to have one hand behind you reaching for those that haven’t made it yet.’”

As Chief People Officer, Bloch explains that one of NIBCO’s largest drivers right now is diversity. “Both Ashley and I are passionate about bringing more diversity into our organization,” she says. “All types of diversity bring in different perspectives to a business, and we know we need that creative thinking to continue to grow.”

As Martin takes on 2024 as the company President and COO, her main goal is again, to engage with all of NIBCO’s people. “I want every single one of our locations to celebrate the 120^th anniversary,” she says. “My goal next year is to attend all of these celebrations and make sure I’m connecting with our people.”