Ferguson (Newport News, VA) promoted Keith VanderVennet to vice president of supply chain and named Stan Allen regional manager for the combined Northwest/Mountain region. Previously director of sales, VanderVennet will now work directly with the distribution centers, sourcing and procurement departments. He has held two general manager positions and in 2003 was named director of career development. Allen, currently area manager for Oregon and southwest Washington, is transitioning into his new role, which becomes effective Aug. 1. During Allen's tenure as general manager of the Los Angeles branch from 2000 to 2004, it was honored twice with awards as “most improved” and was named “Mega Branch of the Year.”
Wiseway Supply (Florence, KY) honored certain manufacturers for their performance for the wholesaler in 2005. Those recognized included ADS as Plumbing Manufacturer of the Year (Large Tier); Fernco as Plumbing Manufacturer of the Year (Small Tier); Thomas Lighting as Showroom Manufacturer of the Year (Large Tier); and Hinkley Lighting as Showroom Manufacturer of the Year (Small Tier).
A.R. Burkholder & Associates of Simsbury, CT, was named the 2005 Froet Overflow Award winner by Froet Industries LLC, a manufacturer of roof drainage products. Burkholder was presented with the award at the Las Brisas resort in Acapulco, Mexico.
The 2006 editions of the Uniform Plumbing Code and Uniform Mechanical Code are now available. Other codes and guides published by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) will be completed and ready for use shortly, including the 2006 Solar Energy Code and the 2006 Swimming Pool, Spa & Hot Tub Code. Spanish editions of the 2006 UPC and UMC are in the works.
As manufacturer A.Y. McDonald celebrates 150 years in business, the company remembers its roots. Its namesake and founder, Andrew Young (AY) McDonald was orphaned as a child in Glasgow, Scotland, then emigrated to the United States with an aunt when he was 20 years old. He started his own plumbing business in Dubuque, IA, left to fight in the Civil War, was wounded twice and returned home to Dubuque to grow his business.
First Supply (Madison, WI) hosted more than 400 customers, vendors and employees for a seven-day trip to Puerto Rico in mid-January as part of its 2005 World of Opportunity program. Customers participate in the program by buying products from First Supply and receive extra bonus incentives for purchases of participating vendors' products.
Grainger, a distributor of facilities maintenance supplies, said it planned to add more than 39,000 products to its 2006 catalog that was scheduled to launch April 3. This brings the number of products offered through its catalog from 82,000 to more than 115,000. The expanded offering consists of about 30,000 different fasteners such as screws, bolts and nuts and an additional 10,000 products spread across diverse product categories including electrical, cleaning, material handling, plumbing and ventilation.
Herbert “Larry” Wallace, 74, former president of D&C Plumbing & Heating, a southeastern Michigan wholesaler, died Feb. 25 in Hamburg, MI. He joined the wholesale firm in 1962 as a counterman after spending four years in the U.S. Navy and another three years working for the Nelson Co.
Wolseley plc (Reading, England) announced that in its North American Plumbing & Heating Distribution segment, Ferguson (Newport News, VA) acquired Central Georgia Supply Co., which does business as Dixie Plumbing Supply Co., based in Macon, GA, in February. The plumbing and waterworks wholesaler was purchased from Ricky Hulett and Kent Procter. For the year ended Dec. 31, 2004, the company had sales of $15.8 million and had a strong marketing position for its one location, Wolseley said.
The National Association of Electrical Distributors said that 78.2% of respondents to its most recent Quarterly Sales Change Expectation forecast sales growth for the first quarter of 2006, and 21.8% expect sales to rise by 10% or more. Another 20% project flat or negative sales during this period.
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