Newly inducted into the Women in Manufacturing Hall of Fame, Taco's CEO, Cheryl Merchant, tells all in this podcast conversation. From her humble beginnings to working her way up the manufacturing ladder in various industries, her thankful nature and risk-taking business mindset has led the Taco Family of Companies to continued success.

Xylem’s Derrick Oberdorf and Jennifer Freres unpack the trends driving smarter, more sustainable commercial building systems, and the solutions helping design them, including smart pumps powered by Xylem’s hydrovar® X motor. Sponsored by:

Listen as Matt Baranuk, the Portfolio Director at A. O. Smith, discusses the latest trends in commercial water heating and how A. O. Smith is leading the way with upcoming product launches and innovations. Matt is committed to helping the industry, and A. O. Smith deliver hot water to those who need it—whether heating water, driving sustainability, or finding new ways to improve how we all interact with these products daily. Sponsored by:

Plumbing & Mechanical Editorial Director Natalie Forster moderates a discussion on all things radiant with our incredible panel of Radiant All Stars: John Barba, director of sales training at Taco Comfort Solutions; John Siegenthaler, consulting engineer and principal of Appropriate Designs in Holland Patent, New York; Max Rohr, director of marketing and education, Caleffi Hydronic Solutions; and Dave Yates, a former mechanical contractor and owner of F.W. Behler in York, Pennsylvania. ⮞ WATCH THE VIDEO OF THE PODCAST

With demand spiking and over 480,000 skilled trade jobs currently unfilled, plumbing contractors are scrambling to secure qualified talent ahead of peak season. Jessie Barrack, SVP of Business Development at Xplor FieldEdge, speaks about how top contractors are navigating this growing labor crunch—and the smart hiring moves they’re making now to stay ahead.

Stephanie Radel discusses how Uponor AquaPEX® and Uponor ChlorFIT® Schedule 80 Corzan® CPVC (Uponor ChlorFIT) blend flexibility, strength, and chemical resistance to handle high-demand commercial domestic-water applications. Stephanie is the Director of GF’s Hot and Cold Water Category for the Americas, where she leads strategy and product development for plumbing systems that support safe, efficient, and sustainable water delivery. Sponsored by:

IAPMO's Christoph Lohr, PE, vice president of technical services, dives into water safety in heating systems, IAPMO's recent acquisition of ESPRI and what this means for research efforts moving forward, plus changes to be aware of in upcoming code cycles.  

Lisa Lyon, general manager for Webstone, shares her insight on all things leadership and learning new sides of the business as a valve expert who has worked in every facet from marketing and sales, to product management and now general management.

Aware of the industry need for business intelligence training, the PHCC Educational Foundation has partnered with Goalmakers to develop Business Leadership Essentials, a 10-week, peer-based learning program through its online PHCC Academy for current and future managers of plumbing and HVACR businesses. Natalie Forster talks with Dan Quinonez, executive director of the PHCC Educational Foundation and Jeremy Wall, CEO of Goalmakers, to discuss common business management mishaps, success planning and more.

Sustainability is a hot topic in the plumbing industry today, and water reuse is one of many ways that the plumbing industry is innovating to become more sustainable. From graywater reuse to rainwater harvesting, how are experts in the industry incorporating water reuse into their strategies, and why is it important?Associate Editor Kristen Bayles sat down with Christopher Peterson, National Sales Manager of Saniflo, to discuss the major hurdles for water reuse: from cost perceptions, space limitations, regulatory complexity, lack of standardized education/training, and more.

As the Sustainability manager for GF Building Flow Solutions Americas, Chrissie Walsh leverages her climate-focused skillset as an Atmospheric Scientist to help further the company’s vision of becoming the global leader in sustainable water systems. Editorial Director Natalie Forster sits down with Chrissie to chat about the importance of transparency, collaboration and systems thinking in order to reach building sustainability goals.

The plumbing industry is at the forefront of water conservation, safety and quality, with virtually all manufacturers working toward a shared goal of increased efficiency and accessibility to clean water. Even so, the U.S. has an alarming water quality problem. One in four Americans’ water is unsafe to drink and 45% of tap water contains PFAS. As end users become more aware of and knowledgeable on the damaging effects of PFAS, micro plastics, other chemicals and hard water, plumbing professionals must be up-to-date with the latest water treatment and filtration technologies on the market. Plumbing & Mechanical sat down with Sara Krupa, category manager, filtration at Moen to talk all things water filtration. (Image courtesy of Moen)

Plumbing professionals play a vital role in helping homeowners achieve the perfect balance of comfort and efficiency. Grundfos hot water recirculation pumps provide your customers with instant hot water while conserving resources—up to 12,000 gallons of water saved annually per home. Live from the AHR Expo 2025 in Orlando, Fla., Curtis Maderios discusses why plumbers should consider installing hot water recirculation with Plumbing & Mechanical Editorial Director Natalie Forster and longtime columnist Dave Yates. Sponsored by:

With a focus on energy efficiency, continuous improvement, and innovation, Matthew Baranuk, Portfolio Director, Commercial for A. O. Smith, is committed to helping the industry and A. O. Smith deliver hot water to those that need it. Join Matt Baranuk as he discusses the upcoming DOE regulatory changes, and the measures A. O. Smith has put in place to ensure a smooth transition. Additionally, learn how much of A. O. Smith's current product line is already compliant with these new standards. Learn More Sponsored by:

Chris Forth, VP of Regulatory Codes and Environmental Affairs at Johnson Controls discusses sustainability trends and decarbonization regulations to keep an eye on.

Plumbing & Mechanical Chief Editor Nicole Krawcke moderates a discussion on all things radiant with our incredible panel of Radiant All Stars: John Barba, director of sales training at Taco Comfort Solutions; John Siegenthaler, consulting engineer and principal of Appropriate Designs in Holland Patent, New York; Max Rohr, director of marketing and education, Caleffi Hydronic Solutions; and Dave Yates, a former mechanical contractor and owner of F.W. Behler in York, Pennsylvania.

Plumbing & Mechanical Chief Editor Nicole Krawcke chats with Michael Conrad, senior technical manager at NSF International. Conrad has nearly 15 years of experience in research and technical roles in the water industry. He is a Professional Engineer and holds a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of Toronto. His role is to develop risk assessments and optimize water management plans ensuring that they meet regulatory requirements and standard guidelines.

Plumbing & Mechanical Chief Editor Nicole Krawcke had the chance to chat with Jon Dommisse, Bradley Corp.’s vice president of marketing, to discuss how these commercial restroom trends are evolving in 2023, what the hottest products are and how codes are influencing the design of these spaces.

As the United States moves to decarbonize commercial and residential building structures, all eyes turn to heat pumps as a way to increase energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions for not only space heating but domestic hot water as well. This month, Plumbing & Mechanical Chief Editor Nicole Krawcke had a chance to sit down with Cain White, director of commercial product management for Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US LLC (METUS), about commercial water heating trends, including heat pump water heaters.

The 2024 ASPE Convention and Expo will be hosted in Columbus, Ohio from October 18-23. Join Jennifer Hoff, CEO & Founder of Taffy Event Strategies, as the management company for the ASPE Convention & Expo as she discusses the bi-annual 2024 Expo and what to expect for this year’s event. Jennifer Hoff has been providing show management for the ASPE Convention & Expo since 1994.  In 2014, she launched and is CEO and owner of a full-service trade show and event management company, Taffy Event Strategies LLC.  Taffy Events manages strategy, sales, marketing, operations, content development, and financial management for a variety of tradeshows and conferences.  She serves the Center for Exhibition Industry (CEIR) Research Council chairman. Sponsored by: For more information contact us here.