NIBCO

NIBCO INC., a leading provider of flow control solutions, today announced its Board of Directors has promoted Ashley Martin to president and chief executive officer, effective immediately.

Martin joined NIBCO in 2012 and has most recently served as president and chief operating officer since 2023. Before that, she held the position of executive vice president from 2021. She represents the fifth generation of family leadership since the company’s inception in 1904.

In this role, she will now oversee the overall vision, mission, strategy and performance of the company.

NIBCO Board of Directors has also announced that Steve Malm has been appointed as the new executive chairman.

“We are thrilled to have Ashley step into the chief executive officer position at NIBCO,” said Steve Malm, NIBCO executive chairman. “Ashley is a proven leader who has demonstrated her ability to lead the organization through challenging times while successfully pursuing growth and driving continuous improvement efforts throughout the company. She is ideally suited to drive the company forward, while remaining committed to the core values which have guided NIBCO’s success over the past 120 years.”

“These are exciting times at NIBCO, as we celebrate our 120^th year of being in business,” said Ashley Martin, president and chief executive officer. “Fewer than one percent of companies make it to the fifth generation, so I am especially honored to take on this role and lead the company with excellence and integrity, as well as uphold our legacy of family ownership and stewardship. I’d also like to recognize and thank Steve for his leadership and impact on the organization over the past 25 years.”

In a hydronic system, every installation is an opportunity to improve efficiency. The products you select for the job not only impact the installation of today but the performance of tomorrow. This is especially true when installing a boiler; the components you pair with the unit can mean the difference between a simple installation and a smarter installation.

Auxiliary boiler accessories range in both form and function. The best products for the job should be designed to save time, space, and labor during installation. They should also provide controls to ease future maintenance and should protect the boiler and system components over time.

With these goals in mind, Webstone has developed the most complete selection of under boiler solutions available today. Its under boiler program is a single source for better installations, with products that also simplify and reduce the number of maintenance callbacks.

The Hydro-Core™ manifold simplifies the installation and service of the primary heating loop. This solution combines closely-spaced tees with isolation valves to achieve hydraulic separation for the heating loops, isolates the components within the loop, and purges the system. A T-Flow ball directs the flow into either the boiler or the drain, which can be configured in a number of ways to assist with purging, filling, and descaling/cleaning. Its compact, forged-brass body replaces up to 17 individual components, eliminates 16 leak paths, and saves over two hours of labor.

To improve overall system performance, the Air Separator uses a unique stainless-steel coalescing medium that captures both microbubbles and static air. The separated air collects in the top of the unit, where it forces a pin-guided float to drop down and open a vent. Once the air is released, the float rises once again and closes the vent. This reduces noise as well as wear on system components caused by trapped air in the pipes. The vertically mounted model is ideal for installing on the boiler outlet, where the air can be separated and vented before it reaches the rest of the system.

To protect the boiler from iron sludge that can accumulate in a hydronic system, consider the Magnetic Boiler Filter. Installed on the system return line, it captures ferrous and non-ferrous debris before it can reach the boiler using a high-powered 12,000 Gauss magnet and plastic filter. The drain makes it simple to remove accumulation, with a strapped cap that can be used to actuate the drain valve. A universal diverter allows the Magnetic Boiler Filter to be used in both horizontal and vertical piping orientations. The service tool is also included to help install and maintain the filter with ease.

Both the vertical mount Air Separator and Magnetic Boiler Filter are outfitted with removable G1 threaded end connections (available in sizes ¾” and 1”, with MIP, FIP, SWT, or Press ends), offering added versatility to any installation. These threads allow the installer to easily add isolation valves for future service, or a temperature gauge to verify boiler output right at the source.

A full-featured under the boiler installation from Webstone requires no more than 22” of space and delivers cleaner, more professional-looking results. Solutions are also available for boilers with external pumps and combi domestic hot water connections from the E-X-P™ Series of Tankless Water Heater Service Valves. To find all of these products and more, visit www.webstonevalves.com.

Pfister® Faucets continues its celebrated docuseries, hosted by country music star and Army Reserve soldier Craig Morgan, spotlighting real-life stories of plumbers’ successes and the individual approaches that enabled them to achieve their dreams through a career in plumbing.

Pfister® Faucets, a trailblazer in the plumbing industry, proudly announces the launch of the fifth season of their docuseries, American Plumber Stories. Over the past four seasons, this series has captivated audiences nationwide, showcasing the inspiring stories of plumbers who have overcome challenges to pursue their dreams in the plumbing trade.

Season 5 will present perspectives from plumbing experts in Australia, Alaska, Canada, Hawaii, and California, shedding light on the common challenges faced by plumbers worldwide. For the first time, the show has ventured outside the United States, creating great excitement about reaching an international audience—especially the next generation of plumbers.

Craig Morgan Returns for Season 5 

Country music star and Army Reserve soldier Craig Morgan will return as the show’s charismatic host. Craig’s authentic passion and profound connection to the stories of tradespeople make him the ideal guide on this journey of discovery and inspiration.

“This year, Pfister’s American Plumber Stories is heading to my second home state of Alaska and beyond, and five seasons in, it remains an honor to share these stories of inspiring men and women on the frontline of the worldwide plumbing trade,” Craig Morgan shared.

Strong Alliance Partners and New Partnerships

Three new partners joined forces with American Plumber Stories for Season 5. The International Code Council, NIBCO and AprilAire will help expand the reach of the series to their sizable audiences in the US and around the world. They are joining the ranks of industry leaders RIDGID, Cintas, Oatey, and the PHCC in this important mission.

“NIBCO partnering with American Plumber Stories was a natural fit, as we are committed to supporting and elevating the plumbing industry,” said Ashley Martin, president and COO, NIBCO. “The U.S. is in critical need of the next generation of plumbers. This show is helping to engage young men and women in an authentic way to help change the perception and inspire successful and fulfilling careers in the plumbing trades.”

Beyond the Boundaries

Season 5 tracks down some interesting plumbers around the world.

1. Maui–Arecently retired plumber lost his house and everything he owned in the Lahaina fire disaster. The set-back motivates his son Raymond to recruit the next generation of plumbers to help build Lahaina back.
2. Australia– Martin is the “Crocodile Dundee” of the plumbing industry in Tasmania. He specializes in servicing remote locations that he reaches by helicopter and small “bush” planes.
3. Alaska– In this episode we explore the beauty of Alaska and what it’s like for Bill to work as a plumber in an extreme climate.
4. Vancouver Island, B.C.– This episode tells the inspirational story of Mary Anne who employs an all-female team of plumbers. Her 100K+ social media followers know her as @the_ladyplumber. Discover why she is a role model to tradeswomen.
5. Salinas, CA– Plumber Instructor Jorge helps rehabilitate inmates by teaching them the plumbing trade in the Soledad State Prison. We have an open discussion with the warden on why this approach works so well.
6. Victorville, CA– Meet the Motherflushers. They are young and passionate about plumbing and have changed the perception via social media– well beyond the borders of the United States.

For more information and to watch the new episodes of American Plumber Stories, please visit www.americanplumberstories.com.

Interested plumbers who would like to share their own story can do so here: www.americanplumberstories.com/pages/i-am-an-american-plumber.

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NIBCO INC. has announced the promotion of Lisa Lyon to Webstone general manager, with responsibility for overseeing all aspects of operations for the Webstone business unit of NIBCO.

“Lisa has been instrumental in aggressively expanding the Webstone product portfolio since NIBCO acquired the company,” said Ashley Martin, president and COO, NIBCO. “She demonstrates great passion and knowledge for the industry, and we are confident that she will meet and exceed the goals established for Webstone’s continued growth.”

Bringing more than 18 years of industry experience to the position, Lyon has been named as a co-inventor on multiple Webstone patents and she founded the brand’s Customer Council in 2018 to facilitate ongoing direct connection between Webstone’s product development team and the trades.

“The NIBCO vision for the Webstone brand is very clear—to continue our focus on engineering innovative labor-saving installation solutions for the plumbing and heating professional,” said Lyon. “I am honored to have the opportunity to lead the team to carry forward with these goals.”

Lyon holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology and an MBA from Clark University Worcester, Massachusetts.