BALTIMORE — RMF Engineering announced Martha Larson has joined the firm as its new director of sustainability. Working alongside leadership at each of RMF’s eleven offices, Larson will focus on climate-driven and carbon reduction efforts across the firm’s utility and energy planning portfolio.

“Martha is joining the team at a pivotal moment for our organization,” said Ken Pitz, president, chairman of the board of directors, RMF. “As we continue working to minimize the environmental impact of our industry and that of our clients, particularly in the higher education sector, Martha’s expertise will be integral to advancing our industry-leading position in sustainable campus planning and design. We are thrilled to have her on board.”

Larson comes to RMF following more than a decade as the manager of campus energy and sustainability at Carleton College, where she championed campus-wide climate action initiatives. At Carleton, she oversaw the installation of the institution’s second commercial-size wind turbine, development of the campus climate action plan, and a campuswide transition from district steam heating to low-temperature hot water tied to a geothermal heat pump system. Larson’s role was directly responsible for reducing the college’s carbon footprint by nearly 70% since 2008 — an achievement from which she looks forward to bringing lessons learned to her position at RMF.

MINNEAPOLIS — Daikin Applied Americas’ president and CEO, Mike Schwartz, intends to retire from his position at the end of August.

Schwartz has been the president and CEO of Daikin Applied Americas (DAA), a member of Daikin Industries Ltd., since September 2011. When he joined, he was charged with transforming a complacent organization into a high-performing contender in the marketplace, and, since 2011, he’s met the challenge with resounding success, including increasing manufacturing capacity by 75%; doubling the employee base to 4,900 including throughout North, Central, and South America; and transforming the company from an equipment manufacturer to a solutions provider by developing a connected solutions business, acquiring interest in software and systems integration companies, and strengthening the sales and service channels.

Financially, DAA achieved record bookings, backlog, and revenue, year after year. Schwartz’s success was recognized with a position on the board of parent company, Daikin Industries Ltd., in 2019.

Among his many accomplishments, Schwartz is widely recognized among employees for his commitment to people-centered management. Under his leadership, DAA has increased vacation time and paid parental leave, prioritized giving back to communities with a volunteerism policy, and launched a companywide diversity and inclusion team to foster a sense of belonging and embrace differences as the fuel for competitive advantage.

ARLINGTON, Va. — Leaders of the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) issued a letter to the leadership of the House and Senate energy committees seeking support for legislation (H.R. 7962/S. 4061) that would amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) to clarify the definitions of residential and commercial water heaters.

The legislation corrects an error in a final test procedure rule for commercial water heaters, issued in November 2016 by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), that required manufacturers to rate some of those units using residential water heater efficiency standards. This created turmoil within the industry and resulted in property owners and small business owners spending resources to find alternative solutions because the commercial water heating equipment that fit their needs was no longer available.

To permanently correct this error, a narrowly tailored technical amendment to the statutory EPCA definitions of water heaters is necessary, and these bills accomplish that task.

“America’s HVACR and water heating manufacturers, who make the most innovative, energy-efficient products available in the world today, are grateful to Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Reps. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Tim Walberg (R-MI) for their leadership in introducing this much-needed technical amendment,” said Stephen Yurek, president and CEO, AHRI. “This bipartisan bill will realign the legal definitions of commercial and residential water heating equipment enable more appropriate product choices for small businesses and provide business certainty for water heater manufacturers.”

APPLE VALLEY, Minn. — Uponor Corp. named Andres Caballero president of its building solutions – North America division and a member of the executive committee. He will be based in Apple Valley, Minnesota, reporting to Michael Rauterkus, president and CEO, Uponor Corp.

Caballero has extensive leadership experience, including more than a decade at Honeywell Intl. Inc., leading global businesses in environmental and control solutions, building solutions, Honeywell homes, and sensing and control. Prior to joining Honeywell, Caballero led the Americas business for the Topcon-Danfoss joint venture and led the Latin America business for the Danfoss Mobile Electronics division. More recently, he has founded and run three businesses active in management consulting, AI technology, and music.

“I am delighted to welcome Caballero to Uponor,” said Rauterkus. “He is a leader with a strong customer and commercial focus and has broad international experience in the manufacturing industry. His entrepreneurial spirit and proven track record in growing businesses will be important in taking our Uponor North America operation to the next level while also expanding the company’s leadership position through new channels and new offerings.”

“I am honored to join a leading organization like Uponor,” said Caballero. “I am excited by the company’s growth strategy, tradition of innovation, and people-first culture. I look forward to working with the executive committee and the North American leadership team to continue accelerating the growth of the company.”

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — SPX Cooling Technologies Inc. is commemorating the 100-year anniversary of its Marley brand, a name synonymous with the development and advancement of energy-efficient and sustainable evaporative cooling towers and components. SPX Cooling will celebrate this milestone throughout 2022 with a company timeline, video history, and events for employees, alumni, representatives and customers.

“We are excited to honor the Marley Company founders who have fostered a long-standing culture of curiosity, drive, and inventiveness throughout our company,” said Ankush Kumar, president, SPX Global Cooling. “We’re also happy to celebrate the next century of Marley, where we continue to be built for quality, powered by innovation, and committed to sustainability.”

Over the past 100 years, the Marley spirit of entrepreneurialism and invention has fueled the organization. Today, SPX Cooling Technologies holds more than 200 U.S. patents for evaporative cooling systems and components.

“Our founders were young engineers and manufacturers' representatives who listened intently to their customers and quickly began improving upon existing products to provide better industrial cooling solutions,” stated Kumar. “Today, we still consistently look for input from our customers and use their needs to develop new products.”

ELKHART, Ind. — Nibco Inc. promoted Dawn Bloch to vice president, customer engagement.

In her new role, Bloch will oversee the marketing communications department in addition to continuing to manage business development and customer service. She will report to Ashley Martin, executive vice president, Nibco.

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 supervisor; customer service manager, director retail sales; manager, HR services; and director, business development and customer service.

Bloch was named to Supply House Times’ “20 Women in Industry” in March 2017, an acknowledgement of women decision-makers in the PHCP-PVC industry. At Nibco, she was recognized in 2015 with the Rex Martin award, given to recognize achievement in cost reduction, safety, or an increase in sales, and, in 2018, the Alice A. Martin award, given to recognize women who demonstrate philanthropy, community service, mentorship, and support the development of other women.

She has been a member of the American Supply Association Women in Industry since 2013, a board chair for Habitat for Humanity of Elkhart since 2019, and she volunteers for the United Way of Elkhart.