Business News Round Up - Feb. 22

Feb. 22, 2019

Coachella Valley Water District receives multiple awards; The Tuit Group launch

Editor's Note: Each week, Water & Wastes Digest will post an aggregate of business news briefs and networking news items to keep you informed on facility openings, business mergers and purchases, changes in personnel and award notifications, among others in the water and wastewater treatment industries. If you have business news briefs you would like included in this weekly round up, please email the press release, photo and a link to the post on your website to [email protected] with the subject line "Business News Round Up." One news item per company per week will be posted.

Coachella Valley Water District Receives Multiple Awards

Coachella Valley Water District has been recognized with numerous awards this year from the Colorado River Basin Section of the California Water Environment Association, including a Collections System of the Year Award.

The awards for work conducted in 2018 include:

  • Juan Martinez - Supervisor of the Year Award
  • Jose Bon - Collections Person of the Year Award
  • Armando Pecheco, Garrett Galindo & Abel Zabalza - Gimmicks or Gadget Award
  • Allan Besse - Mechanical Technician of the Year
  • Leonard Corral (CVWD retiree) - Distinguished Service Award
  • Wastewater Reclamation Plant 7 - Engineering & Research Award
  • Collections System of the Year Award (Large System)

Launch of The TUIT Group

Susan Marie Chin-Taylor, CEO and Artistic Director of Creative Raven announces the launch of The TUIT Group. TUIT, which stands for “Train, Understand, Improve, Transform,” is her firm’s new coaching, training, consulting and education division.

“The wastewater and stormwater infrastructure industry has matured significantly over the past twenty years,” Chin-Taylor said. “Traditional mom-and-pop contractors and small manufacturers are increasingly either being helmed by younger generations who are technology- and marketing-savvy, or acquired by larger firms with those qualities. They recognize that they’re serving markets far more sophisticated than previous generations."

Franklin Electric Celebrates 75 Years

Franklin Electric Co., Inc.  has announced 2019 as the company’s 75-year anniversary. A lot has changed at Franklin Electric since Ed “E.J.” Schaefer and Wayne “T.W.” Kehoe founded the company in 1944 in Bluffton, Ind. Since then, the company has grown from a small motor manufacturing company into a global provider of systems and components for moving water and fuel. What has not changed are the core values the company shares.

Named after Benjamin Franklin, Franklin Electric’s core is the world’s first reliable submersible electric motor for water systems, which has remained a staple of the water well industry. 75 years later, the company continues to manufacture and distribute improved versions of this unrivaled motor design all around the world, and have expanded their expertise to create innovative solutions, including pumps, electronics, and adjacent products, addressing modern industry challenges and serving their customers’ needs.

American Water Earns Military Friendly Employer Designations

American Water has announced that it has earned four 2019 Military Friendly Employer designations by VIQTORY. The Military Friendly designations are awarded to organizations that have excelled in several critical areas of commitment to the military community.

American Water’s four designations included:

  • Military Friendly Employer - Bronze Status: For recruiting, hiring and training of veterans.
  • Military Friendly Company: For a total commitment to tapping into military talent as employees, suppliers and consumers, and having the right people, programs and policies in place to make it happen.
  • Military Friendly Supplier Diversity Programs: For partnering with and supporting veteran-owned businesses.
  • Military Friendly Brands: For commitment to military consumer protections and having a positive brand reputation in the military community.

Taronis Acquires East Texas Industrial Gas Services Business

Taronis Technologies, Inc. has announced that the company has completed the acquisition of an industrial gas services business based in East Texas. The acquired company is one of the largest industrial gas infrastructure services businesses in the area, and the assets acquired through the purchase significantly increase the company’s core asset base and infrastructure. The purchase price for the business was $1.5 million, paid in cash at closing.

“This acquisition represents continued forward progress in our growth plans,” said Scott Mahoney, Chief Executive Officer of Taronis.  “Over the past 14 months, we have made seven acquisitions that grew our revenues approximately six-fold and dramatically increased our asset profile. But we also understand that with growth comes added expenses. Consequently, the strategic acquisition of this industrial gas services business will not only ensure our growing asset base is in good repair and available to support our growing customer base, but also has potential to eliminate approximately $50,000 in recurring monthly operating expenses.”

Pentair Completes Acquisition of Pelican Water Systems

Pentair has announced that it completed the acquisition of Pelican Water Systems for $120 million in cash, subject to customary adjustments. Headquartered in DeLand, Fla., Pelican Water Systems has 79 employees and provides residential whole home water treatment systems.

“We are excited about the addition of Pelican Water Systems for the new growth opportunities it brings to Pentair and for the innovative products and services we can bring to consumers, enhancing where, how and when they can buy their water treatment solutions,” said John L. Stauch, Pentair President and CEO.

Vactor Announces Plans to Expand Illinois Manufacturing Facility

Vactor Manufacturing, Inc. (Vactor) has announced plans to expand its Streator, Ill., manufacturing facility. The project is expected to increase Vactor’s production capacity and add up to 90 additional jobs.

“We are excited to announce this expansion of our Streator facility as it represents the culmination of many years of investment in developing new products and expanding our customer base,” said Sam Miceli, Vice President and General Manager of Vactor. “It also underscores Vactor’s ongoing commitment to its workforce and this community; both have been, and continue to be, outstanding partners in our growth.”

Networking News

  • PolyCera, Inc. has appointed Dr. Jinwen Wang to Vice President of Product Development.
  • HDR welcomes Lisa Bailey to the firm’s water practice as major campaigns leader.
  • MPW Industrial Services announced the hiring of Catherine Jopling as General Counsel.

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