Solving Water: A Xylem Podcast

Rich Blong, Vice President of Product Management and Engineering for Xylem, shares ongoing advancements in the global commercial building and plumbing markets. He also discusses the industry’s ongoing shift towards interconnectivity, prioritizing DOE regulatory compliance, as well as the importance of lifelong learning for professionals to remain at the forefront of an ever-changing industry. Epis...

Jeff Williams of Vermont-based Spafford & Sons Water Wells, and former president of the National Groundwater Association (NGWA), shares the challenges of identifying an exit strategy. From identifying the right buyer to cultivating an environment conducive to professional growth, he encourages contractors to equip the next generation with proper management and decision-making skills for a seamless...

Ed Smiley, U.S. Director of Sales for HVAC Wholesale at Xylem, provides an overview of the wholesaler manufacturer’s role in supplying products to contractors and end customers in the residential and commercial building markets. He also covers the importance of understanding the unique needs among different regions, the proliferation of internet sales in the industry and why wholesalers should pri...

Jeff Williams of Vermont-based Spafford & Sons Water Wells, and former president of the National Groundwater Association (NGWA), discusses how contractors can improve their asset management skills, evaluate the value of their assets and determine an appropriate replacement schedule. He also reveals investment strategy options to keep your assets and equity growing, such as knowing the right time f...

Rob Grady, Executive Vice President of Mulcahy Co., discusses the changing landscape for hydronics companies in Minnesota and the rest of the upper midwest. Grady also explains the increased market focus on retrofitting for energy efficiency, his commitment to corporate social responsibility programs, and how a lack of skilled labor in the region has driven Bell & Gossett representative Mulcahy Co...

Joe Vesey, Senior Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer for Xylem, joined the podcast in February from the road (literally) in Suffolk, Virginia, where he took part in the first Hometown H2O project, working with The Chris Long Foundation’s Waterboys initiative to drill a well to provide clean water access for a family in need. Vesey shares how this project and partnership with Waterboys is the...

Jeff Williams of Vermont-based Spafford & Sons Water Wells, and former president of the National Groundwater Association (NGWA), imparts his wisdom on how contractors can navigate the ins and outs of variable and fixed costs and run their businesses as efficiently as possible. He also shares how to handle price increases from distributors, as well as the importance of balancing onsite work with fi...

Xylem experts Hunter Powell, Kristel Zaman and Stan Rockovich continue their virtual discussion with host Amanda Holloway to examine temporary anti-clog pumping solutions that water utilities have available, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. They also highlight the importance of contingency planning for sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) and how, with help from Godwin pumps and Flygt N-technol...

Bob Polizzi and Sunday Perez of Bell & Gossett representative CHC Hydronics discuss the trend of more and more customers pushing for reduced or negative carbon footprints, the current realities of decarbonization, and how they work with individual companies who plan to expand into electrification and reduced fossil fuel usage. Episode recorded live at AHR 2020 in Orlando. Visit CHC Hydronics onlin...

Xylem experts Kristel Zaman, Bob Domkowski, Hunter Powell, and Stan Rockovich join host Amanda Holloway for a virtual roundtable to discuss some of the challenges facing water utilities in light of COVID-19 directives and quarantining, including the ongoing issue of “flushable” products and their negative impact on wastewater collection systems. Also discussed: Remote monitoring and automation sol...

Terry Morse, CEO of the National Groundwater Association (NGWA), joins hosts Amanda Holloway and Susan O’Grady to share details on the programming, information and materials the NGWA is providing for groundwater professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Morse breaks down what the CARES Act means for the well drilling industry, the value of embracing technology as a community-building tool, and h...

Jamie Saxe, Senior Director of Watermark & Corporate Social Investment, joins host Amanda Holloway to share how Xylem’s social investment program, Watermark, continues to make a difference around the world by expanding its COVID-19 response efforts, including its latest special program for customer involvement, called the Watermark Partner Contributions Program, along with amped-up fundraising and...

David Everhart, President, and Dan Watkins, Sales Engineer, from Chicago-area Bell & Gossett representative Bornquist Inc. discuss being one of the first B&G reps, how the ESP-Systemwize online selection tool is increasing efficiency in planning, operation and system statistics, and what’s coming next for integrated systems in the industry. Episode recorded live at AHR 2020 in Orlando. To learn mo...

Mark Handzel, Xylem Vice President of Product Regulatory & Government Affairs, joins the show to discuss the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, also known as the CARES Act, which was passed at the end of March. Handzel, who has been working with legislators in Washington throughout the process, breaks down the CARES Act in simpler terms, explaining specifically what it means for sm...

Russell Rauch, General Manager of Hughes Supply, shares his approach to hiring and retaining great employees as a distributor in the residential water industry. Rauch discusses their approach to hiring based on chemistry, the importance of a robust hiring process, and their focus on corporate social responsibility and giving back. Finally, Rauch details the company’s unique profit-sharing model an...

Mike Barnett, Chris Wander, and Kevin Schaal from Oslin Nation join the podcast to share updates on the current state of the Texas HVAC market, the impact of DOE 2020 efficiency standards, how Bell & Gossett solutions gave them an advantage in outfitting Globe Life Park in Arlington (the new Texas Rangers stadium) and more. For over 75 years, Oslin Nation Co. has been a leader in HVAC and plumbing...

Jeff Williams of Vermont-based Spafford & Sons Water Wells, and former president of the National Groundwater Association (NGWA), joins the show to kick off our Small Business Toolbox series. Williams discusses his experience both in and as a leader of the groundwater industry. He shares his focus on learning and teaching the important financial fundamentals of running a small business, including h...

For over 90 years, Wallace Eannace has been serving the five boroughs of New York City as a Bell & Gossett representative, and over the decades, they have faced some of the toughest commercial building challenges. Darryl Clark, Corporate Vice President of Wallace Eannace Associates, stops by the show to discuss some of those challenges and how the company is utilizing Bell & Gossett solutions to e...

Jill Boudreau, product line manager, residential water at Xylem joins the show to discuss the multitude of ways that water pressure problems can impact daily life in America, how those pressure issues develop over time and depending on location and water source, and the solutions and new technologies available for residential homeowners to help boost water pressure at home. Learn more at http://re...

Tom Stephan, Training Manager for Goulds Water Technology, and Dave Kill, longtime industry professional and advocate of education in the residential water industry, discuss the growing demand for education throughout the industry, including the ongoing importance of the basics of pump training and sizing, as well as the need for advanced technology training with the rise of variable frequency dri...

Matt Johnson, VP of Business Development at Mitchell Lewis & Staver Co., and David De Rego, VP of Marketing at Mitchell Lewis & Staver Co., share their stories as distributors for Goulds Water Technology, as well as their learnings from past professional experience on both the manufacturer side and in different industries to tackle the dynamics, relationships and marketing opportunities unique to...

Lisa Riles, Xylem Global Product Manager for Residential and Americas Commercial Building Systems (CBS), and Susan O’Grady, Xylem Director of Marketing, Residential and Agriculture, join the show to discuss their experience and different respective career paths in the water industry. Riles and O’Grady share their insights on navigating a traditionally male-led industry, corporate social responsibi...

Christian Bogan, owner of E-Water Solutions and a Goulds Water Technology distributor, and Susan O’Grady, Xylem Director of Marketing, Residential and Agriculture, break down Goulds Water Technology’s recent stance on its updated Minimum Advertised Price (MAP) Policy. They discuss the value and impact of buying and installing with professional contractors, sharing perspectives from both the distri...

Ralph Franco, Xylem North America Applications Engineering Manager, and Julia Beilsmith, Xylem Treatment Regional Manager, join the show to share their expertise on UV disinfection and its role in water reuse, treatment, and potable consumption. They also weigh in on the different tasting notes in produced water and how municipalities are selling water reuse. Recorded live at WEFTEC 2019 in Chicag...

Adam McNeill, Xylem Treatment North America Sales Manager, and Alex Krapas, Field Product Manager for Sanitaire, stop by the show to break down biological treatment processes, aeration, aerobic and anaerobic digestion and how these processes are crucial components to a successful water treatment train. Recorded live at WEFTEC 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. Learn more about Xylem biological treatment s...