Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration News articles from May 2004

Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration News archives from May 2004

What does the future hold? Industry leaders discuss issues to watch in the year ahead.(HVACR industry forecasts in 2004)(Skip Snyder)(Mark Watson)(Don Frendberg)(Cover Story)
May 3, 2004... Besides the weather and economic conditions, what do HVACR contractors, distributors, and manufacturers see as the most talked-about issues in 2004? The News asked some leaders in each group to comment on the most important problems and trends...

Preparing for the year 2020.(mechanical contracting industry's forecasts)
May 3, 2004... ORLANDO -- The mechanical contracting industry faces some key questions as it prepares for the future, including: * Where is the mechanical contractors' labor pool going to come from? * How will direct purchasing of equipment affect...

Marketing tips.(On The Web)(Use Funnel Marketing To Boost Sales)
May 3, 2004... For marketing success, you have to target those people most likely to buy your products and services. According to Adams Hudson, the way to make that happen is to use "funnel marketing"--a process designed to help you to narrow your audience...

Filtration is an important part of school IAQ.(reader mail)(Letter to the Editor)
May 3, 2004... It is with some great disappointment that I read an entire article in The News about IAQ in schools ["School IAQ Gets Attention From Exhibitors," Feb. 16] without a single mention of the word filters. It would seem that with the ASHRAE...

Chemicals affect IAQ in schools.(reader mail)(Letter to the Editor)
May 3, 2004... While I appreciate that John R. Hall spent a great deal of time researching his article ["School IAQ Gets Attention From Exhibitors" ] in the [Feb. 16] edition, it would be good if someone would talk about chemicals in school IAQ. Many...

Various possible culprits for CO poisonings.(reader mail)(Letter to the Editor)
May 3, 2004... You should be aware that the "facts" on CO poisonings in the Feb. 23, 2004 editorial, "A Man's Quest To Stop CO Poisonings," are misleading and need to be clarified. Anyone reading that there are 5,000 people succumbing to CO poisoning each...

Carrier buys automated logic.(industry news)(Carrier Corp.)(Automated Logic Corp.)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... FARMINGTON, Conn. -- Carrier Corp. has reached an agreement to acquire Automated Logic Corp. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Automated Logic and its subsidiaries will keep operating under their current names and its headquarters will stay...

QSC expands Web-based training.(Quality Service Contractors)
May 3, 2004... FALLS CHURCH, Va. -- The Quality Service Contractors (QSC), a service group of the Plumbing Heating-Cooling Contractors--National Association, and EPL for Residential, a Web contractor business training company, have formed an alliance to offer...

ACCA honors best on the Web.(industry news)(Air Conditioning Contractors of America)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... ARLINGTON, Va. -- The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) announced the winners of its second annual "Best Contractors on the Web" Internet Marketing Awards. The winner in the residential category is Shafer Services of San...

Nexstar hosts money masters seminar.(industry news)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... WHITE BEAR LAKE, Minn. -- Nexstar[TM], a teaching and sharing organization for independent contractors, will host the seminar Money Masters[TM], which discusses the fundamentals of running an independent contracting firm. The event will be held...

Waste heat powers New York college.(Energy matters: a compendium of energy facts and information)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... Siemens Building Technologies Inc. unveiled a project at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y. The project is expected to save the college more than $1.3 million in energy costs, while paying for the construction, operation, and...

Ohio Health Department gets solar backup power.(Energy matters: a compendium of energy facts and information)(photovoltaic panels)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... The Athens City-County Health Department in Ohio is now equipped with 20 photovoltaic panels. The panels were installed by Shell Solar and one of its solar contractors, Third Sun Solar and Wind Power. The solar panels will provide backup power...

Danfoss Inc.(Price Increases)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... * Danfoss Inc. (Baltimore) announced a 3-percent to 8-percent price increase for refrigeration and air conditioning products, except electronic products and pressure transmitters. The prices are effective immediately.

FHP Manufacturing Co.(Price Increases)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... * FHP Manufacturing Co. (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) increased prices 5 percent on all products and parts. The increase went into effect May 1.

American Standard.(Price Increases)(American Standard Heating and Air Conditioning)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... * American Standard (Tyler, Texas) will increase prices by 3 percent on most models of its residential and light commercial products beginning June 1.

Phoenix Air Systems.(Price Increases)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... * Phoenix Air Systems (Owatonna, Minn.) increased prices on most equipment by 2.5 percent to 5.5 percent.

International Service Leadership (ISL) (Brentwood, Tenn.) welcomed six new associates.(Contractors)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... * International Service Leadership (ISL) (Brentwood, Tenn.) welcomed six new associates. Buddy Elenez will serve as ISL instructional designer. Michael Timmer, Carl E. Holt, and Bill Anderson will serve as business development coaches. Frank...

Alfa Laval Inc.(Manufacturers)(appointments)
May 3, 2004... * John Atanasio was appointed president of the equipment division of Alfa Laval Inc. (Warminster, Pa.).

Thermo Pride (Lancaster, Pa.) announced the addition of Dana Boughton.(Manufacturers)(appointments)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... * Thermo Pride (Lancaster, Pa.) announced the addition of Dana Boughton to its sales team as national accounts manager.

CertainTeed Corp. (Valley Forge, Pa.) announced changes in the sales and marketing areas of the Mechanical Building Insulation business.(Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... * CertainTeed Corp. (Valley Forge, Pa.) announced changes in the sales and marketing areas of the Mechanical Building Insulation business. Jeff Templeton is responsible for mechanical insulation sales. Dave Tomchak was named regional manager...

Gemaire (Wilmington, N.C.), a part of the Rheem Air Conditioning Division's (Ft. Smith, Ark.) HVAC wholesale-distribution network.(Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... * Gemaire (Wilmington, N.C.), a part of the Rheem Air Conditioning Division's (Ft. Smith, Ark.) HVAC wholesale-distribution network, opened a new ProStock[R] store.

The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors' (NAW) Distribution Research and Education Foundation (DREF) (Washington) named Adam J. Fein, Ph.D., to a second term as a DREF Fellow.(Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... * The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors' (NAW) Distribution Research and Education Foundation (DREF) (Washington) named Adam J. Fein, Ph.D., to a second term as a DREF Fellow. Fein is president of Pembroke Consulting...

National Energy Control Corporation.(Manufacturers)(service triggers )(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... * National Energy Control Corporation (NECC) (Havertown, Pa.) introduced an automatic electronic order and shipping confirmation service. The new service triggers an immediate response to a customer's order by e-mailing a confirmation that an...

Noland Company.(Financial Results)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... * Noland Company (Newport News, Va.) declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of 8 cents, payable on April 29 to stockholders of record at close of business April 14.

Echelon.(Financial Results)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... * Echelon (San Jose, Calif.) reported first-quarter earnings per share of 3 cents. Revenues for the quarter were $27 million, compared to $32.6 million for the same period in 2003.

Amcast Industrial Corporation.(Financial Results)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... * Amcast Industrial Corporation (Dayton, Ohio) reported financial results for its second quarter ending Feb. 29. Sales were $94.9 million in the second quarter, while operating income of $2.4 million was up almost 31 percent over the prior-year...

The Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors--National Association (PHCC) (Falls Church, Va.) is offering technical manuals, videos, courses, and pamphlets for purchase at www.phccweb.org/ bookstore.(Associations)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... * The Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors--National Association (PHCC) (Falls Church, Va.) is offering technical manuals, videos, courses, and pamphlets for purchase at www.phccweb.org/ bookstore. The online bookstore features products offered...

The board of directors of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) (Quincy, Mass.) appointed three trustees to the Fire Protection Research Foundation.(Associations)(appointments)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2004... * The board of directors of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) (Quincy, Mass.) appointed three trustees to the Fire Protection Research Foundation. They are Davis R. Parsons (Lakewood, Calif.), Mickey Shiver (Lake Buena Vista,...

UV lamp.(what's new)
May 3, 2004... The Secura[TM] TUV PL-L is a Teflon[R]-encapsulated, commercial UV germicidal lamp. According to the company, the lamp's fluoropolymer encapsulate hermetically seals mercury vapor UVC lamps, so that if a lamp breaks, its components are...

Thermostats.(what's new)
May 3, 2004... A new line of Robertshaw[R] programmable thermostats, the 9800i Series, has three programmable thermostat models, which adjust indoor humidity levels manually, or when coupled to an optional outdoor sensor, they adjust the humidity levels...

Building security book.(what's new)
May 3, 2004... The book HVAC Security and Safety for Vulnerability Assessment provides information for identifying high-risk areas in a building for the purpose of making its HVAC system as safe and secure as possible. The manual discusses how to form a...

Leak detection dye.(what's new)
May 3, 2004... AR-GLO[R] fluorescent dye is a refrigerant leak detection dye. To use, add a small amount of the dye into a system and permit it to circulate. The dye will mark each spot where the refrigerant escapes. The system can then be scanned with a...

Air conditioner.(what's new)
May 3, 2004... The SmartComfort[TM] Enviromax[TM] 2400 air conditioner uses R-410A and achieves 14 SEER efficiency for residential applications. The manufacturer says these units are designed with a control panel cover that allows easy access to refrigerant...

Process tube tools.(what's new)
May 3, 2004... The PT Gripper[TM] line of process tube temporary attachment tools connects to tubing for evacuating, flushing, recharging, and pressure testing refrigeration systems. The company says the design provides positive sealing with the snap of a...

Product catalog.(what's new)
May 3, 2004... The company's 2004 product line catalog has updated information on the Dry-O-Tron[R] indoor pool and humidity control line, Circul-Aire Inc. air purification for industrial/commercial air pollutants and toxic air products, RefPlus Inc....

Register display stands.(what's new)
May 3, 2004... Available are displays and sales tools for the Grate Accents Register System[TM] line, which features interchangeable face plates in designer colors and different materials, as well as damper boxes with built-in air filter holders. The floor...

Manufacturer, contractor speak out on 13 SEER standard.(Focus: Annual Industry Report)(Skip Snyder)(Tom Huntington)
May 3, 2004... Skip Snyder and Tom Huntington, two well-known HVACR industry leaders, spoke out about the new 13 SEER minimum efficiency standard. Snyder is chairman of the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) and owner of the Snyder Co. in...

Stock Index completes banner year for 2003.(Focus: Annual Industry Report)
May 3, 2004... Looking back, The News' Stock Index had a good year overall in 2003, as it stormed ahead with the major indices to close the year in the black, the market's first annual gain since 1999. Despite lackluster jobs reports, consumer sentiment...

Frost and low-temp compressors.(refrigeration zone)
May 3, 2004... Many service technicians believe that if there is heavy frost on the suction line near the compressor, or if there is frost creeping onto the compressor's head, there is cause for alarm. In low-temperature refrigeration systems, this is not...

Tips on servicing open display cases.(refrigeration zone)
May 3, 2004... In order to maintain a more appealing shopping environment, supermarkets display some merchandise in open display cases that are refrigerated without doors. While open display cases allow the produce to be more salable, the absence of any...

New help in picking systems.(refrigeration zone)(Design Service Network)
May 3, 2004... Contractors in the supermarket sector sometimes face a twofold challenge. They may be coming into a situation after the previous servicing company has left, only to discover a system of components seemingly pieced together without consideration...

Moisture in homes.(the Hotline)
May 3, 2004... QUESTION: By Dawn R. Synder Allentown, Pa. I am writing to you in hopes that your experience can assist my family with a moisture problem. Our home tends to have an above-average humidity level. In the past, our air conditioning ducts...

Sensor testing.(the Hotline)
May 3, 2004... QUESTION: By John West Chesterfield, Va. My question involves Cope land compressors and troubleshooting the motor protector. The applications manual instructs you to use 6 V or less when checking the thermistors and then it warns you...

Contactors.(the Hotline)
May 3, 2004... COMMENT: By David C. Long DeSoto, Me. I am writing in reference to the Hotline exchange concerning pick-up problems with different-size contactors. I had the same problem some 30 years ago. We found the cause to be the fact that...

Is service becoming a commodity? Contractors discuss the effects of big box retailing.(the Panel)(Panel Discussion)
May 3, 2004... The topic of whether or not HVAC equipment is a commodity has been discussed for some time. Some industry experts assert that service may become the only profit center for contractors. But could service, too, become a commodity? The News'...

Plenty of fun mixed in with business: MCAA's 2004 Convention draws over 2,300 to Orlando.(Convention Update: MCAA)(Mechanical Contractors Association of America)
May 3, 2004... ORLANDO -- Maybe the organizers of the annual Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA) Convention do have it right. Instead of all work and no play at its yearly gathering, organizers set aside plenty of time for fun and...

Smart e-mail marketing.(Conference Update: ACCA)
May 3, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- Kevin Holland said there are smart ways to market your business via e-mail--and some not-so-smart ways. The latter could be very damaging to business. Holland, vice president of Communications and Membership Services for the Air...

Examining distributor relationships.(Conference Update: ACCA)
May 3, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- At the 2004 Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) Conference, a panel of business leaders in HVACR distribution talked about the dynamics of the distributor and contractor relationship within the trade. The panel...

Training track.(Calendar)
May 3, 2004... June 4 Combustion & Venting--Motivating Employees The Training Source/RSES Lexington, Ky. | 888-371-9869 June 5 Combustion & Venting--Motivating Employees The Training Source/RSES Lexington, Ky. | 888-371-9869 June...

Giuliani talks candidly about overcoming crises.(our Insights)(Rudy Giuliani)
May 3, 2004... Be prepared. Be optimistic. Have courage. Have a sense of humor. Love people. These are the five necessary ingredients of a leader, according to Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York, who passed along his words of wisdom at the 2004...

Emerson Climate Technologies (St. Louis) announced a price increase of 2 percent to 4 percent on all Copeland products.(Price Increases)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2004... Emerson Climate Technologies (St. Louis) announced a price increase of 2 percent to 4 percent on all Copeland products. The increase was effective May 1.

Lennox Industries.(Price Increases)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2004... Lennox Industries (Dallas) will increase prices up to 6 percent on residential products and up to 3 percent on commercial products effective May 31.

AirTime 500 (St. Louis) welcomed the following independent contractors as new members.(Contractors)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2004... AirTime 500 (St. Louis) welcomed the following independent contractors as new members: Adkisson & Son's Heating & Cooling (Holly, Mich.), Ameritemp Heating (Ypsilanti, Mich.), BD Heating & Cooling (Kimball, Mich.), Bud's Heating & Air...

Glocon Inc. (Parsippany, N.J.) created a new division, Swifter Fans, for its industrial fan products.(Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2004... Glocon Inc. (Parsippany, N.J.) created a new division, Swifter Fans, for its industrial fan products. The Swifter[R] line includes high-performance industrial fiberglass axial fans and energy-efficient industrial ceiling fans. The Swifter Fans...

Great Lakes Air Systems.(Steven C. Nagle appointed)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2004... Steven C. Nagle has joined Great Lakes Air Systems (Clawson, Mich.) as an account manager and will be responsible for maintaining and acquiring new customers in the Michigan and Ontario areas.

Forum explores ways to cut emissions.(Earth Technologies Forum)
May 10, 2004... WASHINGTON -- Energy efficiency, renewable energy, and making the move to HFC refrigerants are some of the keys to reducing emissions in the United States, according to speakers at the Earth Technologies Forum, held at the Hyatt Regency on...

Simple tests can help pinpoint IAQ problems.(indoor air quality)
May 10, 2004... HVAC mechanical ventilation systems provide conditioned air to all occupied spaces within a building. On a good day, they temper, filter, and mix fresh outside air into the recirculated air from the return air duct system. But if there's not...

Labor department revises overtime rules.(industry News)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2004... WASHINGTON -- Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, new rules governing overtime rights for white-collar workers were published in the Federal Register on April 23. The regulations had not been substantially updated for over 50 years. According...

A/C shipments up 8 percent.(industry News)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2004... ARLINGTON, Va. -- Combined U.S. factory shipments of 730,851 central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps for March were up 8 percent compared to shipments from the same month last year, according to statistics from the Air-Conditioning...

Emerson, Zamil partnership announced.(industry News)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2004... ST. LOUIS -- Emerson Climate Technologies announced a strategic partnership with Zamil Air Conditioners (ZAC), an international manufacturer of air conditioning systems in the Middle East. According to Emerson, the partnership combines products...

Illinois schools get efficiency upgrades.(Energy matters: a compendium of energy facts and information.)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2004... The East Maine School District in northeastern Illinois underwent a district-wide building renovation project. Seven schools in the system completed building upgrades that included windows, lighting, and mechanical systems. Exelon...

Trane announces leak-tight warranty for chillers.(industry News)
May 10, 2004... WASHINGTON -- At the Earth Technologies Forum, Trane (LaCrosse, Wis.) declared that it is "raising the bar" on centrifugal chiller performance, according to Jim Wolf, vice president of government affairs for parent American Standard. At a press...

ARI issues ERV white paper.(industry News)(Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute, Energy Recovery Ventilation guidelines)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2004... ARLINGTON, Va. -- The Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI) has issued a white paper titled "Characterizing the Efficiency of Energy Recovery Ventilation and Informing the Design of HVAC Systems," supplementing ARI Guideline V,...

Contractors meet on Capitol Hill.(industry News)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2004... WASHINGTON -- The Campaign For Quality Construction recently wrapped up its National Issues Conference. Campaign sponsors, including the Finishing Contractors Association (FCA), the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), the Sheet...

Stop the billing process so you get paid today.(Money Talks)
May 10, 2004... [Editor's note: Welcome to the fifth installment of "Money Talks." Each month, Terry Nicholson, president of AirTime 500, will be providing business management information, all with the aim of helping contractors, as he put it, "make money...

Ventilation fan.(what's New)
May 10, 2004... With a housing that is 5 1/2 inches deep, the WhisperFit-Lite low-profile ventilation fans offer a super-slim design, minimizing space requirements and installation time, says the company. The four models, FV-05VFL1, FV-07VFL1, FV-09VFL1, and...

Hydronic system scrubber.(what's New)
May 10, 2004... The 4900 Series scrubber system separator is designed to remove air and dirt in hydronic systems. Series 4900A Models clean the system of air and micro bubbles. Series 4900-AD Models remove both air and dirt from hydronic heating systems or...

Environmental monitors.(what's New)
May 10, 2004... Three new products have been added to the Falcon[TM] family of monitoring systems. The FMS56, FMS80, and the FMS104 monitor 56 inputs, 80 inputs, and 104 inputs, respectively. The company says that with these products, customers can implement...

Thermo-hygrometer.(what's New)
May 10, 2004... Model TRH-CA thermo-hygrometer measures relative humidity and temperature and calculates and displays either dewpoint or wet bulb temperature. At 25[degrees]C, the temperature measurement accuracy is +0.3[degrees]; humidity measurement accuracy...

Sensor brochure.(what's New)
May 10, 2004... "Liquid Flow Measurement Solutions" is a tri-fold brochure that contains information on the Small Diameter Impeller (SDI), 200 Series flow sensors, flow monitors and transmitters. In addition, the brochure gives information on accessory items,...

Employee GPS system.(what's New)
May 10, 2004... The GPS Mapping Console is designed to enable companies to manage mobile worker location and status information using a map interface. It is integrated with Microsoft[R] MapPoint[R]. Its capabilities include monitoring location data in real...

Packaged cooling systems.(what's New)
May 10, 2004... The company's packaged cooling systems can include plate-and-frame heat exchangers, shell-and-tube heat exchangers, closed circuit evaporative fluid coolers, or air-cooled fluid coolers, depending on the application or customer. The systems can...

Parts brochure.(what's New)
May 10, 2004... The "Genuine BAC Parts Reference Guide" provides information on operation and maintenance of evaporative heat rejection equipment. This free publication contains technical operation and maintenance tips aimed at simplifying all aspects of...

Drain opener.(what's New)
May 10, 2004... The Gallo Gun[TM] is a tool designed to blow out condensate drain lines instantly. It has been reconfigured to hold C[O.sub.2] cartridges customized for HVAC usage. According to the manufacturer, this tool saves 10 to 30 minutes per job by...

New contractor co-op holds first meeting.(Meeting Update / Exco-op)
May 10, 2004... ATLANTA, Ga. -- It didn't take Jeff Wilmink Along to start the creative juices flowing again after stepping down in late 2002 from Excellence Alliance Inc. (EAI), which he had founded five years earlier. Within a few months, Wilmink was already...

Finding the perfect balance: the importance of balancing mechanical ventilation systems.(Focus: ventilation & air filtration)
May 10, 2004... With consumer awareness about indoor air quality (IAQ) on the rise, mechanical ventilation has become a critical component of home construction. Similar to other HVAC systems, a properly designed and installed mechanical ventilation system,...

This ERV's for you: the what, why, and how of energy recovery ventilation.(Focus: ventilation & air filtration)(energy recovery ventilation)
May 10, 2004... Energy recovery ventilation (ERV) has become essential technology for contractors working in most commercial, institutional, and industrial HVAC markets. If you live in a climate where ventilation with outside air represents a significant...

Making sense of filter selection: what you and your customers need to know.(Focus: ventilation & air filtration)
May 10, 2004... The United Nation's World Health Organization has estimated that up to 30 percent of all office buildings worldwide suffer from sick building syndrome, affecting as many as 64 million workers in the United States. This is just one of many...

EPA presents Climate Protection Award.(Earth Technologies Forum, Environmental Protection Agency)
May 10, 2004... WASHINGTON -- In an awards ceremony at the Earth Technologies Forum, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) presented its Climate Protection Award to Turbocor Inc. for its oil-free, high-efficiency compressor technology. Commenting on...

Take this pop quiz; answer honestly.(our Insights)(retaining qualified service technicians)
May 10, 2004... The demand for qualified service technicians far outweighs the supply. Employee turnover has reached a ridiculously high rate in our industry. Sure, other industries are experiencing the same difficulty, but we're here to talk about how this...

Partnering can provide mutual benefits.(our Insights)
May 10, 2004... The recent situation with regard to the pricing and availability of some metal products has brought greater importance to a concept that has been discussed and implemented to some extent in our industry for the last few years--partnering. ...

Donald Romano of Heritage Mandell Mechanical Services (Deer Park, N.Y.) was recognized with the Distinguished Legislative Service Award.(Contractors)(Brief Article)
May 17, 2004... * Donald Romano of Heritage Mandell Mechanical Services (Deer Park, N.Y.) was recognized with the Distinguished Legislative Service Award from the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA) (Chantilly, Va.).

Construction Contractors' Alliance (CCA).(Contractors)(MMM Plumbing, Heating & Air)(Brief Article)
May 17, 2004... * Dickie McCurdy of MMM Plumbing, Heating & Air (Amarillo, Texas) was elected chairman of the Construction Contractors' Alliance (CCA) (Falls Church, Va.), an enhanced service group of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors--National...

International Environmental.(Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
May 17, 2004... * International Environmental (Oklahoma City) appointed Dennis Kloster as vice president of sales and marketing.