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CalStar names new CEO

CalStar Products, a manufacturer of low-energy, low-CO2 masonry products, has hired Joel Rood as its new CEO. Rood has worked in the building products and materials industry for 15 years, most recently as general manager for CertainTeed Canada. He also served as general manager of the southern U.S. division at James Hardie Corp.

Rood’s previous positions also include assignments with Hilti and Schlumberger in the United States and internationally.

CalStar is backed by cleantech investment leaders Foundation Capital, EnerTech Capital, Nth Power and The Westly Group. Under Rood, the company will relocate its headquarters and R&D activity from California to its manufacturing plant in Caledonia, Wis.

CalStar Products develops and manufactures sustainable building products that allow customers to reduce the energy and carbon footprint of their projects and incorporate significant recycled materials. It was founded in Silicon Valley.

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BMC builds on sales at second national meeting

The theme was "America’s Homebuilding Recovery Starts With Us." The place was Las Vegas. And the guest speaker was football legend Terry Bradshaw. 

The second annual BMC National Sales Meeting was an all-hands-on-deck affair for the Boise, Idaho-based pro dealer’s sales team and branch operations managers. The Jan. 9 to 12 event also had 140 vendor companies represented, along with about 200 customers. 

"The energy was good because the whole team was there," said BMC CEO Peter Alexander. "Our ‘town-hall’ meetings were very effective and they had good sales work on top of that."

During the event, Terry Bradshaw presented Alexander with a commemorative jersey when the multiple Super Bowl champion quarterback addressed the meeting Monday evening during BMC’s "Sports Night." Referring to a remarkable play from 1972 that led to a touchdown and a playoff victory, Bradshaw said, "When I hear about the BMC story, it reminds me of the immaculate reception. They have a great team and a winning attitude."

During the meeting, Alexander and BMC’s executive team detailed the company’s strategy to their entire sales and management group, plus customers from all of the company’s markets. The event also featured a large vendor trade show with exhibits from the industry’s leading suppliers.

Alexander noted: "This year’s show is larger by almost 300 participants, attended by four times as many vendor partners than last year, and included nearly 200 of our key customers.

"Today we are operating fundamentally well and incrementally better,” he added. “We understand that passion wins the business, but crisp execution keeps the customer."

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With sponsors, Dream Home looks for owners

Is that a small village near the banks of the Provo River? Actually, it’s the HGTV Dream Home 2012.

The latest in the series of HGTV Dream Homes is in Park City, Utah, near the Provo River.

Lumber Liquidators and Sherwin-Williams are among the sponsors of the HGTV Dream Home 2012. Bissell vacuums and Delta Faucet Co. are also co-sponsors of the Dream Home, which serves as the grand prize in an HGTV promotional sweepstakes.

The back yard of the home has several decks, a gas fireplace with a glass screen and outdoor living room with an outdoor kitchen. Fitting the dream-home mold, the house’s interior features a media room, great room, and open kitchen and dining room. 

HGTV has been building Dream Homes for its series in each of the past 16 years.

The new home’s tankless water heaters are supplied by Rinnai Corp.

"By showcasing home products and technologies that are both inspirational and attainable, the HGTV Dream Home serves as a design resource for millions of homeowners,” said Brad Sweet, VP marketing for Rinnai.