Next Gen All Star: Sam Raymakers

Top 20 Under 40 Plumbing Professional

2024 NextGen ALL-STARS Top 20 under 40 Sam Raymakers — *Image courtesy of Sam Raymakers*

How long have you been in the PHCP-PVF industry?

SR: I have nine years of industry experience working in the industry for Resideo and, previously, for Honeywell International in the zoning and IAQ side of the business. Now I am focused exclusively on water.

What drew you into the industry?

SR: I have always been curious about the solutions that make the world turn. I had been working in sales in an entirely different industry, but I was so curious about what makes the world around us work, I took a leap of faith to learn as much in the field as possible. I joined this team and became and continue to be very impressed with the pride of each of our customers, and I attribute some of that to our continued curiosity to innovate and provide the right solutions for our trade professionals.

What is the most rewarding aspect of working in the industry?

SR: Water damage is near the top of the leading causes of home insurance losses to homeowners. At Resideo we protect what matters most and knowing that our team’s innovations create greater security for homeowners across the Resideo, Braukmann, First Alert and Honeywell Home brands gives me a great deal of satisfaction.

What motivates you every day?

SR: I’m passionate about listening to customers and bringing new solutions and technologies to the plumbing trade. With an emphasis on global strategy, our team has created more than 30 new product introductions specifically in plumbing, always focused on creating a positive impact for Resideo’s Pro, OEM, Consumer, and Partner channels.

What is one thing you wish more people knew/understood about the PHCP-PVF industry?

SR: I’m very focused on helping the next generation of plumbing professionals grow, and I hope that they realize that this is a creative and collaborative industry. Going through technical training courses lectures and discourses, as well as collaborating across teams at Resideo and speaking to our customers, my creativity and capacity to think out of the box has grown and helped our team create innovative and useful products.

What has been the proudest moment in your career so far?

SR: I’ve been proud of a lot of my team’s accomplishments over the last nine years. Most recently, we’ve transformed Resideo’s leak detection line to perform better with a smaller footprint and at a better price. Together, we’ve introduced First Alert L Series of water leak detection products, which have been recognized for innovative design by the iF Design Awards and ACHR News’ Dealer Design Awards. The L Series is being used to drive Resideo’s partnerships with insurance carriers USAA and Nationwide, which offer financial incentives for homeowners to use Resideo’s leak detection products to keep their homes safe from water damage.

I also led our team to introduce press technology into Resideo’s products, incorporating it into the brands mixing valves, pressure regulating valves, zone valves, air eliminators, fill valves, hydro seps and trim kits. Press has helped turn the one year tech into five year tech.

What is one thing most people don’t know about you?

SR: I love to find out how things work. This curiosity stemmed from break time in kindergarten, where we had a table with broken products to take apart -- everything from a radio to a small engine. Having a few basic tools (and super glue!), we tinkered and used our imagination. Today, I still love rolling up my sleeves and getting dirty.

Why he was chosen as a Next Gen All Star Top 20 Under 40 winner:

“Sam is the global senior product manager for Resideo’s Hydronic & Potable Water Solutions. He has nine years of industry experience working for Resideo and, previously, for Honeywell International.

“Sam Raymakers leads an innovative team creating new products to prevent leaks and keep homes dry and free from water damage through the latest in plumbing technology for the Resideo, Braukmann, First Alert and Honeywell Home brands.

“He's passionate about listening to customers and bringing new solutions and technologies to the plumbing trade. With an emphasis on global strategy, his team has created more than 30 new product introductions specifically in plumbing, always focused on creating a positive impact for Resideo’s Pro, OEM, consumer, and partner channels.

“Pivotal to Resideo’s new product success in the category has been from Sam introducing press technology into Resideo’s products, incorporating it into the brands mixing valves, pressure regulating valves, zone valves, air eliminators, fill valves, hydro seps and trim kits. This extends one-year technology into five-year technology. His team also launched the brand’s Hydraulic Separator to help pros more easily balance source-side and load-side circulator flows, minimizing air turbulence while protecting components from backflow and debris.

“Sam and his team transformed Resideo’s leak detection line to perform better with a smaller footprint and at a better price placement. Among Sam’s latest achievements is the introduction of First Alert L Series of water leak detection products, which have been recognized for innovative design by the iF Design Awards and ACHR News’ Dealer Design Awards.

“Sam’s innovative products are being used to drive Resideo’s partnerships among insurance carriers USAA and Nationwide, which offer financial incentives for homeowners to use Resideo’s leak detection products to keep their homes safe from water damage.

“In addition to creating the products of the future, Sam is dedicated to educating and preparing the next generation of industry professionals as well as learning from his colleagues. Sam is a regular attendee at technical training courses and lectures and discourses to keep his creativity and out of the box thinking up to date with current trends.

“He regularly participates in standard working groups to ensure Resideo has the right certifications, and he stays on top of the existing portfolio regarding compliance, ensuring that products do not lapse when changes happen.

“Sam keeps a close eye on product availability as well, working hard to ensure that in this industry’s long and complicated supply chain, customers can get what they need, when they need it, with a near 100% forecast attainment.

“Sam is an excellent collaborator within Resideo. He works closely with the sales team and customers to ensure that his team is informed on the issues, feedback and requests the market has so that they can constantly work toward solving them. Sam also works very closely with the quality team to implement best practices and lessons learned, which has brought Resideo’s product return metrics to the lowest in the business; he also works to make sure that the marketing team is aligned with all his teams’ innovations to communicate to professional customers in a meaningful manner.” —Anonymous

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Nicole Krawcke is the former Chief Editor of Plumbing & Mechanical and PM Engineer magazines. She covered the HVAC and plumbing industries for BNP Media. She has more than 15 years of writing and editing experience and holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Michigan State University.