Taco announced April 29 a major reorganization of the company and its marketing direction. As a major growth strategy adopted by its owner, John Hazen White Jr., the board of directors, new company COO Wil VandeWiel and top operational management, Taco intends to leverage its 95-year experience in hydronic heating and cooling comfort to diversify by branching out from the HVAC industry into vertical markets for heating and cooling products.

The company also will develop the capability to provide nonhydronic product solutions to the HVAC industry as well as deliver product applications aimed at selected markets outside HVAC entirely.   

To help accomplish this objective, the company is in the process of restructuring and rebranding itself, and it will pursue growth and diversification through new partnerships and acquisitions. Taco has been on such a path in recent years. In 2012, the company acquired Hydroflo, a manufacturer of vertical and submersible turbine pumps used in such industries as irrigation, mining and agriculture. Last year it entered into a strategic collaboration with Askoll, a worldwide leader in electric motor pumps.

Taco plans to extend its hydronic heating and cooling products/systems into plumbing, variable refrigerant flow and geothermal, expand its OEM and overseas businesses, and enter the hospitality market. The rebranding focus under way will emphasize that Taco, through its long experience and expertise in controlling the flow of water, delivers optimal comfort system solutions to its customers.

The company will employ its Hydroflo division to further penetrate noncomfort markets such as agriculture and mining.

“To grow, Taco has to diversify,” explains White, the third generation of his family to operate Taco. “We have been quite diligent in studying where Taco is and what it needs to accomplish to get where it wants to go in the years ahead. We have revitalized our board, conducted an international search for an experienced COO in Wil VandeWiel, laid out an aggressive strategy for diversification, and restructured our internal operations to provide a scalable organizational structure.

“All of these developments, I should add, go back to our core responsibilities to remain financially sound, independent and to maintain a stable environment for our employees, who will always be Taco’s greatest asset.”

Management changes

As part of its restructuring effort, Taco has made the following management adjustments and promotions from among its current workforce. These individuals will now have enhanced responsibilities and report to VandeWiel.

• Todd Facey, senior vice president of residential sales. Facey is responsible for all residential products and systems, including wholesale distribution, field sales, OEM and national/key accounts, buying groups, and training and trade programs.

• Bryan Payne, senior vice president of engineered products and systems. Payne is responsible for engineered products and systems sales applications engineering, sales support, field sales, Taco University, Taco Canada and international sales.

• Greg Case, executive vice president of research and new product development. Case is responsible for new product development, product management, iWorx Engineering and Taco’s Engineering Lab.

• Robert Lee, executive vice president of operations. Lee is responsible for operational activities for Taco’s circulator, commercial pump, controls and electronics and Fall River divisions, as well as U.S. and Canadian facilities and warehouse operations.  

• Chris Integlia, executive vice president of strategy and business development. Integlia is responsible for Taco Key Holdings, leadership on key strategic and financial decisions to include mergers-acquisitions and other strategic partnership opportunities.

• Gene Fina, vice president of marketing. Fina is responsible for strengthening the Taco brand identity across all divisions and business units.