Kristen Bayles is the Associate Editor for Plumbing & Mechanical and Supply House Times. Originally from Monroeville, Alabama, her family worked in the plumbing industry for many years. Kristen holds a Bachelor’s degree in English with a specialization in Language and Writing from the University of Montevallo. Before joining BNP in 2025, she worked as an editor in the jewelry industry.

To contact Kristen, email her at baylesk@bnpmedia.com

David D. Dexter, FNSPE, FASPE, CPD, CPI, CPE, LEED BD+C, PE, is a registered professional engineer, certified plumbing inspector and plans examiner and master plumber. He has more than 40 years of experience in the installation and design of plumbing systems, specializing in plumbing, fire protection and HVAC design as well as forensics related to mechanical system failures. Dexter also chairs ASPE’s Main Design Standards Committee and the ASPE Bylaws Committee.

James Dipping, PE, CPD, GPD, ARCSA AP, FASPE, Plumbing Engineering Discipline Lead for North America for Stantec, has more than 28 years of experience a plumbing engineer, and serves on the ASPE Legionella Design Guide Working Group, the IAPMO Hot Water Return Task Group, and the ASPE Thermal Disinfection Working Group.

Natalie Forster is the Editorial Director of Plumbing & Mechanical and Supply House Times. Prior to joining BNP Media in 2020, she was an editor and digital content director for Southern Trade Publications, a publishing company with titles focused on the PHCP trades and the real estate industry. Natalie holds a bachelor’s degree in communication studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Misty Guard, MSPP, is president of Regulosity in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She assists international and domestic companies to obtain and maintain market access for products worldwide. She creates solutions that support businesses to achieve compliance with laws, regulations, codes, standards and public policies. Follow her on Twitter and LinkedIn. She can be reached by email at info@regulosity.com.

Dan Holohan and his wife, Marianne, founded www.heatinghelp.com in 1997. You can reach Dan Holohan at dan@heatinghelp.com. He loves hearing from you!

Christoph Lohr, P.E., CPD, ASSE 12080, is the is vice president of technical services and research. All views and opinions expressed in this article are his alone. Have some thoughts on this article? Contact Christoph at christoph.lohr@iapmo.org.

Lowell Manalo is the plumbing discipline leader and principal at SmithGroup. He is a member of ASPE and has more than 20 years of experience designing plumbing systems for various building types.

Matt Michel is the founder of Service Nation, and author of “Contractor Stories.” Looking to grow your plumbing business? Read PM magazine — subscribe for free — and join the Service Roundtable. Learn more about the Service Roundtable at www.ServiceRoundtable.com.

Scott Secor runs a small heating business in New Jersey. Founded by his father, Ken Secor, in 1976, Scott began working for the business in the summer of 1986 while attending college. In 2006, he purchased the business and has been running it ever since. The company designs, installs and services steam and hot water heating systems. Contact him at scottsecor@comcast.net.

John Siegenthaler, P.E., is a consulting engineer and principal of Appropriate Designs in Holland Patent, New York. In partnership with HeatSpring, he has developed several online courses that provide in-depth, design-level training in modern hydronics systems, air-to-water heat pumps and biomass boiler systems. Additional information and resources for hydronic system design are available on Siegenthaler’s website,  www.hydronicpros.com.

Dave Yates began his career in the PHCP-PVF trades in 1972 with F. W. Behler, a third-generation plumbing/ HVAC firm he purchased in 1985. Besides running F.W. Behler, writing articles for industry trade publications and speaking at events, Yates also is an experienced teacher in the hydronics industry, serving as an adjunct professor and on the Technical Advisory Board for the Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology. He can be reached at dyates@consultyates.com.