The Plastics Pipe Institute (PPI) has announced that its Building & Construction Division (BCD) has elected Kate Olinger of Uponor North America to division chair and Christian Herrild of Teel Plastics to vice chair. Olinger, who will also represent the division on the PPI Board of Directors for the next two years, takes over from Rich Houle of Reliance Worldwide Corp., who now moves into the past chair role. The changes take effect June 1. PPI’s BCD focuses on plumbing and mechanical systems.

Herrild previously served on the BCD Management Committee as the communications committee chair. That position will now be filled by Bill Melvin of Legend Valve. Other spots in the BCD include Jason McKinnon of Viega, who remains as the education committee chair, a position he has held for more than four years, and Gary Morgan of Borealis, who will continue as R&D projects chair, managing the work of BCD’s active research group. Don Townley of Lubrizol, who served as BCD division chair from 2016 to 2018, has accepted the role of advisory council liaison and strategic planning chair. Rich Houle, Gary Morgan, and Don Townley also serve on the PPI Board of Directors in other roles.

“PPI’s management committee members provide significant guidance to staff on topics from advocacy and education, to codes and standards," said Lance MacNevin, P. Eng., director of engineering for PPI's BCD. "These new leadership positions solidify their continued commitments to PPI and the piping industry. We are grateful for the volunteer service of these dedicated members.”

PPI is the major trade association representing all segments of the plastic pipe industry. The BCD represents plastic pressure piping systems such as CPVC, HDPE, PEX, PE-RT, PP-R and PP-RCT used in plumbing and mechanical applications. More information can be found at www.plasticpipe.org/building-construction.