Elkhart, Ind. - For generations, America’s strength has emerged from the power of its manufacturing factories. On July 7, 2015, NIBCO INC., a premier example of an American success story with its U.S. based manufacturing, celebrated its all-American ownership and the 40th year service anniversary of Rex Martin, fourth generation of family leadership and chairman of the board of directors and chief executive officer.

Martin has guided the expansion of NIBCO INC. into becoming a worldwide leader in the flow control industry. NIBCO fittings and valves are the essential quality building blocks for the world’s premier commercial development as well as everyday residential life. While NIBCO products are the preferred brand and sold all around the world, under Martin’s leadership, NIBCO remains true to its U.S. roots with U.S. manufacturing, U.S. management and ownership as well as U.S. world headquarters. While its competitors were going offshore, Martin reinvested the company tenfold in quality American manufacturing. Now NIBCO’s customer service and on time complete percentage is the U.S. gold standard. Martin’s vision also included making NIBCO the technology leader of the flow control industry. NIBCO achieved the first successful installation of SAP, a worldwide enterprise resource planning system, in the United States. The NIBCO success story is still used as a case study for business schools across the U.S.

Throughout his career, Martin has been dedicated to keeping NIBCO privately owned by NIBCO associates and to being an American company in every sense of the word. Martin has fostered a strong commitment to supporting and training the next generation of American plumbing industry talent. He invests time and resources into developing apprenticeships in manufacturing and technology. He is a Founding Member of Mechanical Contractors Association of America Foundation which helps bring new talent into the plumbing industry and he is involved in the American Supply Association, and Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association.

Martin, great grandson of NIBCO founder Casper Schweitzer, joined the company in 1975 and has served in a variety of leadership positions in marketing, manufacturing plant management and executive management. In 1986, Martin was appointed president and has held the positions of president and chief executive officer since 1992. He was elected chairman of the board in 1995.

Community, Civic and Philanthropic Leadership

Martin and his wife, Alice, co-founded The Rex & Alice A. Martin Foundation, which funds major projects for children in all of the NIBCO site locations and at the headquarters in Elkhart, Ind. Examples include the NIBCO Water & Ice Park, Martin Skate Park I and Martin Skate Park II and the NIBCO Soccer Fields.

As a board member of many charitable organizations, Martin has guided many non-profit, educational institutions and charities, including the United Way of Elkhart County, WNIT Public Television, the American Red Cross of Elkhart County, Elkhart Community Foundation, Elkhart General Hospital and Culver Academies. He currently serves on the Student Athletics Advisory Board for the University of Notre Dame.

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