Vortex promotes Matt Timberlake to chief administration officer 

The Vortex Cos. announced the promotion of Matt Timberlake to chief administration officer to oversee the company’s process improvement, fleet management and procurement divisions. He was previously the company’s head of corporate development.

RIDGID awards four PHCC scholarships

RIDGID awarded scholarships to four plumbing and HVACR apprentices as part of its partnership with the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Educational Foundation and its apprentice contest. Each winner received a $1,000 education scholarship, plus $1,500 of tools from RIDGID and special recognition at PHCC Connect 2021, held Oct. 20-22, in Kansas City. The 2021 scholarship recipients included Tyler Earle, Forestdale, Massachusetts; Martin Gorman, Belmont, Massachusetts; Paul Kwiecinski, Chicago; and Christopher Friendly, Anchorage, Alaska.

NLB Corp. combines Michigan operations

NLB Corp. opened a new headquarters in Wixom, Michigan, in December. The 170,000-square-foot facility, only a few miles from the company’s current headquarters, combines all its Michigan operations — sales, parts, service, manufacturing, engineering and rentals — under one roof.

Western Drain opens new store in Anaheim

Western Drain Supply opened a new location in Anaheim, California. Shoppers can quickly find the brands they prefer in exclusive brand rooms stocked with tools and supplies from Picote, RIDGID and APS. The store also features a try-before-you-buy pipe wall where customers can put equipment to the test before purchasing. A new training center allows the company to host on-site seminars and demonstrations for new product releases, pipe lining, patching and descaling.

bluefrog Plumbing + Drain to expand in Arizona

bluefrog Plumbing + Drain announced plans to award 12 franchise agreements in 2022 with two locations in Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona, at the top of the list. As part of the network’s planned expansion, the plans are part of bluefrog’s larger goal to open 50 new locations in the U.S. over the next five years.