White’s leadership guides Taco and tops PBN Manufacturing Awards winners

PROVIDENCE – The third-generation leader of one of Rhode Island’s manufacturing success stories is being honored for leadership and strategy in Providence Business News’ third Manufacturing Awards program.
John Hazen White Jr., chairman of Cranston-based Taco Comfort Solutions, a manufacturer of heating, cooling and plumbing products, will be recognized for his continuing efforts to create new products, develop his workforce and expand markets for the nearly century-old family business.
White has grown the company from a regionally-focused supplier of HVAC products to a global competitor in those markets as well as others not directly involved in heating and cooling. To reflect this growth, Taco rebranded itself as Taco Comfort Solutions earlier this month.
The company’s search for new markets led it to acquire the indoor heating business of Italian pump manufacturer Askoll. Taco now has facilities in Cranston; Fall River; Marion, Ark.; and Milton, Ontario, as well as in Sandrigo, Italy, and Big Duong Province, Vietnam.
In 2012, the company opened a $20 million education center at its Cranston home, adding 24,000 square feet of classrooms, laboratories and a business center to its existing workforce development facilities. The company was recognized for those efforts in PBN’s 2012 Fastest & Innovative Companies Awards program.

White is among 13 winning individuals and companies selected from dozens of applications that will be recognized at a dinner Tuesday, March 15, from 5:30-8 p.m., at Bryant University’s Bello Center.

Other winners in this third year of the Manufacturing Awards are:

  • Tanury Industries, for Overall Excellence, more than 150 employees
  • National Marker Co., Overall Excellence, 50-150 employees
  • Custom Design Inc., Overall Excellence, fewer than 50 employees
  • Red Hed Manufacturing Inc., Collaboration in Manufacturing
  • Agcore Technologies LLC, Emerging Manufacturer
  • Edesia, Exporting Excellence
  • Bouckaert Industrial Textiles, Green Manufacturing Excellence
  • Parmatech Proform, Lean Manufacturing Excellence
  • Life Wear Technologies LLC, Product Innovation & Design
  • AstroNova, Safety Performance & Records Excellence
  • Epec Engineered Technologies, Supply Chain Excellence
  • Hope Valley Industries, Workforce Development & Productivity Excellence

Presenting sponsor for the third PBN Manufacturing Awards program is Polaris MEP. Partner sponsors include BlumShapiro, Cox Business, Gallo/Thomas Insurance and Hope Global. Media partner is AM790.
For information about attending the PBN Manufacturing Awards dinner on March 15, click HERE.

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