PRESS RELEASE

    IAPMO Hires John Watson as Vice President of Industry Relations and Business Development

    IAPMO Hires John Watson as Vice President of Industry Relations and Business Development

    The IAPMO Group is pleased to announce the hiring of John Watson as vice president of Industry Relations and Business Development.

    Watson has more than 30 years of plumbing industry experience in product development and compliance management. Prior to joining IAPMO, he was the senior manager of Compliance & Sustainability for Elkay Manufacturing. Before that he was the director of Water Efficiency & Technical Services for Sloan Valve. He also held several positions at Chicago Faucet, where he started in engineering and completed his tenure in operations.

    “John is well known and respected in the industry and his manufacturing experience will serve IAPMO well in our efforts to further enhance and solidify our relationships with customers,” IAPMO Executive Vice President of Industry Relations and Business Development Lee Mercer said.

    Watson earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and management from Elmhurst University and an Associate of Applied Science degree in engineering design/drafting from Triton College. He is involved in multiple professional volunteer associations, serving on the ASME A112 Main Committee, the ASME/CSA Joint Harmonization Task Group (JHTG) for plumbing products, and several ASME working groups, and is a member at large of the KCMA A161.1 Standards Committee. He is also a past board member of Plumbing Manufacturers International (PMI) and served on several Water Quality Association (WQA) committees when he was active in the WQA.

    “I’m happy to be part of the IAPMO team, where I plan to use my knowledge in product compliance, engineering and manufacturing to bolster industry initiatives and client services that provide added value,” Watson said. “I’m looking forward to continuing my work within the industry, albeit from a slightly different perspective, but with the same intent of providing insight and value to this wonderful industry.”


    Conservation is Not Deprivation

    15 May 2026

    In a recent Green Fire Times op-ed, Christoph Lohr, P.E., IAPMO vice president of technical services and research, makes the case that New Mexico is well-positioned to become a national leader in building-level water conservation. Lohr highlights Santa Fe’s proven conservation success, the state’s long-term water challenges, and the need for practical code solutions that help buildings reduce water demand while protecting public health.

    ASSE/IAPMO/ANSI/CAN Series 22000-2026 Now Available Professional Qualifications Standard for Water Treatment Equipment Personnel

    27 April 2026

    ASSE/IAPMO/ANSI/CAN Series 22000-2026, Professional Qualifications Standard for Water Treatment Equipment Personnel, has been designated as an American National Standard by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and a National Standard of Canada by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC), and is now available for purchase in both English and French.

    Scroll to top