ANNANDALE, MINN. (March 5, 2026) — The Malco Group, a leading manufacturer and distributor of professional-grade HVACR and building construction products in the Americas, is expanding its focus in the refrigeration, condensate management and worksite solutions segments by establishing dedicated category leadership to drive portfolio expansion and accelerate growth through solutions designed to improve the life of the trade pro.
Together, the following appointments reinforce The Malco Group’s commitment to bring together the HVACR and building construction industry’s most relied upon products and bundled solutions to fill the back of the trade pros’ van.
Garrett Wong, Category Director, Refrigeration—With more than 20 years of experience developing and marketing manufactured solutions across multiple industries, Garrett will lead the strategy and growth of The Malco Group’s Refrigeration category, including the new MalcoEdge line of refrigeration tools. Prior to joining Malco, Garrett developed and launched both digital and non-digital HVACR tools at Fieldpiece Instruments. His deep understanding of the customer has driven the development of numerous industry-advancing products throughout his career—an approach he now brings to further strengthen The Malco Group’s refrigeration solutions.
Jeff Ponce, Category Director, Condensate Management—Jeff brings over a decade of results-driven experience in construction, plumbing and HVAC product development to his role at The Malco Group. Having held key positions at RectorSeal and Pentair, he has mastered the art of aligning technical innovation with evolving customer needs. His expertise spans the full product lifecycle, bridging the gap between physical solutions and digital platforms. Jeff joins The Malco Group to lead the condensate management portfolio, specifically focusing on the growth of premier brands like Aspen Mini Pumps and Beckett, and delivering innovative, reliable solutions that simplify complex building and HVAC challenges.
Jim Brooks, Category Director, Worksite Solutions—Jim brings 37 years of executive leadership to The Malco Group’s worksite solutions category. As the former CEO of Veto Pro Pac, Jim has successfully led growth initiatives across multiple channels and markets, establishing Veto as the global leader and innovator in the premium tool bag category. In his new role, he will help accelerate the expansion of Malco’s worksite solutions portfolio—advancing practical, trade-ready innovations that help trade pros stay efficient and productive on every jobsite.
“Each of these leaders have a proven track record of driving growth and innovation in competitive markets,” said Rich Benninghoff, CEO of The Malco Group. “Their experience enhances our ability to provide complete, trade-ready solutions while accelerating the development of category innovations designed to support the evolving needs of the trades.”
Over the past year, The Malco Group has established itself as a unified solutions provider—bringing together tools, condensate management, chemicals, refrigeration and worksite solutions under one company. The addition of dedicated category leaders reinforces the next phase of growth by building out complete category platforms and solutions designed to:
- Simplify purchasing for distributors
- Increase jobsite efficiency
- Expand solution offerings across HVACR and building construction
- Deliver bundled, trade-ready solutions
With the addition of experienced leaders behind each of these categories, The Malco Group is solidifying its mission to align the business with how trade pros actually work and how distributors prefer to buy.
“This is about building depth, not just adding products,” said Benninghoff. “When trade pros trust us in one category, we want to earn the opportunity to support them in the next. That requires having the right people focused on serving the trades, strengthening partnerships and driving sustainable growth. With this leadership in place, we’re raising the bar—bringing more innovation to market, faster, and delivering the kind of reliable performance trade pros expect from The Malco Group.”
To learn more about The Malco Group, visit www.malcogrp.com.
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About The Malco Group
The Malco Group is a leading manufacturer and distributor of high-quality HVACR and building construction products based in the Americas. With a focus on innovation, precision engineering and field-tested performance, The Malco Group powers the success of trade pros and businesses across the continent. Its portfolio includes ACE Chemical, Aspen Pumps, Beckett, Big Foot Systems, C&D Valve, HydroBalance, Malco Tools, Unilite and Veto Pro Pac. Follow The Malco Group on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn to stay updated on the latest innovations and product launches.