Trade News
GMS Enters Agreement With Home Depot to be Acquired
GMS Inc. announced at the end of June that it has entered into a definitive agreement with The Home Depot, to be acquired by its specialty trade distribution subsidiary, SRS Distribution. Under the terms of the agreement, a subsidiary of SRS will commence a tender offer to acquire all outstanding shares of GMS common stock for $110.00 per share, for a total enterprise value (including net debt) of approximately $5.5 billion.
John C. Turner Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer of GMS, and GMS’ senior leadership team, will continue to lead GMS as part of the SRS organization.
“We are excited to join with SRS and The Home Depot, and we believe this transaction delivers significant value to our shareholders, customers, suppliers and team," Turner said. "Since GMS’ founding, we have never strayed from our commitment to be the best distributor in our end markets and provide outstanding service for our customers. We look forward to providing an even wider breadth of product and service offerings while delivering superior value to our professional contractor customers as part of SRS and The Home Depot family. I would like to thank the world-class GMS team, whose hard work and dedication have made this milestone possible. We are confident that this transaction positions GMS to capitalize on the promising opportunities ahead and accelerate our growth.”
ClarkDietrich Organizes Apprentice Training Event
On June 24, ClarkDietrich, whose headquarters is located in the greater Cincinnati area, teamed up with the Ohio Carpenters’ Apprenticeship Program to host an interactive training and networking class at OHCAP’s Monroe Campus. As part of the event, first-year apprentices learned about modern framing methods, including hands-on experience working with steel framing, which has gained prominence in recent years for its strength, versatility, resiliency and efficiency.
“Promoting workforce development is something we’re really passionate about—we want to invest in the future of our industry and be part of the solution for the current lack of skilled labor,” said Jennifer Edgar, vice president of marketing for ClarkDietrich. “And being able to provide an opportunity like this so close to home is just that much more meaningful. Though we have a national footprint, the Cincinnati community is close to our hearts, and it means a lot to us to be able to support the local workforce in any way we can.”
The apprentices constructed three mock steel-framed walls, including nonstructural and structural, and learned how products can support their work. The mock wall builds offered tangible experience installing Danback, Spazzer, MaxTrak, FastBridge clips and RedHeader PRO and more.
RIDGID “We Love STEM Day”: Students Explore STEM’s Role in Manufacturing
RIDGID, a part of Emerson’s professional tools portfolio, held its annual “We Love STEM Day” in June for 60 local students in kindergarten through eighth grade. The day-long event, held at RIDGID global headquarters in Elyria, Ohio, let students experience the real-world role science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, plays in manufacturing.
Students participated in a variety of hands-on activities, including making straw airplanes, rubber band-powered cars, electroscopes and mini speakers. Each activity allowed students to learn about the importance of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, renewable energy and natural resources in manufacturing.
“STEM learning is a bit like solving a puzzle—you have the pieces and then its up to you to figure out how they go together. I think that challenge, combined with the opportunity to bring their ideas to the project, is what makes STEM learning so fun for students and why our groups get larger each year,” said Stacey Varuolo, event chair and chapter lead, RIDGID Women’s Impact Network for Emerson. “Our team loves getting to spend the day with the students and connect their projects with what we do in manufacturing.”
Professional Women in Construction Mentorship Program Pairs AEC Industry Figures
The New York Chapter of Professional Women in Construction announces the launch of its 2025-2026 Mentorship Program.
The PWC Mentorship program connects talented AEC individuals who are looking to get involved, network with peers and industry leaders and elevate their career to its full potential. The program encourages participants to build on their experience while enjoying monthly meetings and educational events such as panel discussions, skill-building workshops, and construction site visits.
PWC is a nonprofit organization that supports career-minded women and works to promote diversity within the architecture, engineering, construction and related industries. New York is the founding chapter of PWC, established in 1980 by eight women who banded together to advance their careers and businesses in typically male-dominated fields. That vision is still at the core of PWC’s mission as they actively engage members through committees and events structured to provide leadership opportunities, networking and professional development.
“The PWC Mentorship Program pairs emerging professionals with seasoned AEC industry leaders to provide a unique opportunity for growth,” said Kristin Sposito, co-chair of the PWC NY Mentorship Committee. “The application questionnaire serves to create the right partner match and results in a rewarding experience for both the mentor and mentee.”
PABCO Gypsum Releases New 2025 Sound Design Guide
PABCO Gypsum announced the release of its proprietary 2025 Sound Design Guide. This essential resource offers architects, contractors, and acoustical consultants an unparalleled advantage, integrating the latest assemblies and updated testing data to meet and exceed evolving building requirements for sound and fire-resistance solutions.
Developed by a team of industry experts, the guide is a tool designed to empower professionals in creating superior building environments. Key enhancements in this edition include:
- Expanded Design Versatility: More than 220 fire and sound-tested wall assemblies, now featuring an additional 50 new wall assemblies for unmatched design freedom, all showcasing the performance of QuietRock sound-reducing drywall.
- Enhanced Compliance & Efficiency: Updated UL design numbers for fire-resistant rated assemblies and new 2 1/2-inch steel-framed assembly sections, streamlining the specification process.
- Reliable Performance Data: Modernized STC ratings based on the latest third-party test data, ensuring accurate and dependable acoustic performance.
“We understand the critical role acoustics and fire-rated assemblies have in building design,” said Ryan Leadingham, vice president of sales and marketing for PABCO Gypsum. “PABCO’s 2025 Sound Design Guide reflects our dedication to providing industry professionals with the resource they need to create comfortable and code-compliant spaces.”
The 2025 Sound Design Guide is a complimentary resource and is available for immediate download at pabcogypsum.com/tsdg, where users can also explore a wide range of interactive tools and technical resources to support their building and design projects.
Spackle by Dave Coverly
People News
QXO Inc. announced that Eric Nelson has been appointed chief information officer, effective July 14.
