S&P USA Ventilation Systems LLC (S&P USA), Jacksonville, FL, a leader in the sales and distribution of HVAC air movement products throughout North America, has named Michael Tasse as its president.
Tasse first joined S&P USA in 2022 as Director of Operations and later as Vice President of Operations in May 2024. His success in improving the company’s lead times, safety, quality as well as plant warehouse organizational activities was a factor when parent company, Soler & Palau Ventilation Group, Barcelona, Spain, looked for leadership of its U.S. operations.
Prior to joining S&P USA, Tasse held senior manager and strategy consultant positions at Gillum Strategy Partners, Chicago, which helped introduce him to the HVAC industry through business consulting with sheet metal and ventilation clients. Tasse also gained valuable industry experience at HVAC manufacturer, Nortek, O’Fallon, MO, as its former Director of Operational Excellence.
Tasse has an MBA from Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management, Cleveland, which included an international work/study program abroad at Tongji University, Shanghai; and Xavier School of Management (formerly Xavier Labour Relations Institute (XLRI) Jamshedpur, India. Tasse has a B.A. in political science with a minor in economics. He also holds a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt from Gemba Academy, Keller, TX, which trains executives to employ problem solving-based leadership at every manufacturing level. He also speaks fluently in Spanish, Portuguese and Italian languages.
Before his promotion to President, Tasse and the S&P USA team accomplished several company milestones by implementing the Six Sigma approach to business challenges. The team created a Safety Round Table and training program that boasted the company’s longest period without a work-related injury. The team also decreased lead time backlogs and bottlenecks, while increasing on-time shipping up to 90%. The result was a significant overall profitability improvement. “This is an exciting team to work with and we’ll continue to shorten lead times and increase quality and product diversity that customers will definitely notice in the future,” said Tasse.
In general, the team’s newfound strategies have streamlined the company’s manufacturing. “It has been enlightening to see Michael’s data driven approach to problem solving in action and how it leads to permanent solutions,” said Joe D’Elia, Manufacturing Engineering Manager, S&P USA.
Tasse’s appointment is part of Soler & Palau Ventilation Group’s ongoing efforts to grow U.S. operations. Soler & Palau Ventilation Group recently acquired four North American HVAC companies. United Enertech Corp, Air Performance LLC, Air Conditioning Products LLC, and Metal Form Manufacturing LLC. The addition of grilles, registers, diffusers, air terminal units, and specialty HVAC sheet metal products further expands the company’s already comprehensive mechanical ventilation portfolio. “I am eager to work in tandem with these recent additions to the S&P family in North America,” said Tasse. “These companies can build off of the success of S&P USA, and support S&Ps investment in developing a robust offering and adding additional ventilation diversity to its customers.”