This Week At Contracting Business
Interactive Week of July 21, 2008 |
Getting the word out about your company and services is key to
having success in this industry. Creating and deploying a press release
is one way to get the word out but may seem like a daunting task. It’s
not as difficult as you may think.
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Contractors tend to assume that their technicians “just know”
what to do once they’re in a customer’s home. To an extent that’s
true. They know that they are there to solve the customer’s problem
as quickly and efficiently as possible. But if you haven’t invested
the time and energy it takes to teach them how to sell, then the
future of your business could be jeopardized.
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We had quite a number of calls about my previous article regarding
the correct amounts of fresh air to bring into HVAC systems. One
recurring question was: “Is there a way to measure fresh air if I
don’t have a full set of air balancing instruments?”
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Here is one of the seven finalists in the NATE Certified Technician
Competition.The technicians will compete at this year’s HVAC
Comfortech conference to earn the title of “top tech”. These
technicians are the “best of the best” in the industry and have
earned their spot in the competition by scoring the highest on their
NATE certification exams. HVAC Comfortech will take place in Atlanta, GA
September 10 – 13.
Steve Goodenough
Republic Companies
Davenport, IA
Steve Goodenough has been in the HVAC industry for 10 years. Prior to
his career in HVAC, he worked on refrigeration equipment in the dairy
industry.
As the training coordinator and instructor for Republic Companies, Steve
recognizes that NATE certification represents proof that a technician
knows how to properly service and install HVAC systems. He advises
technicians to promote their NATE certification as a credential of
professionalism, noting that both residential and commercial customers
will always need heating and air conditioning service, and that HVAC
professionals will be in high demand.
Steve earned an engineering degree from the University of Illinois. He
also teaches HVAC classes for Associated, Builders, and Contractors
(ABC) of Iowa.
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HVAC Comfortech Breaking News!
• Comfortech Gives Back is Looking for Volunteers
• Technician Training Day Speakers Announced
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
COMFORTECH GIVES BACK IS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS
Click here for information!
Many members of the HVAC community, including the Comfortech staff, have
been looking for ways to give to those less fortunate. With the help of
Mitsubishi HVAC Advanced Products Division, we are launching a
program called Comfortech Gives Back. This event will take place
the afternoon of Saturday, September 13 and will focus on giving back to
the community through a program called HOMES Home Owner Maintenance and
Enhancement for Seniors www.scsatl.org/homes.htm that helps seniors
continue to live in their own homes more safely.
But the success of Comfortech Gives Back depends upon volunteers
– everyone attending HVAC Comfortech, including contractors,
distributors, manufacturers, consultants and all other HVAC
professionals – are encouraged to donate a few hours of their time to
this valuable program. But if you cannot attend Comfortech and would
still like to participate, you are welcome to do so.
For details or to volunteer, visit Comfortech Gives Back
All it will cost you is a few hours of your time – everything else,
including lunch, tools and transportation are provided. Plus you’ll
get a commemorative T-shirt for your efforts. But more importantly,
you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you’ve helped to improve the
lives of seniors who wish to continue living in their own homes.
TECHNICIAN TRAINING DAY SPEAKERS ANNOUNCED
Click here for speaker information
Bring your technicians to HVAC Comfortech on Friday, September 12 for a
full day of sessions geared specifically to their needs. For the
unbelievable rate of only $99, your technicians will enjoy seminars,
lunch, a pass for the exhibit hall and the option to attend one Business
Opportunity Session. That’s a full day of training and networking for
next to nothing!
SESSIONS:
Airflow and Duct Leakage: What Is This and Why Is It Important?: Tim
Offord, Instructor, Alabama Power
HVAC Wiring Basics: Mike Fomby, Instructor, Alabama Power
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY SESSIONS
13 to choose from! Check them out here.
REGISTER FOR TECHNICIAN TRAINING DAY HERE.
HVAC
Comfortech is the HVAC industry’s premier national seminar program
and product showcase for the residential and light commercial
contractor. This key industry event is produced and managed by
Contracting Business magazine. It will be held from September 10-13,
2008, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia.
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 With Trane, it's hard to stop an industry leader, unique
sales process training, and the best lead generation tools. And that's
why as a Trane dealer, it's hard to stop you. Learn more.
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What are a few of the outstanding seminars from this year’s event?
Check this out:
BUDGET LIKE THE PROS
Skip Snyder, The Snyder Company
Budgeting often seems like an arcane art. In fact, budgeting is a useful
tool for keeping your business and your cashflow on target. Do it right
and you’ll get big dividends for your commercial contracting business.
Skip Snyder, a leading commercial contractor and author of “Finances
for Contractors,” will show you how to build a budget process that
measures and forecasts the right things in the right way.
YOUR CUSTOMERS CAN’T GET NO SATISFACTION (OR CAN THEY?)
Ellis Guiles, TAG Mechanical
All of us know exactly what the Rolling Stones were singing about when
they said "I can't get no satisfaction". Customer service levels in
many service related industries are poor at best. This seminar will show
you how you can implement a process in your business so you'll
consistently deliver superior customer service, providing your customers
with a "WOW” experience that will have them coming back for more and
you smiling as you hear the sound of "Cha Ching".
USE BUSINESS INFORMATION MODELING (BIM) TO SET YOURSELF APART
Jason Merriman, AO Reed
What is “business information modeling” and how does it work? Learn
how one contracting firm has implemented BIM into their operations and
how it saves them time, reduces insurance costs, and allows for more
precise building systems. You’ll learn step-by-step how to implement
BIM, view a live example of how it works, and discover BIM’s
implications for “green” contracting.
SUCCEEDING IN THE MULTI-LOCATION SERVICE MARKET
Bob Keingstein, BOSS Facility Services
Multi-location commercial contracts can produce big positives for your
bottom line, but there’s an art to succeeding in this market and
operational challenges for making it work. Learn from real world
examples how contractors can get more multi-location customers and use
this market to grow your company and profits.
WINNING & MANAGING NEGOTIATED AND DESIGN/BUILD CONTRACTS
George Hedley, Hedley Construction & Management
Stop bidding and start negotiating! Learn the advantages of negotiated
and design-build, your changing role, risks, responsibilities, the team
approach, and keys to success. Get past the “low-bid” mentality, add
more value and accept more responsibility in the development process by
providing pre-construction services, total project management,
budgeting, city approvals, contract management and pro-active meetings.
Learn how to win profitable contracts by marketing and creating
relationships with customers, architects, engineers, and contractors.
USE THE ACCA/ASHRAE COMMERCIAL MAINTENANCE STANDARD TO IMPROVE
PROFITS
Ellis Guiles, TAG Mechanical
For the first time, the ACCA/ASHRAE Commercial Maintenance Standard
provides a document that outlines the minimum requirements for ensuring
that commercial HVAC systems are maintained and functioning properly.
Learn how to use this standard in your daily business to educate
building owners and operators, set yourself apart from other
contractors, and make more than a few bucks all at the same time.
USING GPS & FLEET MANAGEMENT TOOLS TO LOWER COSTS & INCREASE
PRODUCTIVITY
Mike Weil, Moderator
Fuel costs keep going up, up, up. At the same time, new technologies
offer new ways to improve productivity in dispatching, service, and
employee management. A panel of contractors with real world experience
will discuss the pros and cons of installing GPS and similar
technologies, the results, and the pitfalls to avoid. Learn how to shave
dollars off your fuel bill, improve customer service, and use these
systems to improve your ability to manage employees (while overcoming
employees’ objections).
Plus more….
The ball is in your court. Take advantage of this outstanding program
packed with strategies and techniques to better your business and keep
you a step ahead in the commercial contracting world!
www.contractingroundtable.com
Go ahead and click……you can register, find out more about the
program, plus find out what past attendees have said about the event.
November 12-13, 2008 – Atlanta Hilton Airport Hotel – Atlanta,
Georgia
The 2008 Commercial Contracting Roundtable & Design/Build seminar is
produced by Contracting Business magazine and ACCA.
Thank you to our fine sponsors:
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EGB 2008 is the only event dedicated exclusively to designing
greener mechanical systems for commercial/industrial/institutional
buildings. It’s the only place where you can network with green
experts who will be on hand for two days to provide information and
guidance on projects you’re currently designing.
• Jerry Yudelson has trained more than 3,300 building industry
experts in the LEED rating systems. Yudelson will present this year’s
keynote address, as well as a session on branding and positioning green
building projects.
• Valentine Lehr is a recognized industry leader, educator,
lecturer and a published engineer. Lehr will discuss how to measure and
evaluate a building’s carbon footprint.
• Bill Swan’s expertise on BACnet has earned him the nickname
“BACnet Bill.” Swan will discuss building automation in green
buildings.
• Kent Peterson is the outgoing president of ASHRAE. Peterson
will lead a session emphasizing innovation and creativity in the quest
for sustainability.
• Energy expert Mark Lentz will present on achieving net zero
energy use with air-to-air heat exchanger applications.
• The EPA Energy Star’s Michael Zatz will present case
studies on the use of Energy Star as a an indicator of true energy
efficiency.
Meet these and other green building pioneers and innovators during EGB
2008.
There’s also an exhibit area where you can discuss green applications
with leading providers and manufacturers.
EARLY BIRD SPECIAL STILL IN EFFECT
You have only a couple of weeks left to save $150 on the cost of a full
conference registration. You’ll also receive a free copy of Jerry
Yudelson’s latest book, “The Green Building Revolution.”
For complete EGB 2008 details and to register on-line, visit www.egbconference.com.
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