HUNTSVILLE, AL — A continu ous and reliable hot water source is a modern hygienic necessity. But what happens when that ne cessity is not readily available?
A decade ago, Paul Schmitz who spent over 30 years in Chris tian radio, took a bold step to do something extraordinary to answer this question. Observing homeless families and individ uals on the streets of Nashville,
BY STEVE SPAULDING
WASHINGTON, DC — On July 4, President Donald Trump officially signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law. The Act is a gigantic package of legislation—over 1,000 pages long, containing hundreds of provi sions—centered around Trump and the Re publican Party’s main domestic priorities. The Act represents a significant re-working of federal tax policy. It makes the 2017 tax cuts (enacted in Trump’s first term) perma nent, preventing what would have been a sig
WASHINGTON, DC — Associated Builders and Contractors reported on July 15th that its Construction Backlog Indicator rose to 8.7 months in June, according to an ABC member survey conducted June 20 to July 7. The reading is up 0.3 months since June 2024. The largest contractors have nearly
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ATLANTA, GA — Helping to drive the future of the skilled trades, the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors—National Association (PHCC) Educational Foundation recently partnered with SkillsUSA to host a successful plumbing competition at the 2025 SkillsUSA Championships during the National Leadership & Skills Conference in Atlanta. The week-long event, which drew over 6,700 highly skilled technical and trade students across
ITASCA, IL — The American Supply Association (ASA) has announced the launch of the industry’s first Product Data Standard (PDS) Project, a transformative initiative designed to unify how product data is shared across the PHCP and PVF supply chain. With growing digital demands and operational complexity, ASA is taking a bold step to establish an industry-backed, collaborative standard that will enhance
BUFFALO, NY – As summer reaches its peak, construction workers can be feeling the heat in more ways than one. An industry leader is un dertaking a special initiative to let workers know there is someplace to turn when they need it. John W. Danforth Company, one of the larg est mechanical contractors in the northeast, rolled out a special program to shine a spot
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Brass Knuckle has created a quickreference guide for safe lifting, suitable for posting around plants and other workplace buildings. Using proper lifting techniques recommended by OSHA, the poster offers practical advice on methods to employ to reduce strain on the back during lifting. Visit brass-knuckle-proper-liftingguide.pdf
Veolia, a company offering a full spectrum of water, waste, and energy management services, has completed the acquisition of Icetec, a Pennsylvania-based digital and distributed energy management company. Icetec will bring both their software and expertise in site and asset optimization to Veolia’s Sustainable Industries and Buildings business.
I.D. Booth, a sixth-generation, family-owned distributor of plumbing, heating, electrical, steel, and industrial supplies, is celebrating 150 years in business. With 11 branch locations and a central distribution center across Upstate New York, the company offers over 30,000 products, expert sourcing of hard-to-find parts, and custom solutions for older systems.
Ripley PR, a global agency specializing in the skilled trades, manufacturing, B2B technology and franchising, has been named the 2025-2026 PR Agency of the Year in the Southeast United States by the Corporate LiveWire Prestige Awards. This is the second year for Ripley PR to receive this distinction.
LeChase Construction Services, LLC, has announced the promotion of Jacki DeCaprio-Maloney to project manager, based in the NY Metro region. In this role, Maloney will manage, develop, maintain and oversee all functions of assigned projects at the preconstruction, construction and post-construction phases, including safety, construction planning and costcontrol procedures.
RectorSeal, a leading HVAC/R and plumbing tools manufacturer, has announced the territory expansion of manufacturing representative Pinnacle Product Sales (PPS) to include Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. PPS will now serve these states in addition to its existing coverage of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington for the RectorSeal HVAC/R product portfolio.
• America’s Last
Space? • Briefing Underscores Urgent Need for Resilient Infrastructure
• Pro-Tec Plumbing & Air Partners with Humane Society to Help Local Dogs
• Electric Boilers Hasten Europe’s Clean Energy Transformation
Water-efficient products are popular among our customers, no matter if the federal government likes our products or not..
BY BELINDA WISE, SPECIAL TO CONTRACTOR
[Editor’s note: this article appeared originally on Ripple Effect, the newsletter of Plumbing Manufacturers International. Reprinted with permission.]
You’ve most likely heard the statistics and reviews: 76% of Americans support the government setting appliance efficiency standards (Consumer Federation of America). “Even the simplest and least expensive showerheads can provide a satisfying shower” (Consumer Reports). Efficiency standards save the average American household $576 a year on their utility bills while cutting the nation’s energy consumption by 6.5% and water consumption by 12% (Department of Energy, Biden administration).
And there’s more: indoor household water use decreased 22% between 1999 and 2016 (Water Research Foundation). According to an article in Circle of Blue, this decline in water use—from 177 gallons to 138 gallons per household per day—is not due to a green wave of environmentalism or a significant change in how people used showers, toilets and faucets, according to William DeOreo , lead author of the study. The reason households are using less water: better equipment.
This better equipment translates into happy customers. And that’s our ace in the hole: our water-efficient products are popular among our customers, no matter if the federal government likes our products or not. A quick look at the reviews of our water-efficient products marketed online demonstrates this truth.
“(The water savings) is almost all attributable to fixtures,” DeOreo told Circle of Blue, talking about toilets, faucets, showerheads, and other appliances. “It’s not like people’s habits changed. Better technology really drove the reduction. And there’s room for more improvement if we adopt the best technology out there today.” PMI’s own studies have demonstrated that replacing legacy fixtures with water-efficient ones can save tremendous amounts of water quickly.
As our industry enters into a new phase of deregulation, we must continue to make products that appeal to customers interested in saving water, energy and money and who are environmentally conscientious. Industry experts agree that most
consumers will not be eager to swap out water-effi cient fixtures for ones that will end up costing them and our planet more.
A survey by the Water Main found that most Americans (73%) believe there will be a shortage of fresh water in the foreseeable future, and 74% agree that more action needs to be taken to conserve wa ter, according to a survey conducted by Suez Water Technologies and Solutions. Even though there’s been constant rain in the Northeast United States, significant drought persists in the West, according to the US Drought Monitor. More than 29% of the lower 48 states are experiencing drought conditions this summer.
Will there be a market segment interested in inefficient products? Most likely. We know that there are already sellers of inefficient products out there, primarily on the internet and operating from locations outside the US. Will this dynamic make our coun -
are reliable and safe.
The best thing for us to do right now is to get in touch with our customers, for they will be the final arbiters in our current debate. As Steve Jobs said, “Get closer than ever to your customers. So close, in fact, that you tell them what they need well before they realize it themselves.”
Belinda Wise is a Board Member for Neoperl US, a manufacturer and distributor of plumbing components including faucet aerators, check valves and flow regulators.
CHICAGO, IL — Registration is open for the PMI25 Manufacturing Success Conference, Nov. 3-6, at the Fairmont Hotel – Millennium Park, Chicago, where participants in Plumbing Manufacturers International’s 71st annual membership
meeting can receive a discounted rate. Award-winning documentary filmmaker Brett Culp will be the keynote speaker on Nov. 4. The founder of the not-for-profit Rising Heroes Project, Culp will present “Superhero Leadership in
Uncertain Times and Instant Storytelling.” Culp will share powerful stories about ordinary people who have accomplished extraordinary things.
Stephanie Klein, founder of Mindfire Mastery, will facilitate the PMI In-
spiring Leaders Program on Nov. 3. Participants in this all-day program will learn how Klein applied her experience dealing with stress in the fast-paced corporate world to pursue a more meaningful second act.
During the Women of PMI Breakfast on Nov. 5, Shelley Paxton will share how she walked away from her job as chief marketing officer of Harley-Davidson and into her “soulbbatical.” Her mission is to empower leaders, entrepreneurs and organizations to feel more alive, aligned and energized for greater impact in the world.
Thomas Kurfess, professor and chief manufacturing officer, Georgia Institute of Technology, and chief technology officer, National Center for Manufacturing Sciences, will explore “Present and Future Implications for AI in Advanced Manufacturing.” He will share insights into next-generation, hyper-connected production operations and business models.
Jason Hodell , Partner, Industrial and Consumer Goods Segment Leader, Cherry Bekaert Advisory LLC, will present “Strategic Benefits of Build America Buy America Certification.” He’ll explain the differences between the standard Buy American Act and Build America Buy America, their requirements and criteria, and will cover certification basics, revenue opportunities, and more.
“Measuring Pressure Loss in Modern Plumbing Fittings” will be the title of Natascha Milesi-Ferretti’s presentation. A supervisory research engineer at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, she will discuss the pressing need for updated pressure loss data to allow for approaches that enhance water efficiency and quality.
Justin Brown, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District in Greater Chicago, will present “Deep Tunnels, Backwards Rivers and Electrofishing: Chicago’s Water Infrastructure.” Brown will take attendees on a multimedia tour of the Chicago region’s world-famous water infrastructure.
Learn more at www.safeplumbing.org/ events/calendar/event/attendee-information/ pmi25-manufacturing-success-conference
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two months longer backlog than they did one year ago. While the smallest contractors have slightly longer backlog on a year-ago basis, backlog has fallen for contractors with $30-$100 million in annual revenues.
ABC’s Construction Confidence Index reading for sales and profit margins improved in May, while the reading for staffing levels fell. The readings for all three components remain above the threshold of 50, indicating expectations for growth over the next six months.
“Despite a wide array of headwinds and disappointing construction spending data in recent months, backlog rebounded to 8.7 months in June, the same level as in April,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu “The durability of contractor backlog is partially due to the ongoing boom
in data center construction; 1 in 7 ABC members is currently under contract to perform work on a data center.
“In addition to longer backlog, contractors remain broadly optimistic, with 3 in 5 contractors expecting their sales to rise during the second half of 2025,” said Basu. “Notably, this survey predates the most recent trade policy announcements, and 1 in 5 contractors had a project interrupted or paused due to tariffs in June. With some of the newest import taxes putting upward pressure on construction input prices, profit margin expectations may face pressure in the months to come.”
View ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator and Construction Confidence Index tables for June, or view the full data series by visiting www. abc.org.
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Tennessee, and feeling uncertain about how to engage with them, he recognized the importance of initiating conversations, which led him to reflect more deeply on his beliefs.
At first, Schmitz’s focus was on providing meals, clothing, and other essentials to Nashville’s homeless community. However, after coming across a mobile shower unit in his newsfeed, he was inspired to expand his efforts.
The enterprise Schmitz subsequently created in 2016, ShowerUp, is a non-profit organization that has been serving those experiencing homelessness and anyone in need by providing mobile showers, hygienic resources, and personal care.
After launching in Nashville, the organization now also operates additional branches in various cities in Tennessee, as well as in Huntsville, AL, Chicago, IL, Tampa Bay, FL, and Wichita, KS. Together, these operations have provided over 63,000 showers to date.
“We choose our locations based on where people are because our mobility allows us to bring dignity to those in need,” says Schmitz, who now serves as Executive Director.
In addition to the warm water’s comfort and hygienic advantages, guests appreciate the privacy that ShowerUp offers through its mobile shower units. Measuring approximately 20 feet long and 8 feet wide, these vehicles are segmented into three compartments, each with a private entrance. Each 6-by-4foot space is equipped with a full-size shower, a bench, a sink, a mirror, and air conditioning.
“Our whole idea is simple: We believe that everyone deserves dignity,” says Schmitz. “Everyone should have access to a clean, hot, private shower, no matter what you’ve been through— whether housed or unhoused.”
But to make it all work effectively, ShowerUp needs a consistently reliable source of hot water.
ShowerUp provides multiple showers daily and relies on products that can endure the demands of hot showers while taking up minimal space in their mobile vehicles. The non-profit relies on donations from companies and organizations that understand its mission and actively support it.
One such contributor is Noritz America, a Fountain Valley, California-based manufacturer of tankless water heaters for residential and commercial applications. In 2016, Noritz contributed a tankless water heater to Schmitz’s very first mobile vehicle in ShowerUp’s home base of Nashville. That first tankless unit is still going strong after nearly a decade of maintenance-free operation, according to Schmitz. “Noritz’s product has performed flawlessly since day one,” he says.
That’s why, when ShowerUp’s Huntsville vehicle recently needed to replace its tankless water heater (made by another company), Schmitz thought of Noritz as the ideal replacement. Following a phone call and a subsequent donation from Noritz through its Atlanta distribution center, Schmitz realized ShowerUp had once again found the perfect solution for their mobile unit: the Noritz EZ111DV-NG Condensing Tankless Gas Water Heater.
With a maximum flow rate of 11.1 gallons per minute and gas inputs ranging from 18,000 to 199,900 BTU per hour, this commercial-grade unit has the capacity to meet the heavy demand for hot water that ShowerUp vehicles inevitably generate. The EZ111DV-NG features an 11:1 turn-down ratio and a 0.96 Uniform Energy Factor (UEF), the latest water heater efficiency measure. Tankless water heaters provide hot water “on demand” without storage. Activating whenever you turn on the faucet or shower, they can quickly bring water to a steaming, soothing temperature in seconds, offering a continuous hot-water supply.
High-efficiency tankless water heaters save energy as well as space. With
a lifespan of up to 20 years and requiring very little maintenance, they are both modern and practical, with their ability to provide ShowerUp guests with a continuous supply of hot water for as long as needed. The EZ111DV comes with a 25-year warranty on its dual stainless steel heat exchangers, ensuring reliable and long-lasting performance as well as much-appreciated peace of mind.
A two-person team from Allstar Plumbing in nearby Athens, AL, installed the EZ111DV-NG. Led by project manager Austin Ball, the Allstar crew completed the entire replacement process in three hours without any significant issues.
“We are very pleased with how easy it was to install the EZ111DV-NG in the mobile shower unit. It operates exceptionally well,” says Ball. “Not only did it save us time on the installation process, but, most importantly, it also ensured that the users enjoyed the best experience.”
Since the installation, the unit has proudly provided over 7,000 warm showers to individuals in need. This initiative continues to have a signifi -
cant impact, offering comfort and dignity to those who require it most. Meanwhile, the need to provide showers continues and is growing. “About 10 to 20 percent of our weekly visitors are people we have never met,” says Schmitz
Asked if he would continue using Noritz products on current and future trailers, Schmitz responded, “Every day of the week and twice on Sunday!”
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nificant increase in 2025. It raises the cap on state and local tax deductions to $40,000 for taxpayers making less than $500,000 a year.
The Act also includes temporary tax deductions for tips, overtime pay, and auto loans. On the flip side of the tax coin, the Act phases out some Bidenera clean energy tax breaks.
The other big story surrounding the Act involves deep cuts to social services. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that the bill will cut federal spending on Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) benefits by $1.02 trillion (due in part to eliminating at least 10.5 million people from the programs) over the next decade.
Yet despite those significant cuts, CBO also estimates the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will add $2.8 trillion to the federal deficit by 2034.
Mark Valentini , the PHCC’s Vice President of Legislative Affairs, was on the whole pleased with the passage of the Act, as it addressed several of the Association’s tax and workforce development concerns.
“The Big Beautiful Bill is indeed a win for PHCC,” Valentini said. “Tax provisions under the Tax Cuts and
Jobs Act of 2017 such as elevated estate tax thresholds, full expensing of newly acquired equipment under bonus depreciation, and deductions up to 20% on qualified business income have all been made permanent. Pell Grants will now be eligible for shortterm job training which will benefit those seeking careers in HVAC via community colleges and vocational education programs.
“Unfortunately,” he continued, “tax incentives for energy efficiency upgrades to residential and commercial buildings are slated to sunset at the end of the year. Otherwise, this legislation is a net positive for plumbing and HVAC contractors.”
ABC issued a statement celebrating the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, calling it “historic” tax relief for the construction industry.
“On this July 4, ABC celebrates Congress and the White House working
together to bring this pro-growth tax reform to reality for the millions of hardworking Americans who build and power our economy,” Kristen Swearingen, ABC Vice President of Government Affairs said. “This new law provides long-overdue tax certainty that empowers construction businesses to invest in their workforce, expand operations and keep America building.
“Now that this critical legislation has been signed, we urge Congress and the administration to build on this momentum by enacting additional reforms to reduce regulatory burdens on businesses. Smart, targeted regulatory relief will give contractors even greater ability to create jobs, strengthen their communities and drive economic growth nationwide.”
The United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters released a statement from General President Mark McManus decrying the passage of the bill, saying the Act would hurt
working families and kill good-paying jobs.
“President Trump and Congressional Republicans were elected on the promise of cutting costs and creating opportunities for working-class families. Their signature piece of legislation betrays that promise,” McManus said. “With dangerous cuts to the energy sector and a major dismantling of the historic infrastructure funding passed during the previous administration, this bill will kill jobs and make it harder for working families like ours to make ends meet…
“The entire United Association urges President Trump and Congressional Republicans to listen to the vast majority of Americans who want opportunities to succeed, who want to see costs come down, and who want their elected officials to put them first.”
McManus in the statement also thanked UA members who lobbied their Senators and Representatives to help secure labor protections and limit reductions in green energy projects.
FABTECH is back at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL, from September 8-11. The American Welding Society (AWS) will present a week of exclusive educational opportunities and events.
Attendees will discover what’s new and what’s next for manufacturing equipment, industry-specific innovations, and advanced solutions to boost productivity and efficiency. This year’s theme, “The Future of Welding is Here,” highlights AWS’ dedication to connecting, collaborating, and shaping the future of the welding industry.
“AWS always brings out the big guns,
featuring the best presenters in the world,” said Lawrence Bower, CWI and long-time attendee.
Main Booth (B29000): Learn how AWS can advance your career with educational programs and certifications. Join or renew your AWS membership with promo code FABTECH2025 to be eligible for the following giveaways:
AWS Individual Members: Get 15 months for the price of 12
AWS Early Career Members: Enter for a chance to win one of 5 exclusive AWS hats. Enter to win a custom welding helmet.
Arc Junkies Podcast Sessions (B29000): Join Welding Industry Veteran Jason Becker as he hosts daily live podcast sessions at 10:30 AM from the newly renovated AWS booth. From starting your own welding business to navigating the leap from welder to inspector—and tackling the real workforce challenges behind the skills gap—these candid conversations include live Q&A so you can join the discussion.
For the complete schedule and more details on AWS events at FABTECH, visit aws.org/fabtech.
TOWSON, MD — DEWALT, a Stanley Black & Decker
(NYSE: SWK) brand, recently hosted the winning students of Associated Builders and Contractor’s (ABC) Construction Management Competition at its headquarters in Towson, Maryland. The group from Pennsylvania College of Technology, visited as part of DEWALT’s ongoing commitment to supporting and inspiring the next generation of skilled trades professionals.
During the visit, students toured DEWALT’s research and development labs, spent time at its Customer Experience and Innovation Center, participated in hands-on demos, networked with DEWALT leaders, engineers, product managers and trade specialists, and gained valuable insights into the tools, technologies and resources shaping the future of the construction industry.
“The need for new talent has never been greater,” said James Oh, President and General Manager of DEWALT. “Through our Grow the Trades initiative and partnerships like this, we are committed to supporting the next generation of trades professionals with hands-on experiences, educational opportunities and the resources needed to find success in the trades.”
Recent findings from DEWALT’s Gen Z in the Trades survey underscore the importance of these opportunities, with 39% of students citing a lack of networking and hands-on experiences as barriers to obtaining apprenticeships in the trades.*
“Colleges and universities are important talent pipelines into the construction industry. Exposure to
generation
real-life learning opportunities allows these construction management students a chance to gain valuable experiences, informing them how construction projects are built safely and with quality,” said Haley Moyers, ABC Director of Workforce Programs and Initiatives.
“Thank you to the DEWALT team for hosting ABC’s 2024 Student Chapter of the Year, Pennsylvania College of Technology. This experience will help advance their construction career goals.”
As part of its $30 million commitment over a five year period to its Grow the Trades initiative, DEWALT
invests in organizations expanding technical education programs to meet the growing demand for skilled trades. To learn more about DEWALT’s Grow the Trades initiative, products and solutions, visit www.DEWALT.com.
*Survey included 225 respondents, representing students aged 14 to 18, enrolled in vocational schools (33%) or in skilled trades training programs in high school (67%) across the United States. The research was fielded online between October 23 and November 4, 2024.
Continued from page 3
The PDS Project sets out to create a shared framework for product data management, ensuring manufacturers and distributors can exchange consistent, high-quality information. This includes standardizing how critical product attributes such as dimensions, materials, finishes, descriptions, UPCs, and performance data are formatted, maintained, and integrated into business systems.
The standard is being developed in close collaboration with more than 30 leading manufacturers and distributors, supported by ASA’s Embracing the Future Strategic Action Council. This initiative responds directly to members’ growing frustration with inconsistent spreadsheets, data misinterpretation, and time-consuming, manual cleanup that slows down digital transformation efforts.
“Listening to our members, ASA realized the need for a data standard to make it faster and easier for distributors and manufacturers to get product info from the source to the site in a useful form,” said Jeremy Fuller, Purchasing Manager of Houston-based Texas Plumbing Supply and a key driver of the project, which has featured contributions from about 50 volunteer leaders across ASA-member companies. “In short, we look at every column of data to see if it’s needed, relevant, and in the right format for every link in the distribution chain.”
The plumbing and PVF industry is undergoing a rapid shift toward digital. eCommerce, ERP platforms, and digital procurement systems demand structured, reliable product data. Without a shared standard, manufacturers and distributors are forced to build and translate data manually, often with inconsistent results.
ASA recognized this gap during its strategic planning sessions. The lack of a standardized data exchange method was creating delays, errors, and rising costs across the supply chain. As a result, ASA took on the responsibility
of developing a unified standard that the entire industry could adopt and benefit from.
With a standardized format in place, product data can move seamlessly from supplier to distributor to end user—reducing order errors, streamlining operations, enhancing inventory management, and improving the customer experience. “This standard helps create clarity across the board,” said P. J. O’Neill, Director of Product Information at Beaumont, Texas-based Coburn
• Reduces errors and misinterpretations: Improved data accuracy minimizes costly mistakes.
• Enhances efficiency: Eliminates redundant formatting and data rework.
• Improves order accuracy: Ensures consistent, validated product information.
• Promotes collaboration: Streamlines communication between manufacturers, distributors and reps.
The PDS Project sets out to create a shared framework for product data management, ensuring consistent, high-quality information.
Supply, and another key member of the Product Data Standardization Task Group. “It’s the type of infrastructure our industry has needed for years.”
The PDS will be available on July 1.
The standard will cover a wide range of plumbing SKUs with consistent, validated attribute definitions.
The standard is available in the product categories below:
• Full-line plumbing
• Water heaters
• Pipe, tubing and related components
• Tools
• Rough plumbing accessories
Each category will have tailored attributes and formatting rules. Companies will be able to access official documentation and sample column guides directly from the ASA website.
https://www.asa.net/Industry-Standards/ Product-Data-Standard
Adopting the new standard provides tangible benefits across the value chain:
• Increases operational efficiency: Reduces labor and improves speed to market.
• Eliminates confusion: Simplifies product descriptions and technical data.
As more organizations adopt the standard, its positive impact will grow exponentially—helping the industry collectively move faster and smarter. “Standardized product data helps us reduce onboarding time and improve service levels company wide,” Coburn Supply Vice President and Director of Marketing Michael Maloney said.
ASA is leading the project with active involvement from its member task groups, composed of experts in product data, technology, distribution, and manufacturing. ASA’s Innovation & Technology team, led by ASA’s Manager of Innovation and Technology Nils Swenson , is managing the development, coordination, and rollout of the standard.
The standard is being built with both flexibility and practicality in mind, rec-
ognizing the diversity of systems and data maturity levels across the industry. Even organizations just beginning their digital journey will benefit from aligning with the standard. “The level of collaboration on this project has been impressive,” said InSinkErator Digital Marketing Analyst Catherine Decker, a member of the Product Data Standardization Task Group. “It’s clear we are all aligned around a shared goal: delivering clean, fast and more reliable data.”
The standard is now available at: www.asa.net/Industry-Standards/Product-Data-Standard
To get started:
• Manufacturers: Share product data with distributor customers using the new format.
• Distributors: Ask your manufacturers to provide data using the new standard.
• Data teams: Review the standard documentation and integrate into your internal systems.
• Leaders: Join the movement— encourage adoption across your network.
ASA understands that transitioning to a new format takes time, but as adoption grows, so do the benefits. The long-term gains in efficiency, speed, and accuracy make this a vital investment for all stakeholders.
ASA will continue to host webinars, task group meetings, and live sessions to support adoption. In addition, ASA will release updates and share implementation resources.
“This is more than a technical standard—it’s a long-overdue solution to a challenge nearly every company in our industry faces,” ASA’s Swenson said. “By adopting a unified approach, we can all spend less time formatting spreadsheets and more time serving customers.”
For more information or to get involved: pds@asa.net
www.asa.net/Industry-Standards/Product-Data-Standard
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114 competitions to the Georgia Congress Center, serves as a critical pipeline for identifying and attracting talent and aligns with the Foundation’s mission of fostering a career in the plumbing and HVACR industries.
Albeit integral to the construction sector, the plumbing trade is experiencing numerous challenges—from a labor shortage due to an aging workforce, to an influx of new technologies which is contributing to a skills gap.
The Foundation, through the PHCC Academy®, focuses on assessing workforce readiness, introducing individuals to rewarding opportunities within the plumbing and HVACR industries, providing the necessary education for career success, and preparing trades professionals to obtain all mandatory certifications required to excel in their field.
While the Foundation and SkillsUSA have worked on furthering this mission for more than three decades, there is a heightened focus on the trades due to President Trump’s recent Executive Order on Worker Investment and Development, emphasizing the need to invest in local workforce and training.
As part of their overall mission, the Foundation supported plumbing competitors throughout the SkillsUSA Championships process, funding the event, helping to secure piping materials, tools and equipment, as well as providing guidance, mentorship, and judging panel volunteers. The donated materials were used to install the bathroom infrastructure at the plumbing competition, as well as for the Teamworks’ competition—a discipline challenging teams of four to build tiny houses in 48 hours with special attention to carpentry, masonry, electric, and plumbing.
This year’s competition attracted 51 of the nation’s top plumbing students from local high schools, vocational, technical and post-secondary schools. Having won either a local or state competition, they
were invited to compete on a national stage according to approved industry standards, as well as present their skills and knowledge of plumbing in front of industry leaders. Apart from gold, silver, and bronze medallions, competitors also receive scholarships, tools, and in some cases job offers.
“At the SkillsUSA Championships, we see the best technical and trade students from across the country showcasing their plumbing skills and knowledge,” said Dan Quinonez, Executive Director of the PHCC Educational Foundation. “Our
hope is that this national stage serves as a powerful audition for a successful future in the trades. With the p-h-c industry facing a projected need for approximately 114,500 new qualified workers by 2028 according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, it’s imperative that we equip and empower future generations with the technical skills to confidently launch their career in trades.” Chelle Travis, Executive Director at SkillsUSA added: “The SkillsUSA Championships continues to exceed our expectations, growing year after year thanks
to the engagement of our volunteers, instructors and competitors. We are extremely grateful for the PHCC Educational Foundation’s unwavering support and their steadfast commitment to preparing the next generation of plumbers. Their dedication to providing students the necessary skills and know-how that makes them more desirable in the job market means the future of the trades is bright.”
This year’s plumbing contest winners (pictured on our cover) are:
• 1st Place Secondary – Beckham Dickson, Davis Technical College, Utah
• 1st Place Post-Secondary –Jonathan Gann, Texas State Technical College, Texas
• 2nd Place Secondary – Joey Gibbs, Harris County High Schools CTAE, Georgia
• 2nd Place Post-Secondary –Thomas Larson, Davis Technical College, Utah
• 3rd Place Secondary – Konner Namken, Smithville ISD, Texas
• 3rd Place Post-Secondary – Grant Parker, Liberty University, Virginia
The Foundation’s contribution would not have been possible without generous donations from these corporate sponsors: American Supply Association (ASA), Bradford White, the Cast Iron Pipe Institute (CISPI), Copper Development Association Inc., Delta Faucet, Home Depot Pro, the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO), Kohler Co., McWane Plumbing Group (AB&I Foundry and Tyler Pipe and Coupling), Milwaukee Tool, Moen, NIBCO, Oatey, Rheem Manufacturing, Sioux Chief, & Zoeller.
The 2026 SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference will take place June 1-5 in Atlanta. To learn more about the PHCC Educational Foundation please visit: https://www. phccfoundation.org. To learn more about SkillsUSA, please visit: https://tinyurl. com/46xdt8hh
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SACRAMENTO, CA — EGIA Contractor University, in partnership with Paul Kelly—one of the most accomplished
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RAISING GOATS combines an immersive, in-person, five-day kickoff experience with ongoing, year-round support and training content—equipping contractors with the mindset, skills, and strategies needed to achieve transformational, historic success in their businesses.
In addition to Paul Kelly, the program features insights and instruction from other celebrated industry leaders, including bestselling author and speaker Mark Matteson; Chris Yano of RYNO Marketing; and Tommy Mello, founder and CEO of A1 Garage Door and one of the world’s most successful home services contractors.
“As others have done with me, I’m sharing—the strategies, systems, and even the mistakes—that helped grow Parker & Sons from a $7 million business to over $250 million,” said Paul Kelly. To learn more about RAISING GOATS and apply for one of the limited spots in the October kickoff event, visit RaisingGOATs.com today.
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by Al Schwartz
What is Corporate Culture?
1) A company’s values and customs: the values, customs, and traditions of a particular company.
2) Atmosphere [in large companies]: the professional atmosphere that prevails in large corporations, generally, reflected in people’s dress, conduct, and ways of communicating. In years past, think companies like IBM or prestigious law offices of today.
While the definition seems to pertain to a large company, that does not have to be the case. You can establish a corporate culture in a two-man shop. There have been articles lately that, basically, suggested that you treat your employees like fraternity brothers, involving them in your decision making processes, allowing them to “feel” their way about their jobs and relationships within the company, etc.
In the trades, especially in the field, this is a recipe for disaster at best, and mutiny at worst. If you don’t think so, try it and see. If you survive that test, maybe you will rethink the paradigm. Human nature hasn’t changed in eons, and the current mode of human interaction (in the USA at least) presents challenges not seen since the fall of the Roman Empire. Being in business today is probably more difficult than at any previous time in our history. The era of big, overreaching government intrusion into the private sector at unprecedented levels has created barriers to just about every independent business. The new administration is said to be streamlining things but, if past is prologue, the streamlining won’t reach your level of business anytime soon. The present state of government intervention in the everyday operation of your business, as well as the “entitled” employee situation we now seem to have everywhere, continue to make being an independent contractor an exercise in patience and fortitude. With that in mind, there are some things you can do to help keep you sane and profitable in the marketplace.
Since hiring employees (one or many) is the real baseline of a business, doing it right is where we will start.
Finding, hiring and keeping good people should be something that the owners/ operators are intimately involved in.
While the definitions mentioned at the outset of this column did not actually fit the mold of a trade shop employee/employer scenario, it did offer a sliver of good information as to how to put together a winning team for your business. Whether you are a one-man shop, mid-sized company or larger operation, the base of the pyramid in your company profile is your work force.
We’ve done the “there are no good people left to hire” scenario. We’ve gone through many different educational viewpoints, programs and vocational schools. Columns describing new directions methods and approaches have parsed the subject to a “fare thee well.” Where the rubber meets the road for you, the businessman, is getting the job done by any means necessary.
Once you have won a bid and signed a contract, you must perform. Manning a project has gotten to be a cause for great nail-biting and gnashing of teeth
due to the lack of enough quality people available to hire. You send a crew out to get a project going and hope that they will: a) Get it all going smoothly, and b) All be there the next day! This scenario is, unfortunately, NOT an exaggeration. Finding, hiring and keeping good employees has become the holy grail of all the trades in the first quarter of the twenty first century.
Small and mid-sized companies generally reflect the personalities of their owners. That isn’t a scientific fact, but it is mostly true. Finding, hiring and keeping good people should, then, be something that the owners/operators are intimately involved in. Make your culture one that reflects you, your values and your goals. When owners are perceived as the “guys in the office” there is an immediate assumption of separation between the guys who get dirty and the guys who write the paychecks.
Even if this is true, it is something that you need to downplay in order to form a cohesive bond with your employees. Hiring people that you like, and whose work ethic, personal outlook and interaction with their fellow employees meshes, make it much more likely that the employee will be able to assimilate into the culture of your company. Properly vetting a new employee is not always easy to do on the fly, but not doing it soon after hiring can cost you. If you have more work than you can man and need to throw bodies at a project, perhaps taking a step back and regrouping-rather than hiring “whoever” is a better way to keep your sanity and your bottom line. Finding, vetting and hiring someone with the right qualifications is paramount, but right under that criteria is how that person fits into the ebb and flow of your company’s culture. Finding and hiring people that are competent and comfortable with the company makes for a tighter work force. Having people who care about what they do AND the wellbeing of the company that they work for is the gold standard. Employees such as that are less likely to do things that hurt your company, and more likely to go that extra mile to help out in unexpected or difficult situations like staying around after hours to help restock inventory, staying at the job after quitting time to wait for a delivery or even having a beverage with you and/ or the dispatcher, or offering to do that unpopular job when you are in a bind. After all is said and done, you are in the contracting business; it’s tough enough as it is. Making and keeping a good, cohesive, complimentary workforce that not only understands that, but actively makes it their goal to help the company is the real aim here.
The Brooklyn, N.Y.-born author is a retired third generation master plumber. He founded Sunflower Plumbing & Heating in Shirley, N.Y., in 1975 and A Professional Commercial Plumbing Inc. in Phoenix in 1980. He holds residential, commercial, industrial and solar plumbing licenses and is certified in welding, clean rooms, polypropylene gas fusion and medical gas piping. He can be reached at omeletman01@gmail.com.
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The newest generation of water professionals is ready to learn. Find out how to use training and education to boost your business – and retain your workforce.
BY RACHEL BATDORFF, GLOBAL PROGRAM MANAGER, FRANKLIN ELECTRIC
The skilled labor shortage in the drilling, water delivery, and wastewater industries isn’t just a challenge—it’s a growing crisis. Companies across these sectors are struggling not only to attract and hire qualified workers but also to retain and upskill them in an increasingly competitive labor market.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the situation is poised to intensify, with an estimated 51,000 job openings for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters each year over the next decade.
But this surge isn’t driven by industry expansion— projected at a modest 5%—it’s fueled by a wave of retirements and a troubling migration of talent to other fields. The message is clear: without bold action to close the skills gap, the backbone of our infrastructure could be at risk.
While companies can’t turn back the clock on retirees, they can do a lot to retain the workers they have and recruit new ones. Employee education and training play a critical role in employee retention, giving people a reason to invest their career with a company. When done right, organizations can reap the benefits of learning and development, with some studies reporting that 76% of employees are more likely to stay with a company that offers continuous training.
The key to training is understanding your audience and adapting your training methods to a variety of needs. Often referred to as multifaceted training, these programs not only help employers enhance skill development—they also show employees that you’re invested in them.
Here are several guidelines water industry businesses can follow to utilize training.
While it may seem natural to provide training “on-thejob” since many water industry roles are hands-on, it can prove counterproductive. On-the-job training tends to reduce efficiency and increase the risk for error on a job site, meaning jobs can take longer, cost more, or be done incorrectly and require a costly callback. Instead, it pays to train your team before hitting the job site with base-level expertise on products, installation, troubleshooting, and selling before speaking to a customer. This will allow your company to install and troubleshoot more effectively, equipping your team to do more in less time and succeed in their roles. Developing people in this way will also
reduce their time to productivity and help them get up to speed faster.
Adaptable training is accessible training. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses across various industries switched to online methods for training, and they experienced surprising results in saving both time and money. From training classes and podcasts to webinars and online certification courses, online training tools allow you to onboard new employees quicker and make it easier for them to stay updated on new products and techniques. As a bonus, these interactive, digital tools are custom-made for a new generation of professionals who likely learned using online tools when completing their traditional schooling. Digital training programs are also highly customizable to
Turn to Training, page 44
Franklin Electric has developed online training programs catering to those new to Little Giant products and the PHVAC industry. Many of these programs, available through their training portal FranklinTECH, provide training content and programs that embrace a more modern short-form approach that will appeal to a younger audience.
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The most important asset for any business should be its employees, and keeping them safe is priority number one.
Building a culture of safety for any company starts with safety protocols and procedures through proper employee communication, monitoring, reporting and execution. “Listening to employees is key,” says Jason Manning , Safety Manager, Lindus Construction, Baldwin, WI, which fosters a culture of safety by utilizing team member input, site safety inspections, on-the-job training, and an open line of communication without fear of retaliation.
“We promote and welcome continuous coaching and mentoring, voice of the customer—our team members—constant questions on the hazards they face, and lastly, an active role in getting the personal
protective equipment (PPE) and tools to keep them safe while they work,” says Manning.
Fostering a culture of open communication and safety dialogue usually starts with a weekly meeting. At Lindus Construction, every Monday, for example, the safety team discusses a different toolbox topic, talks about the previous week’s safety site inspections, and discusses current events that may affect employees in their work areas. The team also holds an open-forum general safety discussion to review safety alerts that resulted from injuries or near misses
by John Mesenbrink, Editor-at-Large
on jobsites. “This set of protocols facilitates open communication among members of the team and allows for communication of up-to-the-minute pertinent safety information and other related topics,” says Manning.
“Most companies believe or expect common sense to prevail when it comes to safety; however, safety on any jobsite big or small needs to be trained on and re-enforced,” says Mike Prencavage Jr., Owner, The Family Plumber, Los Alamitos, Calif., and that’s why his safety team hosts an all-hands-on company safety meeting every week to ensure that all team members are properly trained on hazards in the workplace. “For example, our shop foreman is responsible for providing
In 2024, fall protection was OSHA’s most frequently cited standard, as it has been for the past 14 years.
sword,” says Manning. “Newer team members might be tempted to rush and perform jobs in which they lack experience, whereas the tenure team members might want to take short cuts with higher risk because they have ‘done it a million times before,’” says Manning, whose encouragement to both age groups is to perform the job safely, do not cut corners, always consider the risks before performing the job. “We want our employees to go home in the same or better condition than when they came to work.”
According to Prencavage Jr., most senior employees understand or have experienced the result of cutting corners with safety standards. “Receive a cut, bruise or worse once in your life and it changes the way you think about approaching certain risky situations,” says Prencavage Jr.
What to do: Select proper fall protection for each employee and regularly inspect all equipment used for working at heights. Guardrail systems, safety net systems and personal fall arrest systems all offer protection
What to do: Businesses need to develop, implement and maintain written hazard communication programs describing how they’ll maintain warning labels and safety data sheets (SDSs), train employees and meet other relevant OSHA requirements.
3. Ladders (2,507 violations)
What to do: One of OSHA’s most frequently violated requirements says that ladders that aren’t long enough to extend at least three feet above the upper landing surface must be secured to a rigid support and outfitted with a grab rail or other grasping device.
4. Respiratory Protection (2,407 violations)
What to do: Businesses should provide medical evaluations to determine employees’ ability to use respirators at work. They should also make sure employees are fit-tested before they use a respirator for the first time, whenever they switch respirator brands or models, and at least once a year afterward.
5. Lockout/Tagout (2,443 violations)
What to do: The procedures to shut down, isolate, block and secure machines need to be developed and documented, along with specific steps to place, remove and transfer lockout/tagout devices.
Source: Grainger through information provided by OSHA
Age plays a factor because more often than not, says Prencavage Jr., “You don’t know what you don’t know. Youthfulness is great but it certainly doesn’t put a bulletproof vest around you. It’s best practice if you share the worst-case safety scenarios with younger employees as much as possible with the hope that if they encounter something similar, they are well prepared to the take the right steps for safety,” says Prencavage Jr.
The emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) can help businesses in a multitude of ways, particularly when it comes to safety. “AI in different forms can help with developing, implementing or enforcing proper safety
protocols within one’s business,” says Prencavage Jr., who also says that some of the biggest examples of these are utilizing AI to create situational safety poster boards for offices or breakrooms, setting meeting reminders or technician meeting periods to review and train on safety standards, or the use of passive integrated driving devices that record and score drivers’ safety behind the wheel.
At Lindus Construction, Manning concurs that AI can help with up-to-date rules, regulations, and guidelines. “In our line of work, we have Federal, State, County, and City codes to follow. [AI] allows us to easily and quickly reference what our expectations are and ensure that we are within these guidelines. AI also helps with the development of Safety Toolbox
Topics and quick reference guides for those in the field,” says Manning.
Furthermore, taking full advantage of AI in the workplace, the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) recently launched ASSP Safety Trekr AI, a groundbreaking artificial intelligence-powered search tool designed to fundamentally change how safety professionals access critical workplace safety and health guidance. This innovative solution will accelerate and enhance the work of safety professionals, ultimately reducing the risk of on-the-job injuries, illnesses and fatalities. It also removes communication barriers by engaging safety professionals across multiple languages.
Safety Trekr AI instantly scans and synthesizes the 1,330-page handbook to answer questions and provide precise safety guidance that is based on trusted data and real-world experiences. What once took considerable time through traditional search methods is now available in moments, enabling faster decision-making and more efficient compliance with workplace safety standards
Insurance is a requirement of all aspects of life, but particularly at work. “We value safety above all else, but we also recognize how it affects the bottom line. Ensuring safety protocol is in place at all times with all employees lowers your overall premiums and keeps you off the high-risk employer lists. We want our employees to be safe every moment on the job so they can return home to their lives outside of work, which is what matters most,” says Manning.
Prencavage Jr. says that insurance is already one of the highest expenditures on a P&L for most construction trade businesses. “The last thing a company would want is to file claims against a policy that increases those rates, not to mention possible revocation. Insur-
ance companies are looking for potential hazards all of the time, and in doing so they can often perform random safety standard compliance checks on companies. It’s best to always have your company ready and in compliance as to not have a policy be canceled,” says Prencavage Jr.
Bottom line, building that culture of safety and employee trust in that culture is paramount. “We set our employees up with the tools they need to put safety first at all times when it comes to themselves and their co-workers,” says Manning.
Prencavage Jr. offers an example at The Family Plumber which includes performing a real fire extinguishing class by preparing a fire pit to be extinguished during the presentation. In addition, safety training videos provided by industry resources should be presented and explained. Lastly, Prencavage Jr. says to always spot check your employees by asking them hypothetical bad safety scenarios on a jobsite and how they would correct them.
“I would encourage companies to make safety learning fun, yet impactful,” says Prencavage Jr.
by Patrick Linhardt
MANAGER AT CORKEN STEEL PRODUCTS CO.
We’ll travel out of town for this column, sixty miles north to the city of Dayton, Ohio. Machine tools made in my hometown, Cincinnati, were shipped to Dayton to make cash registers and aerospace parts. Today though, we were meeting in the urban section, just a few blocks outside the city’s downtown center.
I met the contractor and building management representative in the alley behind the building, a row of maybe a dozen or more four-story brick buildings from the early 1900’s now joined together as a collection of loft apartments above storefront retail.
It was renovated about twenty years ago into its current configuration. Previously the area and buildings were part of a thriving cannery district. Today we’re going to look at a boiler with a crack and come up with a “big picture” concept of how to move forward.
The management guy was leading us to the boiler in the basement as well as giving us a timeline of his history with the boiler, which was only a couple of years. Amazingly, he said they operated last winter with the boiler off the whole season because of the leak.
The secret to operating an old building without running the boiler turns out to be the type of system. The concept of this system is using water source heat pumps, which extract heat from the water circulating through the piping. As long as the water is above a certain temperature, the individual heat pumps can keep the apartments and storefronts warm.
Surprisingly, not only did the building operate without the boiler working, the manager said he didn’t get one complaint. Now, I’m wondering if he’s being honest. But the saving grace of this system is where the water is being piped. There are two plate and frame heat exchangers in the center of the basement.
On one side is the water that circulates through the building. On the other side, the water is pumped in and out of the ground. This arrangement is usually called “pump and dump”.
Under this building is the Great Miami aquifer, a bountiful reservoir of water at a consistent temperature— even in extreme outdoor conditions— because it is 200 feet below the surface. To believe the boiler-less operation of last year, that temperature would have to be above the lowest operating water temperature for the water source heat pumps.
We headed to the boiler room to check on the boiler and found a 3 million btu commercial cast iron boiler with its sheet metal jacket removed. As you can see in the photo, there is a horizontal crack across the section, about halfway up. The rep reported that a different section was replaced sometime in the past.
What you can’t see in the photo is a return pipe to the boiler a section over. This type of crack is generally referred to
in the industry as “cold shock,” which means that a hot cast iron section has been subjected to cold water, which causes the section to crack horizontally. This can happen to any brand of cast iron boiler, since it is the nature of cast iron metal. A careful installation of a cast iron boiler with the possibility of experiencing a stream of cold water should include protection from that happening. In the boiler room was just the boiler, no pumps, just a supply and return pipe going through the wall. We traced it back about a hundred feet to the equipment room with the heat exchangers.
There we found the boiler loop pump and the three-way valve shown in the other photo. The hot water in the bottom right pipe is connected to a tee, with the branch facing towards and connected to the three-way valve. The flow in the supply pipe is from right to left towards a primary- secondary connection on the main building piping.
If the three-way valve is open to the hot supply, closed to the cold return from the system, then the boiler water is re-circulated to the boiler until the water temperature gets above, say, 140°F. (You can see a dial thermometer on the pipe heading back to the boiler.)
Then the valve starts to blend the warm water from the boiler through the valve to mix with the cold water coming back from the water source heat pumps, maybe as low as 40°F, maintaining 140°F going back to the boiler. Whatever water doesn’t get by-passed flows out to the primary-secondary connection to warm up the building loop.
The valve must have failed at some point to mix hot water over to the return. That would allow the cold water to circulate directly back to the boiler. It wouldn’t take long for that hundred feet of returwwn piping to drop in temperature, since the boiler loop pump is cranking out about 250 gallons per minute.
That cold water hits the hot boiler and the cast iron can go snap. The valve, control and boiler section could all be replaced, but I suggested a switch to modulating-condensing technology as the “big picture” solution. The rep liked the idea of putting in two boilers for redundancy and downsizing the total output, since the system worked boiler-less last season.
Mod-cons love cold return temps, and in this application will be condensing flue gasses whenever in operation. I also quoted a high efficiency boiler loop pump so the existing boiler loop pump can become the back-up. The three-way valve that caused the problem would be eliminated with the mod-con installation.
Patrick Linhardt is a forty-one-year veteran of the wholesale side of the hydronic industry who has been designing and troubleshooting steam and hot water heating systems, pumps and controls on an almost daily basis.
in with Radiant Professionals Alliance
Presented in partnership with Radiant Professionals Alliance
Rheem sponsors home build as part of company’s 100th anniversary celebrations.
ATLANTA, GA — Rheem®, an Atlanta-based manufacturer of heating, cooling and water heating products, culminated a month of celebrations for its 100th anniversary with a home build sponsorship and dedication ceremony on June 28 in partnership with Atlanta Habitat for Humanity®.
“A Passion for Possibilities and Commitment to Partnership are two of Rheem’s pillars for our Centennial year and serve as the foundation for bringing teams together to make a meaningful impact in the communities where we live and work,” said Dipa Homer , Executive Vice President, Global Human Resources and Communications, Rheem.Rheem donated and installed a new water heater and HVAC unit while dozens of its metro-Atlanta based employees volunteered in the building and landscaping process. The new homeowner, Michael , a father of five and a military veteran, has lived in Atlanta for nearly a decade.
“Rheem has a strong commitment to supporting veterans and veteran-focused organizations,” said
Alex Housten, Chief Operations Officer, Rheem.
“We are honored to participate in the home build and dedication ceremony for this deserving family and support Atlanta Habitat for Humanity in its mission to revitalize neighborhoods and empower families through homeownership.” The project was made possible through the Atlanta Habitat for Humanity Builders Blitz Build, an annual event where
local construction and industry professionals unite to construct multiple homes in a short time frame. Rheem continues to commemorate its 100th anniversary in 2025, underscoring its dedication to uplifting and serving the community through its philanthropic arm, Heart of Comfort™. To learn more about Rheem and its century of partnership and possibilities, visit www.rheem.com/100
Bob Heideman to retire after 29 years with the company.
MILWAUKEE, WI — A. O. Smith Corporation (NYSE: AOS), a leader in water heating and water treatment, has announced that Ming Cheng will become A. O. Smith’s next Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer. He replaces Bob Heideman, who has been with the company in different capacities since 1994. Cheng, who was most recently Senior Vice President of Research and Development for the Transportation and Electronics Business Group at 3M Company, will join A. O. Smith July 7. Heideman will stay on through Sept. 1, to ensure a smooth transition.
Cheng has worked for 3M for the past 25 years. In his current role, he leads a global team focused on technology, product development, product engineering and application engineering. During his time at 3M, Cheng served as vice president of research and development in the
Greater China area for four years. He also worked as vice president of research and development for the electronics materials solutions division, laboratory director, laboratory manager, business development supervisor and research specialist.
He received a Bachelor of Science in chemistry from Peking University in Beijing, China, a Doctoral Degree in polymer chemistry from Cornell University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Minnesota.
“Ming is an experienced global R&D leader with a diverse background. I had the privilege of working with him for nearly 10 years at 3M and over that time developed a tremendous amount of respect for his leadership, business acumen and technical depth,” said A. O. Smith Chief Executive Officer Steve Shafer
“His ability to drive innovation through complex business challenges will serve us
well as we continue to grow as an organization. He appreciates our strong legacy and commitment to our values.”
Heideman was named senior vice president, engineering and technology in 2011, and chief technology officer
in 2013, overseeing the company’s research and engineering. He joined the company in 1994 as a project engineer at the Corporate Technology Center (CTC), the company’s Milwaukee-based research and engineering facility. Over the years, he worked as a section manager for the Metallurgy and Prototyping Group, director of materials and processes at the CTC, and vice president of the CTC.
“Bob has been a guiding force throughout our product evolution—helping identify, advance and strengthen our position as a global water technology leader,” said Shafer. “From heat pump water heaters to water filtration systems, Bob has led the development of some of the industry’s most energy-efficient and top-performing products. We thank Bob for his dedication and steadfast commitment.”
For more information, visit www. aosmith.com
Presented in partnership with Radiant Professionals Alliance
by Joe Fiedrich
Hydronic combinations are endless with no gas lines inside the building and associated line length restrictions.
Air to water heat pumps are being introduced and recommended within the HVAC industry. Promoted by governments through sweet financial incentives, electrically-powered, super-efficient heat pump technologies are now available—not only air-to-air or ground-coupled systems, but air-to-water systems where gascharged distribution lines from the outdoor condenser to the building’s consumer stations are eliminated.
That is to say, the heat transfer from the gas to the distribution water system is taking place within the outdoor condenser unit via a flat plate heat exchanger, (monobloc units), simplifying installation.
Inverter technologies are further improving heat pump efficiencies by using variable speed compressors. This allows water temperature modulation to meet instantaneous heating and cooling demands.
This opens up endless, cost effective energy distribution possibilities, simplifying the installation down to a hydronic system, where water is the primary medium of energy transportation from the heating / cooling source to the consumers. Which is as it should be, water being the most efficient medium for the transportation of heating and cooling throughout a building.
In the following case study, the most common wood and aluminum panels were used, supplied by Uponor and Viega. Both companies offer complete systems—panels, tubing, manifolds and controls—under the trademark Quik Trak and Climate Panels. Hydronics Manufacturing is the supplier to both of the plywood panel systems. The Specs for the project are as follows:
Location: Carlisle, Massachusetts
Type: Addition to existing home
Square Ft: 1,400 Sq. ft. living space with 1,400 sq. ft. basement and 600 sq. ft. garage space. The home has 16 ft. ceilings, up to date window glazing, R18 walls and R32 cathedral ceilings. Radiant: Garage and Basement slab heating and cooling Main Components: Living Space Floor 1,400 sq. ft. of Viega and Uponor aluminum-plywood panels. 450 sq. ft. of Hydronics Mfg. wall panels (Uni-Panel) Honeywell #DR65/3000 dehumidifier 50 gal
stainless steel buffer tank by Lochinvar #SBT050 Alpha 15-58F auto adapt Grundfos circulators Zone control by Honeywell home pro series TH 6210 U 2001 thermostat plus 24V manifold powerheads. Variable speed Heat Pump by LG model #KPHTC/551M (inverter type
monobloc) DHW: Separate dedicated by LG model # APHWC501M 58 gallon
The performance data for our heat pump clearly shows that the maximum COP (coefficient of performance) is always achieved with the lowest possible system supply water temperature for heating at any given outdoor condition, and the highest possible water temperature for cooling applications.
[Visit www.contractormag.com/hydronics for a full table of hydronic performance data — Ed.]
Our panel system with 1,400 sq. ft. of floor and 450 sq. ft. of wall panels was operating between 85 degrees F and 110 degrees F throughout the last heating season with COP values ranging from 3 to 6, depending on outdoor temperature.
1 KWH = 3,412 BTU
At an average COP of 4.5 the heat pump extracts heat from the air at the rate of 4.5 X 3,412
BTU = 15,354 BTU per KWH of electricity input.
Based on average fuel cost in the greater Boston area: $.28 kwh electricity this translates into cost savings of:
BTU/Values $3.75 gallon #2 heating
oil 140,000 $3.50 gallon propane gas
91,500 $2.50 therm (100 cubic ft.) natural gas 100,000
32% over oil 52% over propane 27% over natural gas
That is not taking into account combustion losses of fossil fuels (at least 10%).
During milder outdoor temperatures (40 degrees to 60 degrees Fahrenheit), the COP value will increase to 5 and 6, meaning another 10 - 25 % savings can be expected. Energy efficiency cooling ratings of EER 13 to 15 with radiant cooling panels can be expected, based on outdoor temperature conditions.
Our system was designed with cooling in mind for two months of New England summers. A dehumidification unit was installed to avoid condensation problems.
DHW can also be tied into the system, as can convection/radiant type radiators and fan coil units for supplemental heat.
The hydronic combinations are endless, with no gas lines inside the building and associated line length restrictions.
Air-to-water heat pumps are relative newcomers in this country. However, they have been in use for many years in Europe, primarily with single or multi-family houses, where hydronic systems are the prevalent form of heating.
The basic design criteria for maximum payback and operating efficiency is to keep water temperatures lowest with the largest possible heat emission floor areas, plus, walls and ceilings when considering
radiant cooling a s well. This will guarantee a high COP and EER performance. It transforms air to water heat pumps into super efficient heating/cooling “mean machines” with fuel savings unheard of. A perfect radiant/heat pump marriage made in heaven. See below for a simplified piping schematic of our project.
Joe Fiedrich is a former hydronic heating columnist for CONTRACTOR. He was the president of Stadler Corp., which is now part of Viega North America, and he is the inventor of the Viega Climate Panel and Uponor Quik Trak. He can be reached at Joefiedrich@aol.com. Also, visit his company Hydronicsmfg.com.
Patti Feldman
Very ( www.verytechnology.com ) recently introduced FieldMind, an AI Assistant that gives field technicians immediate intelligent access to a wealth of organizational knowledge that potentially could be useful in the field in helping on-thespot technicians diagnose issues needing attention.
The available information includes repair procedures that have worked in the past (enhancing first time fix rates), troubleshooting guides, and access to other accrued knowledge.
Featuring an intuitive interface suitable for viewing on a mobile or tablet device, the solution enables field technicians to “mine” the repair expertise of previous expert technicians who successfully tackled similar types of scenarios during initial service calls and callbacks.
Pricing: per rep, per year
STACK (www.stackct.com, 855/702-6078) offers contractors active in bidding and performing jobs in the field both preconstruction software and software for takeoff and estimating, each 100% cloud-based.
Stack Takeoff & Estimating is designed to streamline the preconstruction process and improve accuracy with builtitems and assemblies. Users can build a detailed bill of materials for supply orders using pre-built libraries or your own custom libraries.
Stack Build & Operate, a mobile field app for document control, field collaboration, and project management, is configured to enhance the processes of review, annotation, and comparison of plans between and among team members in the office and the field, helping optimize workflow and improve operational efficiency.
Pricing: Free trial version available for both solutions for single user or teams.
WorkMax ( www.workmax.com , (844/967-5629) is a cloud-based platform on which contractors can collect and share live field data, including labor hours, equipment and progress straight from the jobsite. The solution features
Reviews of FieldMind AI assistant, STACK construction software, WorkMax field data system, Field Guides from Interplay, and the GoCanvas data collection solution.
individual modules that can be easily combined as needed.
TIME empowers contractors to track their employees’ hours in real-time. Using GPS technology, workers can clock in, clock out and change tasks throughout a workday for up to the minute field accuracy. Geofences can be set around a jobsite to reduce time theft and patented facial recognition ensures that each employee is who they say they are and are stationed where they say they are. Whenever suspicious discrepancies occur, custom alerts notify the appropriate supervisor or foreman. And the WorkMax mobile app is accessible even in areas without internet access, with all information syncing to the system once the mobile device reconnects to a server.
FORMS uses an intuitive builder to develop and deploy forms, capturing rich reporting data on any device with or without internet. Some specific eforms include the daily work log, change orders and safety documentation.
ASSETS sets routine maintenance schedules, allocates tools by location,
employee or project, and monitors equipment use and repairs.
INSIGHT facilitates budget tracking by monitoring KPIs to understand potential financial outcomes—tracking developments and milestones as they happen to accelerate effect decision making.
WorkMax integrates with 100+ thirdparty accounting, payroll, and HR management solutions, including FOUNDATION®, QuickBooks, ViewPoint, Payroll4Construction and others.
Pricing: call for a personal demonstration with pricing quote specific to your business needs.
Interplay Learning ( www.interplaylearning.com), a provider of immersive training for the skilled trades, recently launched its new in In-the-Field Guides, mobile-optimized interactive resources aimed at maintenance technicians in the field.
The step-by-step digital guides are purpose-built for real-world troubleshooting. They are designed to complement structured foundational learning with
timely instruction that can offer guidance while on the job and help reinforce knowledge of how to perform key repair and diagnostic tasks, with the intent of boosting technician confidence and of enabling performance of the work without halting workflow or waiting for support from a supervisor.
Each guide offers a structured interactive experience that walks technicians through identifying system components, locating parts, and taking accurate measurements. Short knowledge checks are integrated at each stage to keep technicians engaged and reinforce proper decision-making.
The initial guides focus on high-demand repair scenarios in the multifamily industry, with training on critical equipment such as electric and gas water heaters, electric ranges, refrigerators, dishwashers, washers and dryers, and heat pumps. Additional scenarios, including mini-split systems, are slated to be added soon.
More mobile-first tools are in development and will be released later this year. Pricing: the guides are included in Interplay’s Team and Executive subscription plans at no additional cost.
GoCanvas data collection solution (www.gocanvas.com, 703/436-8069, covered in February 2025 column) recently introduced a new feature, FollowUps, that allows your field team to flag and assign tasks—correction actions—onsite, as soon as an issue is found, reducing lag and speeding up resolution. The Follow-ups are digital tasks automatically created based on information collected in a form. How it works: you can add a Pass/ Fail field to your form for use by your field team, enabling reporting, assigning, tracking and resolving issues in real time. Every Follow-Up includes an issue description, due date, assigned team member, and direct link to the original form submission. The Follow-Up dashboard gives immediate insight into what’s open, what’s overdue, and what’s been completed.
Patti Feldman writes articles and web content for trade magazines and manufacturers of building products.
by Jay Crowe
Licensed plumbers generally experience solid demand year-round; after all, concerns like leaky toilets or clogged dishwashers can happen to any homeowner at any time. Even so, most plumbers recognize a spike in business once the weather turns cold—a peak season for frozen pipes and other cold weather concerns.
Plumbing companies often count on that peak season to make significant gains toward their yearly revenue goals. Lackluster business during this time may mean the opposite: a significant annual shortfall. One of the best ways to make these months count is to make a strategic investment in marketing, establishing your plumbing company as the partner of choice for home and small business owners throughout the area.
companies to audit and update their website, ensuring they are ready to start capturing and converting leads as they roll in. There are several essential elements that plumbing websites should include:
· Contact information presented on every single page
· Links or widgets that highlight testimonials and customer reviews
· Information about financial incentives
· Information about preventative maintenance or membership plans
Crucially, marketing isn’t an activity that can wait until the peak season; on the contrary, it’s important to be prepared well-ahead for marketing success. Starting too late, or planning too little, could result in the loss of valuable leads and future revenue.
Plumbers who wish to capitalize on the busiest time of year have a golden opportunity if they carefully plan and prepare. That preparation begins during the off-season.
Plumbers who wish to generate substantial business during the busy season must invest in building visibility and name recognition year-round. Consistent marketing outreach ensures your name stays top-of-mind throughout the year, meaning that when a customer does need a plumber, they will immediately have some idea of who to call.
There are several ways in which plumbers can accrue that kind of visibility and reach during seasonal slowdowns, ensuring they are ready to gather
Marketing isn’t an activity that can wait until the peak season; on the contrary, it’s important to be prepared well-ahead for marketing success.
a steady stream of leads during their seasonal peak.
First and foremost, it’s important for plumbers to prioritize online reviews, which are an invaluable currency in today’s market. The reality is that most customers choose home service vendors based on online reviews or referrals, so building plenty of goodwill is important.
How can plumbers generate more reviews? Simple: just ask. Training technicians to directly ask their customers to share feedback is crucial. Additionally, plumbing companies can make it easy for customers to leave reviews simply by making sure the appropriate links are readily accessible on invoices and estimates, in follow-up texts and more. Plumbers may also build trust and establish name recognition by promoting preventative services, even during the off season. Membership programs that include a routine plumbing inspection can help homeowners identify potential
issues and avoid sudden seasonal problems. And if problems do arise, plumbers who have already demonstrated their helpfulness will be top-of-mind for emergency service and repair calls.
The off-season may also be an appropriate time for plumbing companies to invest in targeted ads, including social media ads. Again, building name recognition during the off-season can pay off throughout the year—and during times of comparatively low demand, plumbers can often get ads at much lower prices, reflecting the decreased competition.
Shoulder seasons can also be the ideal time to plan and prepare. By laying the right groundwork, plumbing companies can enter busier seasons with the wind at their back.
For example, slower seasons may provide some flexibility for plumbing
Additionally, it’s always important to ensure your website loads quickly and is easy to navigate across all screen sizes and device types. Other marketing assets can also be finalized during the slower season. For example, promotional email campaigns can be planned and deployed according to the season. There’s no reason for plumbers to wait until November to generate messaging around “Brown Friday” specials. Data collection is another important off-season task. Service records, online appointment systems, and even email surveys can provide details about customer demographics and common service requests, all of which can provide direction for targeted marketing efforts throughout the year.
Most plumbers anticipate that some months will be busier than others, and yet there is never any cause to be idle. Even beyond the busy season, making smart investments in marketing can help any plumbing company achieve their annual revenue goals.
Jay Crowe is the Head Coach and Trainer for Business Development Resources (BDR), the industry leading resource for home service contractors. He boasts decades of experience as a business owner and strategic leadership expert. For more information, visit www.bdrco.com.
by Lynn Karam CEO OF LEK MANAGEMENT
When asked how important tax planning is to them, a typical business owner will say that they only prioritize it at the beginning of tax season, or at best, towards the end of the previous year. Once the taxes are filed, some contractors wait until the following year to find out whether they have a tax liability.
However, a competent tax planner knows that the best approach is to stay on top of your tax situation year-round. Proper tax planning includes tax projection based on the previous year’s numbers, which can affect the business (and personal) decisions made by the taxpayer. Even the IRS, perhaps counter-intuitively, acknowledges that paying closer attention to tax planning is beneficial to those who engage in it. It’s worth referencing IRS Publication 5349: Year-round Tax Planning is for Everyone.
Let’s take a deeper dive into how this strategy can benefit contractors.
Contractors should always consider tax planning as an important part of their business strategy. A popular recommendation is to implement a tiered approach to tax planning, since there are specific strategies that should be used for businesses that show low profits versus higher projected profits. For example, in construction the numbers can increase quickly, but in such a volatile industry, a quick turn of events can have devastating effects on a company’s taxes.
When engaging in tax planning, a contractor should consult both their tax and financial professionals, as a financial advisor will provide the information a tax planner needs to develop the most effective strategy for the contractor. Successful tax planning must begin with current and accurate financials. The old principle of “Garbage in, garbage out” applies here, meaning if decisions are made based on inaccuracies, then the analysis performed will result in poor recommendations that will not benefit the contractor’s business.
Several factors must be considered when making decisions on which tax
A competent tax planner knows that the best approach is to stay on top of your tax situation year-round.
strategies to implement, including, but not limited to:
• Accounts receivable. It is common for customers to have their own tax strategies, which may necessitate paying their outstanding invoices before the year’s end. Receiving substantial payments at the end of the year can disrupt your tax planning.
• Working capital. This is a critical factor to consider when deciding on the tax strategy. While the goal is to minimize the tax liability, using funds needed for working capital can hurt the operations of a business and may lead to financial chaos.
• Financing needs. Eliminating all profits through tax strategy can hinder or even completely jeopardize the company’s chances of securing necessary financing in the near future.
Again, contractors should have a tiered approach to tax planning. As companies go through different stages, their focus
and objectives change. A tiered approach allows contractors to be proactive by customizing their tax planning strategies to accommodate the objectives specific to each stage.
A few common tax planning strategies used during the earlier stages of business life include:
• Maximizing deductions. Ensuring all expenses are accounted for and in some cases accelerating major purchases to minimize tax liability.
• Taking advantage of depreciation. While some depreciable assets like equipment can be fully depreciated in the year of purchase, consider extending the depreciation over the life of the asset if that approach will be more advantageous to the company and owners/shareholders.
• Retirement planning. Implementation of retirement plans such as a 401(k) can help contractors reduce their tax liability while allowing them to save for the future and improve employee morale.
As a company grows and is exposed to higher tax liabilities, consider implementing some of these strategies:
• Insurance. This will include more sophisticated insurance plans such as captive insurance which can improve the financial position of the company and its shareholders.
• Pension plans. Pension plans tailored to the company’s unique situation can help by reducing the tax liability, improving the company’s financial position and increasing the dedication of the employees and their long-term commitment to the company.
• Business Trusts. Trusts can help companies reduce their tax liability in several ways while providing other advantages such as flexibility by creating the trust in a manner that meets the specific goals of the company. Asset protection and Estate planning are some of the other potential advantages of a business trust. It is important to note that tax planning involves creating a tailored strategy for each business and its shareholders. Creating a strategic plan sets business intentions and helps your tax planner minimize tax liability.
Effective communication between contractors and their tax planners is pivotal for optimizing these strategies. Regular reviews of the company’s financial performance can reveal opportunities to adjust tax planning methods, ensuring that they remain aligned with evolving business objectives. Staying informed about legislative changes and shifts in tax policies enables contractors to avoiding unexpected liabilities.
Keeping up on your tax situation yearround and planning ahead so that tax season won’t catch you off guard will help maintain a stronger financial position for your business.
Founder and CEO of LEK Management Inc., Lynn Karam has two decades of experience in finance, operations, and strategic planning. Karam is an Enrolled Agent authorized by the United States Department of the Treasury to represent clients who are undergoing an audit and to negotiate with the IRS on her clients’ behalf.
by Nick Fryer VICE-PRESIDENT OF MARKETING, SHEER LOGISTICS
The supply chain disruptions, price volatility, and unpredictability that the latest round of tariffs has caused for parts and materials have many in the industry wondering what they can do to get ahead of potential delays.
In this article, we’ll break down how to beat the parts delay spiral and invest in better logistics strategies and technologies so that construction companies and contractors can improve their first-time fix rates and remain competitive, no matter what’s happening with economic policies.
To some, losing a single day on a construction project because of a missing part might not sound that serious, but even a short interruption can have consequences. Losing the day risks precious labor hours going to waste and raises the issue of how to make up for that loss later. Every supply chain delay increases the risk of a project exceeding the initial time and budget constraints. It also kills efficiency.
Most construction projects have to perform tasks in a sequential, set manner to adhere to engineering requirements. That’s why material lead times are so relevant and why a single delay can have ripple effects across a project. For example, delayed plumbing fittings will delay tiling and decorating efforts and mean that any productivity that’s been gained until that point is swiftly lost.
Parts delays interrupt the workflow and force teams to try and make up for it elsewhere. This often makes projects more stressful and can even lead to rushed, sloppy work. All in all, there’s no denying the damage a delay can wreak.
As construction spending continues to dip, contractors need to find new ways to stay competitive. Having a strong firsttime fix rate (FTFR) is one of the best ways to do it, no matter what area of construction you’re in.
A first-time fix is when a service provider is able to resolve a customer’s issue on the first visit. Most electricians, plumbers, and builders are paid primarily for the job
How to beat the parts delay spiral, invest in better logistics strategies, and remain competitive.
at hand. They can’t charge extra because there was a delay in sourcing critical materials, fixtures or replacement parts for key construction equipment, and they had to come back for a second time. It’s why it’s so costly to go back and forth on a job.
Alternatively, customers are more likely to recommend or call again on a service that dealt with their issue on the first go, which helps bring in more work. It also saves on labor and time expenditure for the service provider. Added together, having a strong FTFR provides powerhouse benefits for the bottom line.
Material delivery and procurement issues are one of the most critical areas that project managers have to address to reduce delays, but how do contractors and other construction specialists stay stocked? Here are some of the logistics moves that plumbers swear by to avoid parts delays:
• The “Rolling Warehouse” Approach: Keeping one main service van stocked with commonly used parts and kits prevents stockouts and delays. It ensures that technicians are more prepared to fix an issue on the first visit.
• Pre-Planned Emergency Responses: Every customer thinks their burst pipe is an emergency, but plumbers know how common it is. Having prepacked kits ready for typical plumbing emergencies means that plumbers can take advantage of all their experience and show up for those emergencies quickly and efficiently.
• Diversified Suppliers: No matter what area of construction a business is in, backup suppliers are vital for maintaining supply chain performance. Contractors with more than one go-to for parts ensure that there’s always someone else to call if there’s a shortage or delay.
• After-Hours Pickup Lockers: Sometimes, staying on time with a project means being able to work on the weekend or assist with an emergency issue in the middle of the night. After-hours pick-up lockers ensure that contractors can pick up materials outside of usual hours. This provides greater flexibility when juggling tighter jobs.
Sometimes parts are slowed down by external forces that can’t be controlled,
but there are still plenty of tools and tech that can be used to speed up the process:
• Inventory Tracking: RFID tags and other devices can be used to track inventory automatically, so that as soon as parts leave or enter a warehouse, that data is collected. This reduces the risk of stockouts as inventory is monitored more closely.
• GPS Routing and Tracking: This is relevant for service vehicles and supplier deliveries alike. Using GPS tracking helps flag inefficient routing and allows crews to see exactly where parts are and when they’re likely to be delivered so that they can schedule work accordingly.
• Supply Chain Platforms: A Transportation Management System (TMS) that brings together data from multiple suppliers allows construction companies to track shipments in real time. This, in turn, provides the insights needed for more efficient procurement decisions. Inventory management software can also be used to automate parts orders according to low stock counts and eliminate any administrative delays.
• AI Forecasting: Predictive analytics powered by AI can take data from past projects and use it to provide insights so that fulfillments are timed appropriately
Solving parts delays starts with getting ahead of them. Integrating tech that can better track and automate aspects of the procurement and fulfillment process ensures far more accurate ordering and, as a result, less chance of arriving at a job without the parts needed. It’s why investing in smarter logistics boosts first-time-fix rates and, as a result, helps businesses build up a competitive edge.
Nick Fryer is Vice President Of Marketing for Sheer Logistics. He has over a decade of experience in the logistics industry, spanning marketing, public relations, sales enablement, M&A and more at 3PLs and 4PLs including AFN Logistics, GlobalTranz, and Sheer Logistics.
by Alok Chanani CO-FOUNDER AND CEO,
AI, cloud, streaming, remote everything, all of it lives on servers. And those servers don’t run without HVAC, power, maintenance, and control systems that work flawlessly.
According to CBRE, 2.3 gigawatts of new supply are under construction in North America alone, and demand is still outpacing supply. The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects global data center electricity use will double by 2030.
• Microsoft plans to invest $80 billion in AI-related data centers in 2025
• Google’s allocating $75 billion for cloud infrastructure.
• Amazon is investing $100 billion to expand hyperscale data centers. There’s a wave of money flowing into data centers. And contractors who can prove they’re ready are in line for some of the most valuable service work in the industry.
Unprecedented Opportunity
Frankly, this surge couldn’t come at a better time.
Commercial real estate isn’t bouncing back the way people hoped. Office vacancies are up across the country. Leasing activity is down. Owners are pulling back on capex because tenants aren’t renewing. The entire space is in retreat.
Data centers don’t just fill the void. They present a once-in-a-generation opportunity. One we haven’t seen since the dot-com boom... if ever.
With this much money in play, it’s no wonder contractors want in. One maintenance contract alone could be a game-changer.
There’s no standardized benchmark for what a data center service agreement is worth. But look at the size of the investments and what’s at stake if something fails, and you start to get the picture.
Just one example: A 100-acre AI data center project in Utah just secured $2 billion in financing.
Service and maintenance on sites like this aren’t side gigs. They’re recurring, critical, and fully embedded in operations.
We’re watching one of the most aggressive infrastructure buildouts in modern history.
Become the go-to shop for just one of these facilities, and it can reshape your entire revenue model.
But with great demand comes even greater expectations.
Data centers don’t tolerate downtime. They don’t want excuses. And they don’t give second chances. Response times are tighter. Inspections happen on a tight cycle. Every visit has to be logged, verified, and backed by documentation that holds up under scrutiny.
You either show up with your crew trained, your paperwork clean, and your systems dialed in, or you don’t get the work. Period.
The owners and operators running these sites are asking smarter questions than most contractors are prepared for. They want to know:
• Can your techs work on this exact equipment, or are you hoping they can figure it out on-site?
• What’s your protocol for dispatching qualified people at off-hours?
• How fast can you prove something got done without having to dig through texts or emails? They’re not asking these questions because they love process. They’re asking because they’ve seen what happens when the wrong shop gets the job.
The good news is it’s not always the biggest firms getting the work. It’s the contractors who:
• Already know what systems are on site.
• Can map their techs’ certs to the equipment.
• Show documentation not as a checkbox, but as a way of doing business. At BuildOps, we work with a lot of contractors ahead of the curve. Here’s what they’ve shared:
• Don’t wait for the RFP. Start with outreach: LinkedIn, AFCOM, 7x24
Exchange, and retrofit projects. Look for titles like Critical Infrastructure Manager or Facility Director before a bid ever drops.
• Know the data center types:
• Enterprise (Visa, hospitals): private, controlled, security-focused
• CoLo (like QTS): multi-tenant, uptime-driven
• Hyperscale (Google, AWS): invite-only unless you’re already in
• Know the certs that matter: You don’t need to overhaul your business. But you do need:
• Manufacturer certs (Liebert, Stulz, Daikin, etc.)
• OSHA 10/30 and a clean EMR
• Cyber + umbrella insurance (expect $5M+ if automation is involved)
• Rapid-response capability (2–4 hour SLAs are standard)
Data centers are shaping up to be the single most important growth path for contractors in the next decade. Want the work? Know the tech. Know your team. Know how to prove your value. Because this opportunity isn’t slowing down. And it’s not going to wait for you to catch up.
Alok Chanani is the Co-founder and CEO of BuildOps and a former US Army Captain.
by Mary Scott Nabers CO-FOUNDER AND CEO, STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS, INC.
Water resource issues in Texas have been a hot topic since the 89th legislative session convened in January of this year. There is no doubt, and all parties agree that Texas must address its water resource issues. However, there are different opinions and viewpoints from water experts on how to proceed.
As the session ended, a bill was passed and sent to the governor’s office for final approval. It allocates $20 billion in spending over the next 20 years. However, Texas citizens will have the final say on how the dedicated funding is allocated through a Constitutional Amendment vote in November.
If approved as the bill is written, the legislation will dedicate $1 billion annually from sales tax revenue to the Texas Water Fund. The allocations will then be split with 50% for new water supply projects and 50% for water infrastructure repairs, conservation efforts, and flood mitigation projects beginning in fiscal year 2027.
While city and county officials eagerly wait for the funding to be released, it won’t be as quick as they hoped. As a result, many large water projects are being prepared for launch in 2025 and 2026.
For contractors hoping to work on these upcoming water projects, staying ahead of evolving plumbing regulations and technology standards is more important than ever. This year, the plumbing industry is advancing its shift toward water efficiency, automation, and climate resilience, with regulations and project specs evolving to reflect that focus:
• The 2018 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) and International Plumbing Code (IPC) were adopted statewide, with new mandates covering fixture flow rates, energy-efficient water heaters, and enhanced backflow prevention.
• Texas has enacted tighter conservation policies that support low-flow fixtures, greywater recycling, and smart leak detection systems, which are becoming standard in both residential and commercial projects.
As Texas prepares to invest billions in its water future, will your team be ready?
• Design elements prioritizing health, safety, and resilience—including touchless fixtures, filtration systems, and freeze protection—are now being baked into plumbing specifications for both public and private sector work.
• The water bill (HB 3214) was passed with significant support and it has been sent to Governor Greg Abbott’s desk for signature. If signed by the governor, it will reduce the journeyman experience requirement for Master Plumber licensure to expand the eligible labor pool and help firms better meet workforce demands.
• The Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners has increased its focus on continuing professional education and field compliance, with stricter enforcement policies that will apply to many of the large upcoming public works projects. Taken together, these shifts represent a turning point. As Texas prepares to invest billions in its water future, contractors must ensure that their teams, qualifications, and project methodologies align with both state-level regulatory changes and industry best practices in sustainability, automation, and code compliance.
An overview of several major water infrastructure projects now moving toward
solicitation follows. These critical efforts are not waiting for new state funding.
City leaders in San Antonio have announced a $32 million aquifer storage and recovery plant expansion project. Once completed, the San Antonio Water System will be able to provide a capacity of 60 million gallons a day, doubling what the current facility can provide. The project will also provide redundancy of current treatment capacity and support future expansions of local well fields. The current systems have been in service for more than 20 years and the project’s objective is to meet the increased demand for water resources. Solicitations may be issued in late 2026 or early 2027.
City officials in McKinney are moving forward with a $19 million Stonebridge water line project which is a key component of the city’s $500 million Capital Improvement Program. The city must address escalating demands of its growing population. The project will call for the installation of a 42-inch water main stretching approximately 11,000 linear feet. The new water infrastructure will be designed to enhance water distribution reliability in the Stonebridge area and support not only current residents but also meet future demand projections. This project is part of the $245 million being spent on current
and future water infrastructure projects that include new water lines and new water pump stations. The city is currently working to acquire the necessary land and easements to facilitate construction. As soon as the land acquisition is complete, solicitations will be released. Construction is slated for 2026.
A $24.75 million plan to overhaul water wells and construct new water transmission lines for the city of Pecos has been announced. City leaders are undertaking this water utility infrastructure project to address critical needs and preserve fiscal responsibility. The improvements will include the construction of new transmission lines and upgrading of older wells. Both are essential to meet current deficiencies and future demand. Existing pipes have become damaged and rusted over time and the protective galvanized coating has worn out, resulting in frequent leaks and breaks. The required funding support will come from a USDA loan and a grant, with the loan being repaid from the city’s water and sewer utility system revenues, sparing taxpayers from any tax increases. The project is currently in the planning phase which is expected to last through the fall of 2025. Once this is completed, solicitations for design and construction are anticipated. Texas officials will launch an abundance of water projects before the state’s 2027 water funding is made available. Although there will be plenty of opportunities to pursue, interested contractors should get positioned now because the state’s 2027 fiscal year actually starts on September 1, 2026, and that date will arrive very soon.
As President and CEO of Strategic Partnerships, Inc. Mary Scott Nabers, a former statewide office holder in Texas, has decades of experience in the public and private sectors. Her unique expertise is her success in connecting the two sectors. Mary is also a well-recognized expert in the P3 world and a true business development professional. Strategic Partnerships, Inc. publishes Government Market News, the premier platform for connecting public and private sector leaders in the government marketplace.
NEW YORK, NY — LIXIL, a global leader in pioneering water and housing products, continued its ongoing partnership with Tools & Tiaras, hosting a hands-on workshop as part of the organization’s 2025 summer camp.
Held at the LIXIL Water Experience Center in New York City, the event introduced young girls to the world of plumbing through interactive, educational activities led by industry professionals. Founded by tradeswoman and advocate Judaline Cassidy, Tools & Tiaras empowers girls ages 6 to 14 to explore careers in construction and the
skilled trades through real-world experiences, mentorship, and exposure to role models in the field.
The skilled labor shortage in the US—particularly in plumbing—has reached critical levels, with demand for qualified workers far outpacing supply. One contributing factor is the industry’s ongoing lack of diversity. While women make up 47% of the overall U.S. workforce, they represent just 2.1% of plumbers. As experienced workers retire and fewer young people enter the
trades, LIXIL and Tools & Tiaras see expanding access and representation as key to addressing this workforce gap.
“At a time when the skilled labor shortage is escalating, we believe in nurturing curiosity and confidence in the next generation—especially among young women who have traditionally been underrepresented in these fields,” said Nik Bafana, SVP & Leader, LIXIL Americas. “By making these careers more visible and accessible, we can help them see what’s possible—and support them in building futures rooted in purpose, creativity, and skill.”
Featuring live product displays and innovative solutions from across LIXIL’s portfolio of leading brands—American Standard, GROHE, DXV, INAX, and Basco—the LIXIL Water Experience Center provided an ideal hands-on learning environment for campers. The workshop also marked a meaningful moment in American Standard’s 150th anniversary year, spotlighting the brand’s legacy of plumbing innovation. One activity brought that history to life by exploring the evolution of toilet technology: campers compared an older model to American Standard’s high-efficiency Champion Pro, complete with a golf ball flush test that demonstrated how far performance and water savings have come.
In the Water Experience Center’s working shower area, a “Showerhead Showdown” helped campers understand water pressure and flow. The group also constructed DIY water filters using charcoal and other materials, illustrating the science behind the GROHE Blue Chilled & Sparkling 2.0 Water System. Finally, a plate-painting and cleaning activity allowed campers to playfully try out various working kitchen faucets.
“Our camps prove that confidence and capability grow through hands-on experience,” said Cassidy. “We’re proud to partner with companies like LIXIL that don’t just support our mission—they open their doors, share their resources, and help reimagine what a future in the trades can look like for girls.”
LIXIL’s collaboration with Tools & Tiaras is part of a broader commitment to advancing the plumbing trade. Through initiatives, such as American Standard’s TradeUp program and GROHE’s GIVE program, LIXIL partners with educators, customers, and local communities to provide students with the training, tools, and inspiration needed to become tomorrow’s skilled professionals.
To learn more about LIXIL, visit www. lixil.com
To learn more about Tools & Tiaras, visit www.toolsandtiaras.org
CANFIELD, OH — Associates from Oatey Co., a leading manufacturer in the plumbing industry, volunteered for the third consecutive year at the “Let’s Build Construction Careers” Camp for Girls, held June 18 at Mahoning County Career & Technical Center (MCCTC) in Canfield, Ohio. As a returning sponsor, Oatey developed and delivered a hands-on plumbing training designed to introduce campers to real-world skills and career opportunities in the trades.
The mission of the “Let’s Build Construction Careers” Camp for Girls is to empower girls ages 12–17 to explore career paths in skilled trades, construction and manufacturing—fields where women have traditionally been underrepresented. This free, week-long program offers experiential learning, field trips and mentorship, providing early exposure to high-demand careers like plumbing, pipefitting, electrical work, welding, drywall installation, bricklaying and more.
Oatey volunteers, led by Technical Specialist Jim Eichenser, facilitated a “Plumbing 101” workshop. Throughout the day, they instructed and mentored
campers rotating through skill stations focused on core plumbing fundamentals, including solvent welding PVC pipe, installing washer supply boxes and sink strainers, pulling and setting toilets and soldering copper pipe.
“The level of interest and enthusiasm these campers showed was truly inspiring,” said Eichenser. “Introducing them to experiences like this early on is so important—not just for building technical skills, but for helping them gain confidence and see the breadth of opportunities in the skilled trades. Exposure like this can be the spark that shapes a future career.”
The interactive training format encouraged active participation and created a supportive space for campers to ask questions, try new tools and gain practical insight into plumbing careers.
“Being able to give back and show these young girls what’s possible in the trades was incredibly rewarding,” added Sherya Jackson, Associate Product Manager at Oatey and first-time camp volunteer. “They were eager, capable and asked thoughtful questions throughout the day. It was clear they saw the value
in what they were learning. Watching their growth as they moved through each task was a powerful reminder of why programs like this matter.”
Two female pipefitters from Local Union 396 also partnered with Oatey to support the soldering station, providing technical guidance and sharing their career journeys. Their presence brought valuable mentorship and perspective, giving campers the opportunity
to learn directly from women working in the field.
As labor shortages continue to challenge the skilled trades, Oatey’s involvement in mentorship and career exploration reflects its commitment to developing future talent and advancing diversity in the industry. To learn more about Oatey’s efforts to support the skilled trades talent pipeline, listen to its podcast The Fix and visit Oatey.com
➤ Continued from page 26 each employee since there are so many options compared to “one-size-fits-all” classroom training. When considering how to identify the best courses for each employee, get their input. What are their aspirations, and how can you help them succeed in their career?
Many employers are surprised to learn that a new hire takes about one to two years to become fully productive. This is why continuous training programs are so important; they help you retain that employee you’ve invested years in and who is likely more productive and fruitful than any new hire. Continuous training—onsite, online and in a classroom—can feed a worker’s desire to grow into what’s next.
As an employer, you likely know what physical labor your employees need to tackle in the field. It’s also important to consider the other skills they need to do their job. Are they comfortable talking to customers and communicating with your jobsite team? How are their organizational skills? Training for these soft skills can help employees grow and
learn and help your business look more professional in front of your customers.
The newest generation entering the workforce, Gen Z, is often unaware of the value water drillers and other water professionals provide. Yet water systems
professionals are highly paid, and their pay is expected to increase given the growing demand for these professionals.
For example, research shows that a young person who attends trade school and starts working will be $140,000 ahead of a student who enrolls in a four-year college first. Employers can share this growth potential during outreach and recruiting
fairs, enhancing the appeal of water system careers. Couple this with your company’s commitment to training, and you have a story that appeals to young workers. According to employment solutions provider Glint, opportunities to learn and grow are now the number one factor defining an exceptional work environment.
Investing in your workforce is often a team effort. Employers can look to their manufacturing partners and industry organizations for low- to no-cost training options. These organizations do the heavy lifting—curating resources, developing training programs, and coordinating trainers. They invest the time and money to support water professionals and their businesses. Many of these companies and organizations may also offer professional training and development scholarships.
Rachel Batdorff is the Global Program Manager, Customer Education and Training Solutions at Franklin Electric. She is the daughter of Dave Batdorff, a longtime Franklin Electric regional field service manager. She can be reached at rachel.batdorff@fele.com.
DePERE, WI — Tweet Garot will host a graduation ceremony for its 2nd Annual Heavy Metal Summer Experience, a free workforce development program introducing high school students and recent graduates to union construction careers.
The Heavy Metal Summer Experience is a free 30hour educational camp spread over six weeks in June and July 2025. Twenty students explored career opportunities in mechanical, sheet metal, and electrical construction through hands-on projects alongside seasoned craft professionals. Students also toured Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 18 and Plumbers & Steamfitters UA Local 400 training facilities, gaining firsthand exposure to local apprenticeship programs and career pathways in high-demand construction trades.
of skilled construction professionals,” said Hope Voigt, President and COO at Tweet Garot. “We’re helping students discover rewarding career paths that offer excellent wages, benefits, and job security.” The program addresses a growing demand for skilled construction workers while providing students valuable career exploration at no cost.
The ceremony celebrates student achievements and dedication throughout the program. Families, friends and media partners are invited to join the celebration.
The graduation ceremony will be held Wednesday, July 16, from 3:00 to 4:30 PM at the Tweet Garot Corporate Office, 325 Reid Street, De Pere, WI. Participants, family members, industry partners and media representatives are all invited to attend.
“The Heavy Metal Summer Experience represents our commitment to developing the next generation
For more information about the Heavy Metal Summer Experience camp, visit www.hmse.org
➤ Continued from page 3
light on mental health awareness for workers in the construction industry. The company worked with Buffalo’s 26 Shirts to create a custom T-shirt that is being distributed to team members across Danforth’s six office locations in New York, Ohio and Vermont. The back of the shirt is emblazoned with a graphic of an eagle wearing a hard hat at a construction site, with the words “Strength in Tough Times” above the graphic and “You Are Not Alone” below the graphic, along with information for the 988 National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
As part of the initiative, 26 Shirts will donate a portion of the proceeds from Danforth’s order to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
“For Danforth and across our entire industry, jobsite safety is paramount. Mental health is jobsite safety,” said Danforth CEO Robert Beck. “We wear equipment to protect our bodies, we check our tools, we inspect our harnesses—we need to check in on each other. Too many times, workers will try to tough it out in silence. We want them to know there are resources available if and when they need them.”
According to federal statistics, the construction industry has one of the highest rates of suicide, with rates four times higher than in the general population. Contributing factors include stress, long hours, and the
potential seasonality of work, among others. Summer can be a particularly tough time.
“Working in the heat and the elements can be very physically and mentally demanding. The days get longer and project schedules and deadlines can intensify,” said Mike Bement, Senior Vice President, Pre-Construction. “It is important for workers, in the field, in the shops, and in the office, to know that it’s okay not to be okay.”
The inspiration for Danforth’s mental health awareness initiative came from Beck’s tenure as national
WASHINGTON, DC — The US Department of Labor has updated its guidance on penalty and debt collection procedures in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Field Operations Manual in an effort to minimize the burden on small businesses and increase prompt hazard abatement.
“All employers should be offered the opportunity to comply with regulations that help maintain a safe working environment,” said Deputy Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling. “Small employers who are working in good faith to comply with complex federal laws should not face the same penalties as large employers with abundant resources. By lowering penalties on small employers, we are supporting the entrepreneurs that drive our economy
and giving them the tools they need to keep our workers safe and healthy on the job while keeping them accountable.”
The new policy, outlined in the Penalties and Debt Collection section of OSHA’s Field Operations Manual, increases penalty reductions for small employers, making it easier for small businesses to invest resources in compliance and hazard abatement.
Additionally, the updated policy expands the penalty reduction for employers without a history of serious, willful, repeat, or failure-to-abate OSHA violations. The new policies are effective immediately.
Penalties issued before July 14, 2025, will remain under the previous penalty structure. Learn more at www.osha.gov
President of the Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA). He spent the majority of his one-year term traveling around the country meeting with other MCAA member companies and discussing important issues that are facing the mechanical contracting industry.
“It was eye-opening to me to see and hear from contractors in every market across the United States what a real crisis our industry is facing in terms of suicide,” he said. “This isn’t just about Danforth. Construction is a brotherhood and sisterhood. If our project partners across our 750-mile footprint see our Danforth team members wearing the shirts, hopefully it will spur conversation, especially if someone is struggling. We’re all in this together.”
A leader in suicide prevention and mental health crisis care, the 988 National Suicide Crisis Lifeline has answered more than 13 million calls, texts and chats from people in need of support across the United States and its territories since its launch in July 2022.
Founded in Buffalo in 1884, Danforth has more than 1,000 employees across a geographic footprint that includes its Western New York headquarters and operations in Rochester, Syracuse, and Albany, New York, Columbus, Ohio, and Burlington, Vermont.
For more information visit jwdanforth.com
WASHINGTON, DC — Kevin Sell, Senior Manager of Corporate Development at Kwest Group, Perrysburg, Ohio, on July 16th testified on behalf of Associated Builders and Contractors before the US House Committee on Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Workforce Protections on the role that programs like ABC’s STEP® Health and Safety Management System play in creating meaningful pathways between the construction industry and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Speaking at the hearing, “Safe Workplaces, Stronger Partnerships: The Future of OSHA Compliance Assistance,” Sell conveyed the importance of collaborative partnerships between the contractor community and OSHA. He pointed to STEP, which enables top-performing participants to achieve incident rates nearly seven times safer than the US Bureau of Labor Statistics construction industry average, as a way for those partnerships to create cultural transformation.
Sell began his career as a firefighter and shift commander, which enhanced his ability to make quick and complex executive decisions throughout his 35-year career in construction. In construction, Sell worked in safety and quality, workforce development
and relationship management roles. He also held leadership roles on both the Kentucky Workers’ Compensation Funding Commission and the Kentucky Occupational Safety & Health Review Commission.
“The area offices of OSHA have provided employees and employers with valuable expertise and support through Compliance Assistance Specialists and their Challenge Program, which serves as a pathway to the Voluntary Protection Program,” said Sell. “By fostering a relationship—or better yet, a partnership—with the area office, employers
gain nonenforcement support, allowing them to work collaboratively with OSHA to improve workplace safety and reduce risk for their teams. This is especially important in construction, as many of us have a mobile workforce that presents a unique set of challenges far different and more complex than most general industry sites.
“In 1999, we met with then-Region 5 Administrator Mike Connors, who challenged us to adapt ABC’s STEP and Challenge Program into a construction version of the Voluntary Protection Program,” said Sell. “We began a demonstration pro-
Watts has announced the appointment of David Lopes as Vice President of Marketing.
Lopes brings nearly two decades of international leadership experience most recently from Bosch.
Throughout his career, Lopes has successfully built and transformed operations across Europe, Latin America, and North America. His accomplish -
gram in 2001. VPP, across all industries, allows employers, employees and labor to apply for an audit that can lead to their VPP designation. Many of us refer to the VPP as OSHA’s ‘seal of approval.’”
Sell went on to explain that STEP, which was founded in 1989 as a safety benchmarking and improvement tool, has evolved into an industry-leading health and safety management system that demonstrates leadership and cultural transformation among its members, regardless of company size or type of work.
“When I mentor construction companies applying for VPP, I always ask for their STEP level or encourage them to start this process because any company can participate in STEP,” said Sell. “STEP was a key factor in creating the VPP for construction, and I continue to find it highly valuable in the application process. STEP has also evolved to include something critically important to all of us in every industry: mental health and suicide prevention.”
Established in 1989, STEP provides contractors and suppliers with a robust, no-cost framework for measuring health and safety data and benchmarking with peers in the industry. Any company can participate in STEP.
Visit abc.org/step to learn more.
ments include launching a renewable energy business in Portugal, expanding operations and introducing new revenue models in Mexico, and leading a commercial HVAC turnaround in North
America. His strategic focus on innovation, customer value, and operational excellence has consistently delivered strong business outcomes.
Lopes is well-positioned to elevate Watts’ marketing strategy, strengthen customer engagement, and accelerate business performance across the Americas. For more information, visit www. watts.com
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WATER HEATER LINE from Aerco now includes new high-flow models, capable of supporting domestic hot water (DHW) loads up to 140 gallons per minute (gpm). Designed to pair with condensing and electric boilers— including seamless integration with AERCO’s Benchmark® and Benchmark® E boilers—the new SmartPlate EV models offer greater performance flexibility, ideal for both new construction and retrofit projects. Aerco
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PRO FILTRATION BOTTLEFILLING STATIONS house filters at the top of the unit, allowing for filter changes in under 30 seconds. Included filters provide filtration for up to 10,000 gallons; filter changes are only needed once a year. An optional sediment pre-filter helps reduce sediment buildup. The system detects newly installed filters and automatically resets filter status lights. Elkay WWW.ELKAY.COM
THE TECK FLUSH VALVE is now over 100 years old. Renowned for their straightforward design, reliable performance, and ease of maintenance, the valves are critical features in hightraffic environments such as hospitals and long-term care homes. Recent upgrades include electronic operation, water-efficient models, and field-adjustable volume controls.
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THE AUTOHOT ON-DEMAND HOT WATER SYSTEM is designed around the user’s needs, not a preset clock. Instead of running constantly, it waits for the user to signal when hot water is needed. Installed by the water heater, the system powers on with the press of a wireless push button or motion sensor.
A temperature sensor at the end of the plumbing line ensures hot water has arrived before the recirculation pump automatically shuts off. It runs only around 5 to 15 minutes per day, based on actual usage. It avoids pushing hot water into the cold lines, unlike many timer systems. Works with tank, tankless and heat pump water heaters.
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THE NWP500 SERIES HEAT PUMP WATER HEATER features a durable stainless-steel tank and coated aluminum coils, dry-fire protection and an intuitive control panel with LED display. Its lighter weight design and top and side connection options offer versatility and ease of installation in a variety of indoor settings. It is Energy Star-certified with a Uniform Energy Factor rating of up to 4.05. Built-in Wi-Fi, powered by NaviLink, allows for remote monitoring.
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HEATER is available in 10 models, ranging from 399,000 to 4 million BTU/hr. They are constructed with superior grade 316L stainlesssteel, which provides up to 99% thermal efficiency and reliability for large commercial applications. This line features a 10:1 turndown ratio on models 399,000 through 999,000 and 5:1 turndown ratio on models 1,250,000 through 4,000,000 btu/hr.
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HERCULES CRYO-TEK FG ANTIFREEZE from Oatey is a concentrated antifreeze solution used in closed-loop hydronic heating and cooling systems. It contains 96% foodgrade propylene glycol and high-purity corrosion inhibitors. The formulation is designed to provide corrosion protection while remaining safe for contact with potable water systems, water testing, geothermal loops and DWV systems. Compatible with copper, steel, iron, brass, PEX and elastomeric tubing. Not for use with galvanized, CPVC and aluminum. Oatey
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▲ THE H-LINE SHOWERHEAD from Watermark is designed to work together functionally and aesthetically with other elements in the collection, including hand showers and bath spouts. Coordinated fixtures offer a sense of uniformity in the room and enhance the flow of the space. Watermark
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from Matco-Norca are made from high-quality brass and feature a durable brass bonnet, plug and pressure test cap. They are engineered for multifunction applications. Can be paired with Padova, Angelic and Leverage trim kits. Each trim kit includes a diverter cartridge and is offered in both shared and nonshared function configurations to suit installation needs. Available in chrome, brushed nickel and matte black finishes. Matco-Norca
▲ SUREPRESS PRESS FITTINGS provide visual confirmation of pressed connections, plus push-to-connect options in lead-free brass and 304 stainless steel. The SurePress system allows contractors to eliminate the use of torches across residential and light commercial installations while providing visual verification of proper connection.
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▲ THE JM-1000 X MINI-JET from General Pipe Cleaners is an upgrade to the toolbox jetter, offering a more efficient motor and a new, balanced design. The lightweight, compact jetter provides 1,500 psi of cleaning power, yet weighs just 23 lb. Ideal for clearing clogged sinks, tubs and laundry drains, it clears grease, sand and ice from 1 1/2 in. to 3 in. lines up to 50 ft. long. It hits the stoppage with high-pressure, wall-to-wall water spray and flushes it away. Includes a Super-Flex highpressure jet hose, four-piece nozzle set and water supply hose. An optional stainless-steel braid jetter hose with Teflon core is available for even greater cleaning power.
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MEMBRANE is used broadly in two areas: water treatment processes, such as water purification and wastewater/ industrial water reuse; and industrial processes, including filtration and separation. Membrane technology contributes to improved productivity, reduced environmental impact, and effective use of limited water resources.
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COMPRESSOR from Kaeser is available in two pressure ranges, covering 100 to 200 psi, and features molded polymer gull-wing doors for durability and easy access. Designed for civil and commercial construction and other applications, its pV control system automatically increases free air delivery when a lower operating pressure is selected. A reliable Hatz diesel engine provides 11 hours of consistent, high-performance operation with the lowest possible emissions. The anti-frost control automatically adjusts the operating temperature based on ambient conditions, protecting tools from freezing. The standard Sigma Control Smart allows users to adjust settings and monitor fuel consumption, fluid levels and operating conditions. Kaeser US.KAESER.COM
THE 1930 SERIES SINK from Duravit has the ability to modernize older bathrooms with its clean lines, while maintaining the Golden Era aesthetic. Its octagonal washbasin fits perfectly in every size and shape of bathroom, from period-style interiors to adding a touch of vintage charm to contemporary spaces. Duravit
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▲ THE WORKSHOP WEDGE BOOT from Wolverine features time-tested Goodyear Welt construction that can be resoled again and again, as well as a PU wedge sole for sturdiness and cushioning. Also features a premium full-grain leather upper, a moisturewicking mesh lining, a removable fullcushioned PU footbed, a PVC midsole and a steel shank for increased support. Wolverine
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INHIBITOR forms a protective corrosion inhibiting film on metal surfaces in direct contact with a treated hydrotesting fluid. It also vaporizes to leave behind a protective molecular layer on metals in void spaces that may be above the water level.
A minimum dose of VpCI®-649 offers corrosion protection during hydrotesting, while increasing the dosage provides extended protection for six months to two years after hydrotesting.
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by Steve Spaulding
Little trick of the publishing trade to share with you today. Yes, this monthly editorial is my chance to get up on the soapbox and share my opinions about the topics of the day, but it is also an engagement tool. Now that you’ve made it all the way to the end of the magazine, I’m trying to get you to flip back and visit some articles you may have overlooked (or, if you’re reading this online, to get you to click a few more links I think will be worth your time).
We have an outstanding lineup this month, with Editor-at-Large John Mesenbrink writing about cultivating a safety culture (pg. 28), a forum piece on worker retention from Franklin Electric’s Rachel Batdorff (pg. 26), the return of one-time columnist Joe Fiedrich with an excellent hydronic/radiant case study to share (pg. 34) and of course our monthly Murderers’ Row of columnists (if you’ll forgive the obscure baseball reference). But what has struck me especially this month is how many great stories have crossed my desk about companies and organizations reaching out to young people—sometimes very young people—
to encourage their involvement in the skilled trades.
Our top story on pg. 3 is how the PHCC Educational Foundation and SkillsUSA are partnering to support organized plumbing competitions, and the value of those competitions as a recruitment tool. In another example, on pg. 16, toolmaker DeWalt is rewarding the
ing a summer camp for girls as young as 12 with a similar mission.
If I had to pick the one topic this magazine has devoted the most ink to during my near 30 years on staff, it would have to be the difficulties contractors have finding and retaining skilled workers.
We’ve covered government and private investment in training; we’ve talked about
not feel is a fair assessment of the younger generation, but I can appreciate the frustration that fuels that opinion in many of our readers.
Yes, the skills gap remains a crisis. Yes, we are looking at a deficit of more than half a million plumbers by 2027. But it is starting to feel like all these public and private efforts, combined, are beginning to bear some fruit. No, I don’t have any hard numbers to share—no graph I can point to where the line is starting to bend—just a sentiment I’m getting from the people I’ve been interviewing.
student winners of ABC’s Construction Management Competition.
But the competitors in those stories are nearly young adults, with their feet set on the path to a career in the trades. On pg. 42, you can read about Tools & Tiaras sponsoring a workshop open to girls as young as six to help them learn what a career in the trades involves. And on pg. 43, read about how Oatey Co. is sponsor-
cultural pressures (vocational training vs. four-year college and the influence of parents and guidance counselors); we’ve talked about in-person training, online training, virtual training; we’ve talked about attracting more women, more minorities, more veterans to the trades.
Heck, we’ve run columns that were flat-out rants about how “none of these damn kids wants to work”—which I do
Next month is our September “Back to School” issue, and the feature will be on various workforce development and training programs around the nation. Along the way we will try to gather more anecdotal evidence on whether attitudes towards the trades are, in fact, changing among today’s youth.
If you feel things are changing—or not, or even getting worse—please reach out to me, Steve Spaulding at sspaulding@ endeavorb2b.com with your opinions and your reasons why. I’ll be sure to share in my next editorial.
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