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Xylem partners with Chris Long Foundation and Water Well Trust to solve water scarcity in rural Pennsylvania

A recent donation provided Jamey and Brandy Godin, along with their five children, who live in Stoystown, Pennsylvania, a water well upgrade,
securing their access to safe and reliable water. This collaborative project, completed by Xylem Inc., the Water Well Trust (WWT) and Waterboys – a charity founded by two-time Super Bowl Champion, Chris Long – provided a comprehensive upgrade including a new water well liner, pump, motor and deepening of the well, along with all necessary equipment, drilling and
installation. Additionally, the project provided home improvement upgrades. Local distributor Aquaflow Pump and Supply and dealer Sperry Drilling contributed their time and services and the Vinyl Institute donated PVC piping material to help complete the project.

“As a well driller, our company has witnessed the impact of water scarcity firsthand, and we believe everyone deserves sufficient water access. With 56 years of experience, our team at Sperry Drilling prioritizes homeowners and their water needs, both on and off the job,” said Judy Bird, president, Sperry Drilling. “For us, it’s about giving back to our community and supporting
those in need.”

In November 2023, the Godin family’s water well stopped producing sufficient clean water due to a drought on their property, compounded by a statewide drought watch in Pennsylvania starting in July 2023. The Godin’s well was showing signs of structural caving, requiring the installation of a well liner and drilling down another 100 feet to secure a reliable water source. While the well sporadically produced a small amount of water, it was not enough to sustain the
family’s basic needs and forced them to seek alternatives, including showering and laundering clothes elsewhere. The Godins resorted to driving 50 miles roundtrip to collect water from friends and family, which lasted only three days at most for drinking and hygiene.

“The support we’ve received from Xylem and the Water Well Trust throughout this process has been overwhelming. Having water and making sure we don’t have to go without it is truly a blessing,” said Water Well Trust beneficiary Jamey Godin. “This upgrade to our well means we now have a reliable source of water for our family to depend on.” The Godin family’s well upgrade marks the sixteenth Hometown H2O project, an extension of its domestic water initiative working alongside WWT and Xylem to provide clean, sustainable water
to communities in need. Water scarcity issues currently leave more than 2 million Americans without access to clean water, making this joint effort between Long, his Foundation’s Waterboys initiative and Xylem a vital resource for families across the country.

“Clean water access is fundamental to well-being, and at Xylem, we’re proud to play a role in initiatives like HometownH2O.” said Susan O’Grady, senior director of marketing, building services and agriculture, Xylem. “Our partnership with organizations like the Water Well Trust and Waterboys allows us to leverage our expertise and technology to bring sustainable water
solutions to families in need making a meaningful impact on communities facing water scarcity.”

Xylem, in conjunction with its Goulds Water Technology brand, is engaged in regular water well initiatives to provide secure water access to rural areas, striving to increase public awareness of the challenges surrounding lack of water access. For more information about Hometown H2O projects, visit waterboys.org/hometown.

By Jacob Hamilton, General Manager at Tim Ferguson Plumbing, Air & Electric

When my father-in-law called me into his office on an afternoon in 2010, I didn’t know my life was about to change.

I had been working as a nurse before joining his plumbing business, Tim Ferguson Plumbing, Air & Electric, jumping headfirst into a new industry I knew nothing about. But Tim trusted me to learn and saw something in me then that I couldn’t see in myself.

During our meeting, he laid out his plan for me: He wanted me to help continue to build the family business and take over when he retired. I told him I knew nothing about how to run a company; but I could sense he had complete confidence in my ability to learn. And I knew that, if he believed in me, for something as important as leading the family business into a new generation, I should trust his plan.

Tim Ferguson

It was Tim’s foresight and commitment to long-term planning that made his dream come to fruition when he sold the company to Leap Partners and retired. I took over on Oct. 1, 2023.

Leadership transitions are hard. But it was Tim’s patience and long-term planning that helped us all smoothly transition with minimal disruption. His intuition also prepared our 45 employees and me to easily and naturally transition into a new era and continue the legacy he’d built over more than 20 years.

How did we do it? Let me share some lessons we learned along the way.

Communicate, communicate, communicate

Without question, the most important piece of advice I can give to anyone undergoing a leadership transition is to communicate consistently. It’s imperative that you communicate clearly and often with your employees about your plans for leadership. You don’t want employees to fill in gaps with hearsay, and you definitely don’t want them to hear two conflicting or muddled messages at the same time. Overcommunicating is always going to be better than not communicating enough.

Let them know the plan, when it’s happening and how you expect the transition to go. If you don’t know the answers to some of these questions, let them know that too. Listening to feedback and being transparent will help cut down on the feeling of unease that can come with change. Treating all employees like integral partners in the business by being overly transparent with them can make everyone feel invested in what’s happening. Especially with small businesses, your team should feel comfortable with the transition and feel that their input is being considered.

Anticipate challenges and plan for them

How am I going to deal with the potential of losing managers or technicians? What if people don’t like the new leader? When should we change over? These are all normal questions to have, and it’s crucial to fully think through the answers before any plan is put into action.

Run through every scenario in your head and create a rational plan for each. Find the solution that will have the smallest impact on your business, and make sure you consult with your leadership team for feedback.

An aspect that is often overlooked is the timing of your transition. As best you can, try to implement your transition plan during a time of year that’s comfortable or slower for your industry. In our business, we know summers are often draining on our employees, so we looked at September or October to start transitioning duties rather than during the intensive summer period.

Give thought to potential pitfalls, and make sure you plan accordingly so you don’t panic when they arise.

It’s never too early to start planning

A lot of the success in Tim’s transition plan was due to his foresight and patience. Just as he did with me for the better part of a decade, I’m looking ahead and thinking about how I can prepare the next generation of company leaders.

There are many aspects to leading a business that you have to just learn in the role, but there are other skills that come naturally to any good leader. Identify those rising leaders with exceptional listening skills, emotional intelligence and strategic foresight. Engage them in tasks that foster the development of these skills and provide leadership opportunities where you can, preparing them for larger future roles.

Starting this process early will save you time and potential headaches down the road. If you’re not sure where to start, don’t be afraid to ask for help. We had the support of our parent company Leap Partners to help guide us through our transition, and their advice and helping hand were vital to our success.

A smooth transition of leadership does not happen overnight. It requires detailed planning and strong communication. It’s what Tim did for our company 14 years ago, and I thank him every day for it. By laying the groundwork years ago, he paved the way for a seamless transition and made it easier for me to keep his business growing and successful.

There’s time for you to put in the same work. Your future business will thank you for the time you put in today.

Jacob Hamilton is general manager at Tim Ferguson Plumbing, Air & Electric, a member of the Leap Partners family, operating across Western Tennessee.

In the six years since its inception, Women in Energy (WE) has grown rapidly, providing women a variety of opportunities to strengthen their skillset and knowledge base as it relates to their careers in the energy, heating and cooling industries.  The organization now has 500 nationwide members and is on a steady growth trajectory.

It’s worth mentioning that WE is not exclusive to women, and neither are its myriad learning and networking opportunities.  Its mission, to connect and empower women working in the energy industry, extends to anyone looking to improve themselves and make an impact on the industry.

WE provides career resources, creates networking and mentoring opportunities, offers online and in-person educational courses and develops strategies to minimize obstacles women may face in the industry.  The organization hosts an annual conference, weekly webinars, regional networking events, an upcoming golf outing, and now, a new online learning center called the learning portal, called the E-Learning Library, launched in September 2022.

“With all of our recorded Webinar Wednesday sessions, our educational library has grown to be pretty expansive,” said Judy Garber, WE Executive Director.  “We’ve consolidated all of this content in the easy-to-access E-Learning Library on the WE website.  Members can access this material wherever and whenever they wish.”

The material covers everything that someone relatively new to the industry – or someone who just changed positions – may benefit from; soft skills, leadership, legal, technical, personal development, etc.  At one WE meeting feedback from participants suggested that basic information on various types of energy and HVAC technology was needed.

“We love identifying needs and providing meaningful solutions,” said Erin Holohan Haskell, WE President. “For instance, some of our members in marketing and customer service roles expressed an interest in learning more about the technical aspects of our industry to better assist their customers and expand their knowledge. This feedback gave us real direction in regard to the learning opportunities we wanted to create next.”

As a result, WE developed material on a wide variety of energy technologies.  A small sample of the courses offered include Residential Heating 101, Heating System Basics, Biodiesel and Renewable Diesel 101, Heat Pumps 101, Introduction to Solar, Wind Energy 101, and Geothermal Basics.

The E-Learning Library is a great resource for business owners and managers to bring new employees up to speed, or for members to learn on their own.

“We realize that professionals are busy and may not be able to attend our live Webinar Wednesdays or in-person programming,” said Holohan Haskell.  “This gives them the opportunity to access valuable content on their own timeline. And there’s content for everyone; those who are new to our industry as well as more experienced professionals.”

“One of the great joys I’ve found in working with WE is that we can move quickly to answer a need,” continued Holohan Haskell.  “We’re small and new enough to be nimble.  We think ‘what if?’ and then make ‘what if’ happen.  In reality, that’s how WE was founded, and we’ve continued doing that.  For a small organization, we’ve managed to get a lot done in a short time, thanks to the strong leadership of Judy Garber and a very engaged group of officers and members.”

(Left to right) Jacqueline Aceituno accepts the Judy Garber Rising Star Award from Judy herself. Photo Credit: Andrew Frongillo

The rapid growth exhibited by the organization speaks to the need for the resources that WE provides.

Benefits of annual membership far outweigh the $75 individual member investment.  In addition to unlimited access to training, membership includes discounts to events, access to networking opportunities, mentorship, etc.  Various levels of WE membership are available, from individual to a tiered corporate structure.

“We encourage people interested in WE to attend our annual conference or one of our other events,” said Garber.  “These events are engaging, fun, and offer a great opportunity to see what we’re all about.”

The 2023 WE Conference will be held in Hershey, PA, from September 20 through 22. Also, WE’s second annual golf tournament will be held on October 9, 2023, at the Hershey Country Club.

“Business relationships are often strengthened on the golf course, but we’ve noticed that women often sit out of industry tournaments because they’re unfamiliar with the sport,” said Holohan Haskell.  “WE is dedicated to providing our members with career resources to help them succeed in business, so we partnered with the Pennsylvania Petroleum Association on a tournament for golfers of all skill levels.”

(Left to right) Gary Cooperrider, Rosemarie Bartchak and Erin Holohan Haskell during a WE networking reception Photo Credit: Marjorie Feinman

Before the tournament begins, WE hosts an instructional session with a golf pro for those interested in learning the basics. If members are unfamiliar with golf, this was the perfect opportunity for them to learn the sport so they can participate in future networking opportunities on the golf course.

There are also numerous regional events held throughout the year.  These events can be found listed at the WE website.  For more information, please visit www.wewomeninenergy.com.  The E-Learning Library can be accessed at E-Learning Library – Women in Energy (wewomeninenergy.com).

Homeowner’s Mid-January Crisis Resolved by New Jersey Contractor

Surprisingly warm temperatures greeted residents of Mid-Atlantic  states In the middle of January. For people living in the area who typically face freezing temperatures, severe nor’easter snowstorms, and perilous ice storms, temperatures ranging from the mid-30s to low-40s without precipitation was almost a best-case scenario for the residents’ safety – and thermal comfort.

Despite the mild atmospheric conditions that occurred last January, homeowners who have a malfunctioning boiler, even in tranquil weather, may unexpectedly find themselves in a catastrophe at home. This was the situation a homeowner from New Jersey faced when the heating unit of a century-old home stopped working, causing the residents to shiver as evening temperatures approached the freezing point.

Ezzy Travis, a plumbing and heating contractor and solo proprietor of E. Travis Mechanical installed a HTP ELU 150K BTU boiler to substitute the feeble and inefficient one. Four days without heat or water might not seem like a lot, but can seem like an eternity for people living in the house.

“The boiler was only about 12 years old, but was not properly serviced,’’ Travis said. “With the amount of time it would’ve required to repair the boiler, it didn’t make sense. It also wasn’t piped 100 percent correctly.”

Workers from E. Travis Mechanical replaced the heating system in a century-old New Jersey home when the existing system failed during January, one of the coldest months of the year in the Garden State.

A Fresh Start

Prior to arriving at the home in the New Jersey neighborhood of Glen Rock, Travis had already fixed other home heating emergencies. Upon assessing the situation, he recognized the project required extensive repairs, rather than a short-term solution.

“A wholesaler referred this project to me,’’ Travis said. “I knew right away we’d have to replace the boiler and all the piping. Things weren’t done 100 percent correctly, and I have a standard way of doing things. All the piping in the mechanical room and the boiler had to be ripped out. The only thing that was salvageable was the indirect tank. It had been installed in August, so there was no reason to rip it out.”

Constructed in 1916, the traditional house features four bedrooms and three baths, in a 3,200 square feet area. Despite the house being quite expansive, the mechanical room’s workspace did not have the same luxury.

“That was probably the biggest challenge we faced,’’ he said. “It wasn’t a deep mechanical room. There just wasn’t a lot of room for two of us. I needed another set of hands for this one. We had to ask each other to move out of the way when we had to move within the room. It was a pretty tight squeeze with some significant space constraints.”

Contractors often encounter working areas that are cramped like a sardine can. “It’s weird because many times when you need space, you don’t have it,’’ Travis said. “Other times we’ll install something that is relatively small, and we have all the space in the world. A lot of my jobs are in areas where everybody wants to utilize every square inch of the basement. I’ll have to spend time putting down protective material for the carpet and wall, which makes it take longer. I don’t want to do any damage to the house.”

Navigating tight staircases with burdensome boilers is a risk that contractors frequently experience. When setting up the new boiler to replace the faulty one, Travis and his helper maneuvered carefully as they removed the old unit and installed the new one.

The project included the installation of an HTP ELU 150K boiler, which was selected for its durability and 11:1 turndown ratio.

Turning Up the Heat

Finding the appropriate boiler is key for a project in an old home with many rooms and floors. Contractors must consider that houses with compromised insulation and large square feet make the selection even more important.

“I had to factor in the heat loss of the house,’’ Travis said. “In this part of New Jersey, we see a lot of houses like that. In a hydronic system, you need to do thorough heat loss analysis. I wanted to make sure that the unit we installed was able to overcome any heat loss within the house.”

The high BTU output the HTP boiler provides was the deciding factor in Travis’ choice. “I also liked the fact that it had a 11:1 turndown ratio,’’ Travis said. “I like the simplicity of it. It’s not a complicated boiler. Because of the age of the house, I was also concerned about heat loss. I wanted to make sure we had enough BTUs to heat the entire house.”

In nearly all residential heating systems, the 11:1 ratio is a significant factor to consider. Whenever a boiler or burner finishes a cycle, it uses a substantial amount of energy. Reducing the amount of complete on and off cycles by utilizing a higher turndown ratio can minimize inefficiencies, resulting in lower maintenance costs. Additionally, high turndown burners are capable of responding more rapidly to changes in demand.

The HTP units – offered in sizes from 85K BTU input and all the way up to 199K BTU input – feature high-quality stainless-steel heat exchangers that guarantees the highest quality at the boiler’s core with corrosion resistance. The amplification in water flow provided by the heat exchanger results in increased turbulence that helps scrub the internal walls, thus reducing the accumulation of hazardous deposits.

“I liked the simplicity of this boiler,’’ Travis said. “There are not a lot of moving parts and it’s pretty uncomplicated.”

The HTP ELU boiler includes a Wi-Fi solution that enables remote monitoring and notifies personnel when faults occur in the system.

Linked Together

With the help of HTP link technology, the HTP ELU boiler offers a Wi-Fi solution for remote observation and alerts staff in the instance of a system fault. The boiler’s settings can also be conveniently adjusted on location without getting up from the chair.

During his 20-plus years in the industry, Travis has suggested HTP units for several projects. “I like their efficiency, durability and simplicity,’’ he said. “I get a lot of support when I’m installing them. They’ve been a good product for me over the years.”

Despite primarily being a one-man team, Travis takes pride in resolving significant or minor issues for all his clients. “I don’t feel like I’m doing anything special,’’ he said. “I’m just doing what I do. Fortunately, we were able to come up with a good solution for this rather quickly. It’s never a good thing for a homeowner to be without heat in the middle of winter.”

Brian Giardina writes on building, construction, engineering and other trade industry topics for publications throughout the United States.