Industry News

Best Companies Group and Seattle Business Magazine again honored the training and business coaching provider as an outstanding place to work for company culture and employee retention

Business Development Resources (BDR), the training and business coaching authority for home services industry professionals, was named to Seattle Business Magazine’s exclusive list of Washington’s Top 100 Places to Work in 2024, marking the third consecutive year that BDR received this honor.

The industry-leading home services consultant ranked No. 16 among small businesses in the Seattle area, recognized for its company-wide wellness stipend and employee spotlights on social media.

“Our mission at BDR is to prioritize supporting our team while positively impacting our clients,” said Kim Archer, President of BDR. “When you foster a culture where people can thrive, it encourages everyone to celebrate each victory and recognize the effort it takes to achieve our goals. We want our team to feel personally and professionally supported each day they step into the office or log on remotely.”

To determine the best employers in Washington State, Seattle Business Magazine extensively surveys employees at participating companies to determine rankings and divides winners into small, medium, and large company categories.

BDR earned national recognition for its exceptional company culture from Best Companies Group (BCG), a respected adviser on workplace culture. For the second consecutive year, BCG named BDR one of the Best Places to Work in Consulting.

BCG will host a virtual event on Feb. 11, 2025, to honor and celebrate winners, providing industry-wide recognition of BDR’s significant achievements in creating a highly valued work environment that retains top talent.

BCG implements a thorough selection process to determine the national winners, including detailed surveys investigating training and development, salary and benefits, corporate culture, and overall employee satisfaction.

“We look forward to bringing more people into the BDR community and team so that we can share and expand our culture in 2025,” Archer said. “Teamwork is the source of our strength at BDR, and it’s through our collective effort that we empower clients to succeed.”

For more information about BDR, visit https://bdrco.com.

PERC seeks to partner with commercial and industrial facilities to provide critical data for continued research

The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) has introduced the Alternative Technology Demonstration & Research Program to collect data from participating commercial and industrial businesses to inform research about propane use, specifically with the adoption of propane cooling and combined heat & power (CHP) equipment.

“Propane-powered technologies like cooling and CHP systems are transforming how businesses approach energy. This propane equipment offers unmatched reliability and efficiency, especially in today’s energy landscape” said Bert Warner, director of commercial business development at PERC. “This program not only supports businesses in adopting these advanced solutions but also allows us to gather the data needed to continually improve and expand propane’s role in meeting today’s energy challenges.”

To participate, interested participants should visit Propane.com/AltTech to determine eligibility and complete an application. Once approved, commercial businesses in the United States must purchase qualifying propane equipment and complete a survey about their facilities’ performance, emissions, costs, and energy savings following the installation. The compensation offered for the qualifying equipment includes:

• $30,000 for propane CHP units on sites greater than 15kW
• $12,000 for propane CHP units on sites less than 15kW
• $300/ton for propane cooling equipment ranging from light commercial (5T-25T) to heavy commercial (100T+)

Propane-powered CHP units enhance energy efficiency by capturing heat that would otherwise be wasted during electricity generation. This advanced technology can significantly reduce energy costs, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and provide reliable on-site power, making it an ideal choice for commercial applications. The lower operational costs of this equipment provide an affordable option for business owners looking to increase efficiency and sustainability.

Propane cooling systems can meet various needs such as comfort conditioning, process cooling, dehumidification, medium-temperature refrigeration, and extreme ambient operations. The systems operate like traditional cooling systems but use propane to power the compressor or ignite the gas burner, reducing electricity use by up to 90%. This leads to cost savings, environmental benefits, and a reduced strain on the grid without compromising performance.

Visit Propane.com/AltTech to determine eligibility and complete a brief application describing their operations and equipment. Funding is limited, and early applications are encouraged.

Service Experts participated in the milestone 40^th season of Military Makeover with Montel on Lifetime TV, a home improvement series that celebrates military families through home makeovers across the country. The latest renovation with hosts Montel Williams, Art Edmonds, and Jennifer Bertrand in Duncanville, south of Dallas, which debuted on Lifetime Friday, honored Sergeant Kevin Jones, a distinguished veteran and devoted family man who dedicated 12 years to the Marines.

“It’s an honor to play a part in the meaningful work being completed by the Military Makeover team, and we were thrilled to have the 40^th season in our own backyard here in North Texas,” said Jackie Vayo, Senior Director of Talent Management and Development for Service Experts, who was among the “boots on the ground” for the company. “Many of our Service Experts employees are veterans themselves, and we’re deeply committed to supporting the military community through our ongoing partnerships with programs like Hiring Our Heroes.”

Jones’ deployments in Operation Desert Storm and Desert Shield brought him face-to-face with the stark realities of combat, and he sustained injuries, including a right ankle condition, a twisted right foot, and PTSD. To this day, there are lingering effects, which highlight the physical and emotional toll of his dedication to duty. Following his honorable discharge, Kevin has worked with the VA, becoming a vital advocate for veterans, helping them navigate the often-complex process of accessing benefits. He and his wife, Francesca, have been married for 26 years and are the proud parents of a daughter, Kelsey.

Service Experts installed an A.O. Smith Signature 100 50-Gallon water heater to ensure optimum hot water delivery without an external power source. Additionally, members of the team volunteered by putting on some of the finishing touches like building furniture for and participating in the “big reveal” for the Jones family. While in town for the renovation, Edmonds also visited Service Experts’ Richardson headquarters to see a model of The Home of the Future, which showcases the energy-saving technologies and services transforming homes.

This was the third renovation Service Experts has partnered with Military Makeover on. The company has more than 100 locations across 31 U.S. states to help homeowners like the Jones make their homes havens of comfort, well-being, and energy efficiency.

Hiller Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical (Hiller), the region’s largest residential plumbing, HVAC, and electrical provider, is proud to partner with Toys for Tots to share the joy of Christmas with others. For the past five holiday seasons, Hiller has donated to toys to Toys for Tots with the purchase of each new tankless water heater. Since 2019, Hiller has purchased over $50,000 in toys to donate to underserved families in our community.

During this special promotion, available from November 1^st through the end of the year, Hiller contributes $50 from each tankless water heater sold to purchase toys. And, as a special incentive to homeowners, Hiller offers a $250 Visa gift card with every purchase. In addition to funds raised, the company contributes with an additional monetary gift each year.

Toys for Tots is a non-profit organization launched by the U.S. Marine Corps in 1947. The organization is dedicated to providing new Christmas gifts to children and young adults who may otherwise not receive presents during the holidays. To date, Toys for Tots has supported over 301 million children with over 677 million toys and gifts.

Every December, Hiller’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Jimmy Hiller, and members of the Hiller family gather to shop for a truck’s worth of toys to donate hand-selecting various toys, games, and gifts that resonate with their own families. This shopping spree has quickly become one of the grandkid’s most anticipated Christmas events.

“One of my family’s most cherished holiday traditions has become our Toys for Tots shopping trip”, remarked Jimmy Hiller. “The holidays can be stressful and challenging for a lot of families, particularly in recent years. Through this promotion, we’re able to make sure that parents can create Christmas magic for their children. We feel so blessed to have had the support of our community for so many years”, he continued, “And we want to give back to our neighborhoods that have been so good to us.”

On Thursday, December 19^th, the Hiller family met at a Nashville-area Walmart to shop together, hand-selecting new gifts, toys, and electronics for other children to enjoy on Christmas morning. This year’s selections, totaling over $12,000, filled more than 18 shopping carts. This donation, made possible by the community’s support, raises the 5-year total to more than $50,000 in toy contributions since the tradition began.

Hiller was founded in 1990 by Jimmy Hiller, the company’s single employee. Today, the organization includes over 600 “Happy Face” trucks and 880 associates across 18 locations in 7 states.

Hiller Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical, provides residential and commercial service and repair throughout Tennessee, Southern Kentucky, Northeastern Mississippi, Southeastern Arkansas, Northern Alabama, Northern Georgia, and Northwest Florida. As the homeowner’s premier provider of choice with a 100% satisfaction guarantee, Hiller is Tennessee’s largest residential and commercial plumbing, heating, air conditioning, and electrical services provider. Hiller, a 12-time honoree to the Inc. 5000 List, employs more than 800 associates, boasts a fleet of 600 “Happy Face” trucks across 18 locations, and has responded to over 1.8 million service calls in 7 states. For more information about Hiller, visit http://www.happyhiller.com or e-mail press@happyhiller.com.