Texas State Technical College will debut an Associate of Applied Science degree in Plumbing and Pipefitting Technology – Journeyman this fall at the Waco campus. Some of the classes that students will take include Backflow Prevention, Basic Blueprint Reading for Plumbers, Construction Estimating, OSHA Regulations – Construction Industry, and Plumbing Codes I and II. Christopher Read more
Industry News
Texas State Technical College will debut an Associate of Applied Science degree in Plumbing and Pipefitting Technology – Journeyman this fall at the Waco campus.
Some of the classes that students will take include Backflow Prevention, Basic Blueprint Reading for Plumbers, Construction Estimating, OSHA Regulations – Construction Industry, and Plumbing Codes I and II.
Christopher Porter, an instructor in TSTC’s Plumbing and Pipefitting Technology program, said now is a great time to add the associate degree in light of the opening earlier this year of the Texas State Plumbing Examiners Testing Facility on the Waco campus. The testing facility is the second of its kind in Texas.
The associate degree already has the interest of some students currently in the program.
Kristian Robins, of Waco, said earning the associate degree means he will be able to make more money over time in the profession.
Before coming to TSTC, Robins was in the U.S. Army and worked as a corrections officer. A friend already in the program recommended that Robins enroll at TSTC.
“The instructors are interactive,” Robins said. “It makes it easier to understand things.”
Robins said he wants to open a plumbing business with his friend after working in the field for a few years.
Connor Barnett, of Robinson, said plumbing is fulfilling work. He said the associate degree will put him closer to taking the state plumbing journeyman’s test.
Before coming to TSTC, Barnett studied social work at another college but discovered during an internship that he had to make a change.
“I didn’t like sitting in the office,” he said. “I wanted to work somewhere with my hands.”
The program also offers certificates of completion in Plumbing and Pipefitting Technology – Tradesman and Plumbing, and Pipefitting Technology – Apprentice With Endorsements. Students can also earn an occupational skills award in Basic Plumbing.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s O*Net Online website, plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters in Texas make an annual median salary of more than $48,000. There will be a need for more than 57,600 workers in the state by 2028, according to the website.
Registration for the fall semester is underway. For more information, go to tstc.edu.
Approximately 100 business leaders, community members and elected officials attend celebration co-hosted by Warwick Chamber of Commerce Monroe, N.Y. — Nebrasky Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, in conjunction with the Warwick Chamber of Commerce, hosted a ceremonial ribbon cutting recently, to mark the grand re-opening of its office, which recently underwent a six-month, complete renovation (service was Read more
Approximately 100 business leaders, community members and elected officials attend celebration co-hosted by Warwick Chamber of Commerce
Monroe, N.Y. — Nebrasky Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, in conjunction with the Warwick Chamber of Commerce, hosted a ceremonial ribbon cutting recently, to mark the grand re-opening of its office, which recently underwent a six-month, complete renovation (service was not interrupted during this time). Approximately 100 business leaders, community members and elected officials were in attendance, including County Executive Steve Neuhaus, Monroe Mayor Neil Dwyer, Monroe Town Supervisor Tony Cardone, Warwick Town Supervisor Michael Sweeton and Assemblyman Karl Brabenec.
“I’m proud that the company has continued to grow, enabling us to hire additional employees,” said Paul Nebrasky, owner of Nebrasky Plumbing, Heating & Cooling. “I’m fortunate to have such a wonderful team, and to have such overwhelming support as we approach nearly 35 years of serving the Hudson Valley region.”
Attendees enjoyed refreshments catered by The Best of Little Italy in Monroe and Hard Cider and Beer from Penning’s Farm Cidery of Warwick while touring the common areas of the newly renovated office space. Highlights of the renovations include bringing the office into modern design with new and improved workspaces, new technology throughout, and a state-of-the-art training area.
Located in Monroe, N.Y., Nebrasky Plumbing, Heating & Cooling has been delivering exceptional service from trusted professionals since 1988. The company handles all phases of plumbing, heating, cooling, home energy assessments and more, and serves the mid-Hudson Valley region. For more information, visit www.nebraskyplumbing.com.
NIBCO has launched a new and improved website, which includes a new design, better search functionality and easier and faster navigation, along with expanded features. The new platform integrates three NIBCO family brands, Webstone®, Sure Seal® and Chemtrol®, for a one-stop, seamless experience for users to quickly find exactly what they are looking for. It also provides Read more
NIBCO has launched a new and improved website, which includes a new design, better search functionality and easier and faster navigation, along with expanded features.
The new platform integrates three NIBCO family brands, Webstone®, Sure Seal® and Chemtrol®, for a one-stop, seamless experience for users to quickly find exactly what they are looking for. It also provides international customers with more access to NIBCO’s full line of products.
NIBCO’s standalone sites have been eliminated, including the NIBCO Poland site, enabling all users to have the same experience.
“We want our new website to better serve our customers and enable them to quickly and easily find the information they need,” said Ashley Martin, executive vice president of NIBCO. “Combining all of our NIBCO brands’ sites into a single platform will create efficiencies for our customers.”
The redesigned site features include:
- Better and faster search functionality across all 36,000 flow control products and NIBCO family brands, including Webstone, Chemtrol and Sure Seal products.
- Improved product “Where to Buy” feature that directs visitors to stocked distributors in their area.
- Build-A-Submittal function that allows users to create an account and organize, store and revise submittal documents.
- Download library with improved filters that permits users to access marketing and technical documents from one location on the site.
- CAD/BIM product database that includes more than 1,200 product families and over 11,000 SKUs with complete product details, performance characteristics and high-fidelity images.
“Our website is our most public marketing vehicle,” added Martin. “If our customers have a positive user experience, then it will positively impact our brand.”
NIBCO encourages users to check out the new website, explore the exciting new features and view the latest products NIBCO has to offer. To view NIBCO’s new website, visit NIBCO.com.
Both commercial and institutional planning reach new highs The Dodge Momentum Index (DMI) jumped 7% in May to 176.2 (2000=100), up from the revised April reading of 165.2. The Momentum Index, issued by Dodge Construction Network, is a monthly measure of the initial report for nonresidential building projects in planning shown to lead construction spending Read more
Both commercial and institutional planning reach new highs
The Dodge Momentum Index (DMI) jumped 7% in May to 176.2 (2000=100), up from the revised April reading of 165.2. The Momentum Index, issued by Dodge Construction Network, is a monthly measure of the initial report for nonresidential building projects in planning shown to lead construction spending for nonresidential buildings by a full year. In May, the institutional component of the Momentum Index rose 9%, and the commercial component increased 6%.
May’s increase in the Dodge Momentum Index pushed the level of planning above the most recent cyclical high in November 2021. During the month of May, commercial planning was led higher by an increase in office and hotel projects. Institutional planning was boosted by an increase in education and healthcare projects entering planning. On a year-over-year basis, the Momentum Index was 17% higher than in May 2021. The commercial component was 24% higher, and the institutional component was 8% higher than one year ago.
A total of 19 projects with a value of $100 million or more entered planning in May. The leading commercial projects were the $333 million Bitcoin Mining Facility (a large computing building) in Corsicana, TX, and the $300 million Gun Lake Hotel and Resort in Wayland, MI. The leading institutional projects were a $250 million Drexel University life sciences building in Philadelphia, PA, and the $160 million Colorado Research Exchange life sciences campus in Broomfield, CO.
Despite higher interest rates and fear of recession, nonresidential building projects continue to steadily enter the planning cycle. While higher prices and labor shortages may result in projects reaching groundbreaking later in 2022 or early 2023, they provide hope that the construction sector will be able to withstand a potential economic slowdown fed by higher interest rates.
May 2022 DODGE MOMENTUM INDEX
About Dodge Construction Network
Dodge Construction Network leverages an unmatched offering of data, analytics, and industry-spanning relationships to generate the most powerful source of information, knowledge, insights, and connections in the commercial construction industry. The company powers four longstanding and trusted industry solutions—Dodge Data & Analytics, The Blue Book Network, Sweets, and IMS—to connect the dots across the entire commercial construction ecosystem. Together, these solutions provide clear and actionable opportunities for both small teams and enterprise firms. Purpose-built to streamline the complicated, Dodge Construction Network ensures that construction professionals have the information they need to build successful businesses and thriving communities. With over a century of industry experience, Dodge Construction Network is the catalyst for modern commercial construction.
Cloud Hosting, Intuitive Interface and Complete End-To-End Business Analytics for HVAC, Electrical and Plumbing Professionals Successware, a business management software company for the home service industry has introduced its new state-of-the-art platform based on next-generation technology. Available now, the upgraded platform boasts a simpler, more intuitive interface, data-driven features and secure cloud-based hosting. Professionals in the HVAC, electrical Read more
Cloud Hosting, Intuitive Interface and Complete End-To-End Business Analytics for HVAC, Electrical and Plumbing Professionals
Successware, a business management software company for the home service industry has introduced its new state-of-the-art platform based on next-generation technology. Available now, the upgraded platform boasts a simpler, more intuitive interface, data-driven features and secure cloud-based hosting. Professionals in the HVAC, electrical and plumbing industries are now able to access a complete end-to-end business management solution with mobile application that makes day-to-day operations streamlined and efficient.
For over two decades, the Successware® Classic software platform has been helping customers in the trade industry manage and grow their businesses. When developing the new platform, Successware was able to build upon the popular functionalities of the Successware® Classic software while adding enhanced features that elevate the user experience and offer the most comprehensive functionality in business management software on the market. Updated features include:
- Analytics-Driven Reporting Dashboard: The analytics-driven reporting dashboard allows clients to see key performance indicators and advanced data analytics at a glance. This tool shows total revenue, gross margin, cost of goods sold and more in one convenient location, giving users access to essential business data to help them drive decision making.
- Call Handling: The call handling screen is now more intuitive and allows users to collect customer information to help schedule jobs more easily. The call handling screen automatically updates scripts and available appointment time slots with the time slot capacity management feature as job information is entered, such as call reason, job class and job type.
- Dispatch Assistant: The brand-new dispatch assistant makes it easy to assign technicians to jobs with a drag and drop feature. Users are able to see who is available for the job, the technician’s skill set and travel distance between job sites.
- Cloud-Hosted: Hosted in the cloud, the new platform gives businesses the benefits of increased uptime and security, scalability, data backup and disaster recovery, freedom to work anywhere and more.
“We have fostered trusted relationships with our customers over the past 20 years and have been carefully listening to their feedback every step of the way,” said Rohit Change, Chief Operating Officer of Authority Brands. “The new platform launch is a culmination of that insight combined with ground-breaking technology to help trade professionals take their businesses to the next level with advanced analytics, a fully integrated communications platform with voice, text, and email and many additional marketing tools. We know our dedicated users will find this feature-rich platform to be an essential tool in their business management and look forward to helping them streamline their operations through our best-in-class customer service for years to come.”
Like the Successware® Classic software, the new platform provides all-in-one business management solutions integrated with its mobile application. In addition, Successware’s back-office software still offers a full suite of features such as sales and marketing, field tools, contactless payments, integrated accounting, online learning, omni-channel communications and more.