OLFA announced its #OLFAintheTrades initiative today, which aims to give back to men and women in the trades and foster the next generation of professionals. This initiative will support qualified trade education programs by supplying them with top-of-the-line OLFA utility knives and more. Trade instructors can register eligible classes to receive an OLFA 18mm LA-X Read more
Industry News
OLFA announced its #OLFAintheTrades initiative today, which aims to give back to men and women in the trades and foster the next generation of professionals. This initiative will support qualified trade education programs by supplying them with top-of-the-line OLFA utility knives and more.
Trade instructors can register eligible classes to receive an OLFA 18mm LA-X or L-5 knife for each student, an OLFA banner, and a chance to be featured on the OLFA social channels and website. Trade students who register their new knives will receive tool box stickers, student discounts, and the possibility of participating in the “OLFA All-Pro Team” of ambassadors.
“Without our trade instructors and career education programs, we would not have the continuous advancement and innovation in the trades that we do today,” said Cassie Donnelly, Sr. Brand Manager at OLFA. “Our goal for this project is to contribute to the development of these programs, and make attaining top-quality tools one less cost or concern for both the educators and the students.”
https://youtu.be/IYuPmJXb8Y8
To sign up, instructors need to provide necessary information about their programs. Programs verified by OLFA to meet the requirements will then receive their specified knives – either the LA-X or L-5, and other aforementioned benefits.
To register and learn more about the #OLFAintheTrades initiative, instructors can visit this page: try.olfa.com/instructors/ and students can refer their instructors to register their classes.
Mokena, Ill. — IAPMO Training and Education introduces the new Plumbing Systems Interactive Workshop, a fun, hands-on course that teaches the effective uses of four basic plumbing systems, why/where/when to use each, how to apply code compliant configurations to design and installation, and actual assembly of each system using scaled 3D-printed drainage pattern fittings. The Read more
Mokena, Ill. — IAPMO Training and Education introduces the new Plumbing Systems Interactive Workshop, a fun, hands-on course that teaches the effective uses of four basic plumbing systems, why/where/when to use each, how to apply code compliant configurations to design and installation, and actual assembly of each system using scaled 3D-printed drainage pattern fittings.
The eight-hour course, developed and instructed by Steve Hart, senior plumbing plans examiner with Public Health – Seattle and King County (PHSKC), is delivered in three parts repeated for each plumbing system addressed:
- Part One: Attendees learn/review the code requirements for one of the plumbing systems—horizontal wet vent, circuit vent, vertical wet vent or combination waste and vent
- Part Two: Separate into groups of five and apply this knowledge to assemble the particular plumbing system using 3D-printed fittings, focusing on best engineered practices for mitigating health and safety risk and achieving code compliance
- Part Three: Discussion and debrief, repeat for next system
“IAPMO is constantly looking for ways to improve the learning experience for our students,” said Tony Marcello, vice president of IAPMO Training and Credential Services. “This hands-on offering is unique and innovative, and allows for a large amount of learning to occur in a fun and engaging way. Steve Hart, the developer of the concept and primary instructor, has poured his heart and soul into this learning method and we could not be more excited to introduce this training opportunity to the plumbing industry.”
The Plumbing Systems Interactive Workshop seeks to facilitate cooperation between building officials/building inspectors, apprentice/journeyperson plumbers, and design professionals to enhance public health and safety.
“I found the Plumbing Systems Interactive Workshop to be one of the best workshop experiences I have attended,” said Robert J. Heavey, plumbing plans examiner, city of Bellevue, Wash. “Instructor Steve Hart knows his subject inside out, and is able to present it in a way that reaches all levels of attendees, from the experienced plumbers and designers to those who are still struggling with the multiple venting options offered by the code. The interactive experience of actually building scale models of a waste and vent system, showing in turn each of the venting options, allows the attendees to try out the knowledge they gained in the first half of the session. Mistakes are made, and the collaboration within each group works well to help reach a correct resolution.”
Three upcoming workshops will be presented at the Simpson Strong-Tie Training Center in Kent, Wash., on Sept. 11, Oct. 5, and Dec. 4. The cost is $250 ($225 for IAPMO members). For more information or to enroll in an upcoming workshop, direct your browser to www.bit.ly/iapmo-psi-signup.
In an effort to encourage and celebrate scholastic achievement, the A. O. Smith Foundation announced the awards of 24 global merit scholarships to employees’ children pursuing higher education. “Today’s scholars are tomorrow’s leaders,” said Mark Petrarca, secretary of the A. O. Smith Foundation Board and senior vice president of human resources and public affairs for A. O Read more
In an effort to encourage and celebrate scholastic achievement, the A. O. Smith Foundation announced the awards of 24 global merit scholarships to employees’ children pursuing higher education.
“Today’s scholars are tomorrow’s leaders,” said Mark Petrarca, secretary of the A. O. Smith Foundation Board and senior vice president of human resources and public affairs for A. O. Smith Corporation. “There is perhaps nothing more important than fostering young talent, and for us, that starts with recognizing and rewarding students’ achievements in the classroom to give them a little extra support as they pursue their futures.”
For 19 years, A. O. Smith has granted annual scholarships to students demonstrating superior academic performance, a high level of participation in school and community activities, work experience and honors. This year’s winners include both U.S.-based and international recipients.
U.S.-based recipients include:
- Jonathan Barrett – Johnson City, TN; attending Northeast State Community College
- Joshua Durbin – Lebanon, TN; attending University of Tennessee: Knoxville
- Jillian Ethridge – Franklin, TN; attending University of Alabama in Huntsville
- Abigail Haggard – Ashland City, TN; attending University of Tennessee: Knoxville
- Addie Harris – Cookeville, TN; attending Volunteer State Community College
- Amy Hix – Lebanon, TN; attending Western Kentucky University
- Abigail Kleiss – Lebanon, TN; attending North Carolina State University
- Samuel McDow – McBee, SC; attending University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Makenzie Neal – Ashland City, TN; attending University of Tennessee: Chattanooga
- Cameron Schaffner – Lebanon, TN; attending Cumberland University
- Emily Smith – Lebanon, TN; attending Cumberland University
- Michael Troka – Lebanon, TN; attending undecided
International recipients include:
- Yu Chen – Xuzhou, China; attending undecided
- Rocio Diaz – Juarez, Mexico; attending Universidad Tecnologica de Ciudad Juarez
- Tingxuan Guo – Nanjing, China; attending The University of Melbourne – Open Stage, Arts Center
- Manuela Barraza Hernandez – Juarez, Mexico; attending Instituto Tecnologico de Ciudad Juarez
- Chun-an Hsieh – Suzhou, China; attending Nanjing University
- Irem Karadeniz – Istanbul, Turkey; attending Uskudar University
- Michelle Pijpers – Veldhoven, Netherlands; attending Wageningen University & Research Centre
- Yu Sun – Xuzhou, China; attending Nanjing University
- Ruyang Wang – Nanjing, China; attending Brandeis University
- Yuyan Yao – Hangzhou, China; attending undecided
- Shuze Wang – Tianjin, China; attending Beijing Normal University
- Zihan Wang – Nanjing, China; attending Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
The A. O. Smith Annual Merit Scholarship program is open to the children of A.O. Smith employees in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, Asia and India. To be considered, the student must be a graduating high school senior or currently enrolled in an undergraduate college or vocational school degree program. Scholarships help cover a portion of the tuition costs at an accredited two- or four-year college, university or vocational technical school of the student’s choice.
Scholarships may be renewed for up to three additional years or until the recipient earns a bachelor’s degree. The A. O. Smith Scholarship program is administered by Scholarship Management Services, a program of Scholarship America® of St. Peter, Minnesota.
The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award® along with presenting sponsor A. O. Smith Corporation have announced the 2019 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award watch list. The award is presented annually to the top senior or fourth-year junior quarterback set to graduate with their class by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation. 2019 Golden Arm Read more
The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award® along with presenting sponsor A. O. Smith Corporation have announced the 2019 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award watch list. The award is presented annually to the top senior or fourth-year junior quarterback set to graduate with their class by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation.
2019 Golden Arm Award Watch List Presented by A. O. Smith
- Jack Abraham, Southern Mississippi
- Blake Barnett, University of South Florida
- Woody Barrett, Kent State
- Jake Bentley, University of South Carolina
- Anthony Brown, Boston College
- Kelly Bryant, Missouri
- Joe Burrow, LSU
- Stephen Buckshot Calvert, Liberty
- Marcus Childers, Northern Illinois
- K.J. Costello, Stanford Unversity
- Jacob Eason, Washington University
- Caleb Evans, University of Louisiana Monroe
- Mason Fine, North Texas
- Feleipe Franks, University of Florida
- Mitchell Guadagni, Toledo
- Jarrett Guarantano, University of Tennessee
- Gage Gubrud, Washington State University
- Quentin Harris, Duke University
- Justin Herbert, University of Oregon
- Kelvin Hopkins, Jr., Army
- Tyler Huntley, University of Utah
- Jalen Hurts, University of Oklahoma
- Josh Jackson, University of Maryland
- D’Eriq King, Houston
- Brian Lewerke, Michigan State University
- Jordan Love, Utah State University
- Jake Luton, Oregon State University
- Cole McDonald, University of Hawaii
- Justin McMillan, Tulane
- Steven Montez, University of Colorado
- James Morgan, FIU
- Riley Neal, Vanderbilt University
- Kato Nelson, Akron
- Shea Patterson, University of Michigan
- Bryce Perkins, University of Virginia
- Malcolm Perry, Navy
- Peyton Ramsey, Indiana University
- Armani Rogers, UNLV
- Nathan Rourke, Ohio
- Anthony Russo, Temple University
- J’Mar Smith, Louisiana Tech
- Nate Stanley, University of Iowa
- Dillon Sterling-Cole, Arizona State University
- Khalil Tate, University of Arizona
- Zac Thomas, Appalachian State University
- Skylar Thompson, Kansas State
- Brady White, University of Memphis
- Ryan Willis, Virginia Tech
- Brandon Wimbush, University of Central Florida
The Golden Arm Award is entering the second year of its partnership with A. O. Smith. “We are very proud and honored to continue this partnership with A. O. Smith,” commented John Unitas Jr., President of the Johnny Unitas Educational Foundation. “The entire A. O. Smith organization has truly embraced all that the award represents and we look forward to continuing that momentum for many years to come.”
“A. O. Smith has a legacy of innovation and performance in the water heating and water treatment industries, much like Johnny Unitas did on the football field. Both of these iconic names have been around for decades and share many of each other’s values,” said Jeff Storie, A. O. Smith’s director of marketing. “For A. O. Smith, partnering with the Johnny Unitas Foundation and the Golden Arm Award makes perfect sense. We’re excited to tie our own efforts to further education in our trade with the Foundation’s efforts to help further the education of youths interested in football around the country.”
Sharing a tradition of innovation with Unitas, who invented football’s two minute drill, A. O. Smith has been an innovator in its industry for more than a century. A. O. Smith offers its customers an additional competitive advantage in that the company designs, builds, distributes and field supports one of the world’s broadest lines of residential and commercial water heaters, water treatment products as well as commercial boilers. This single-source concept simplifies ordering, installation and service and is backed by decades of research and innovation.
Giving life to the commitment to always give something back, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, Inc. and A. O. Smith will continue to promote football on all levels by providing financial aid to deserving young scholar athletes.
Other sponsors of the Golden Arm Award Presented by A. O. Smith Corporation include: MedStar Sports Medicine, The Babe Ruth Museum, Century Engineering, Comcast, Dunbar Security Solutions, Dunbar Protective Services, Four Seasons Hotel Baltimore, Haddock Investments, Harvey Agency, HMS Insurance Associates, Inc., Milwaukee Tool, PSAV, Panini, TRAY,The Scott Garceau Show, SILKS, Wilson Sporting Goods, and ZBest Executive & Global Transportation Services.
The Golden Arm Award will continue to use the hashtag #InnovationLeaders on all Foundation and award advertising, marketing, social media, website, and public relations materials and represents both organizations commitment to always being leaders through innovation. To learn more about the Golden Arm Award, please visit: Golden Arm Foundation or Golden Arm Award. Additionally, please follow the conversation throughout the season on Twitter: @GoldenArmAward and use the hashtags #GoldenArmAward and #InnovationLeaders.
Local Trade Associations Give Back to our Veterans Valley View, Ohio — The 16th Annual Heat and Plumb the County service event will take place Saturday, September 14, to help nearly 50 veterans, senior and disabled residents who do not have the physical or financial means to pay for home repairs. A group of 100 Read more
Local Trade Associations Give Back to our Veterans
Valley View, Ohio — The 16th Annual Heat and Plumb the County service event will take place Saturday, September 14, to help nearly 50 veterans, senior and disabled residents who do not have the physical or financial means to pay for home repairs.
A group of 100 volunteer contractors from the Plumbing, Heating, Cooling Contractors Association of Northeast Ohio (PHCC) and the Greater Cleveland Air Conditioning Contractors Association (ACCA) traveled throughout Cuyahoga County to provide the free furnace tune-ups, water audits and plumbing repairs. “Some of the things we look for are high CO detection, rolling flames, gas leaks, plumbing leaks and sewage problems,” said event co-organizer Jerry Johnson.
Each plumbing contractor partnered with a heating and cooling contractor to visit two homes during the day. During each safety check, the contractors will make sure the furnace was running safely and that the home’s plumbing system was working efficiently.
In past years, technicians have founds and fixed problems that could have been life-threatening to the customer. This year, all homes will receive a combination CO and smoke detector provided by Dollar Bank.
“A few years ago we found a home with a serious gas leak,” said event co-organizer Jim Haberek. “We had to evacuate the house, but thankfully no one was hurt.”
All residents are pre-screened by the Cuyahoga County Veterans Service Commission, Cuyahoga County Senior and Adult Services, Cuyahoga County Department of Development and the Cleveland Department of Aging. Residents in need have to meet certain criteria, including being the owner of the home and having financial income of no more than 175 percent above the poverty level.
“Our technicians are proud to be here and to make a difference in the community,” said Haberek. “They’ve donated their Saturday to make sure residents are safe.”
The event’s materials, supplies and additional funding were donated by local plumbing and HVAC supply companies. According to the event organizers, they are always looking for more contractors to volunteer their time to meet the growing demand for the program.
The ACCA of Greater Cleveland first hosted Heat and Plumb the County in 2004, and the PHCC joined the event in 2008. Heat and Plumb the County events take place nationwide. The program was started by the ACCA in Texas and has since spread across the U.S.
The PHCC and ACCA of Ohio are membership organizations of active plumbing, heating and cooling contractors committed to the continuous improvement of the industry and society’s quality of life through ongoing education, training and political action.