Industry News

“More Time, More Money and More Peace of Mind” was the theme of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors—National Association (PHCC) Educational Foundation’s popular Creating Super Foremen class held last week. A packed classroom of twenty-seven attendees engaged in a highly interactive and intense two-day workshop conducted May 3-4. The event was held at the Viega Training Facility in Nashua, New Hampshire, with lead instruction from Purdue University Professor Emeritus Kirk Alter.

Effective time management is a direct strategy for success and Alter gave attendees an insightful introduction to some of technology’s newest offerings that can save time. By showing the class how they could harness artificial intelligence (AI) tools in their day-to-day work, he opened their eyes to the possibilities. Attendees experimented with prompts to use in ChatGPT when starting a budget analysis and saw how the chatbot can save time when gathering project information, writing emails, and even creating a 5-year career plan.

The second part of the theme was captured by a key question asked by Alter: “How do you make money?” His answer: “By solving other people’s problems.” For foremen, that means becoming effective front-line managers. “As the subcontractor business owner, I am handing my wallet to you, my foreman, every single day,” Alter explained. “If you are asking good questions, managing with numbers and making the best decisions you can with the information you have, it will absolutely show in the results for your jobs. What do think that will do to your career path at my company?”

Finally, Alter illustrated how foremen can face fewer surprises and have more peace of mind. This breakthrough came when Alter introduced attendees to the importance of using spreadsheets to analyze the status of a construction project. Groups worked independently one evening on analyzing the numbers. The next day Alter led the class through an activity where they experienced firsthand how to extract details about labor productivity, management decisions, and where things went wrong.

“You get frustrated on your jobs because of surprises, but if you know how to read the numbers, the whole story is there,” he said. “Being able to spot productivity issues or other problems early will help you to solve those issues when you still have time to recover. That is going to make your jobs and your life so much easier.”

Foremen are problem-solvers who can impact a company’s success. After two days of ‘aha’ moments, the PHCC Super Foremen class left equipped with new strategies to achieve three things that drive success: more time, more money and more peace of mind.

Viega sponsored and hosted the foremen class at their New Hampshire Training Facility, providing the training room, A/V, meals for the attendees and more. “We are very grateful for Viega’s support for this class. As in past years, the attendees expressed how great of an experience this class is and how seamless Viega makes it to learn in their classroom space,” said John Zink, Vice President of Development and Communications, PHCC Educational Foundation.

Project managers and foremen who wish to register for future class offerings of the Foundation can add their names to the notification lists at https://phccfoundation.org/essentials.

Bradford White was once again a proud sponsor of the For Pete’s Sake Cancer Respite Foundation Walk on Sunday, April 28^th.

This annual fundraiser takes place at Citizens Bank Park and home of the Philadelphia Phillies. Several Bradford White employees and their families participated in this meaningful event to support For Pete’s Sake which provides much needed respite experiences for families during their cancer journey.

For more information visit: https://takeabreakfromcancer.org/

For more information about Bradford White, visit: https://www.bradfordwhite.com/.

US Military Veterans Are Offered Special Hours to Help with Job Search

To coincide with Military Appreciation month in May 2024, PumpMan, a leading provider of onsite maintenance, repair, and replacement of equipment used in water and wastewater systems, proudly announces that it will establish a special recruitment call center for US Military Veterans who are seeking employment. Veterans are encouraged to call in order to learn about the opportunities available throughout the PumpMan organization and to have a personal conversation with a PumpMan associate who can answer any questions they may have.

“At PumpMan, we value our veterans, and we greatly appreciate their service to our country,” said Donald C. Devine, chief executive officer, PumpMan, and a West Point graduate. “We have veterans working at all levels of leadership, as well as in our field operations, and we want to extend our heartfelt invitation to explore the possibilities of joining us! At PumpMan, we pride ourselves at creating a work environment that fosters and supports rewarding and successful careers for our employees. If there are veterans who are looking for employment, we urge them to take advantage of this unique opportunity during the month of May. We look forward to speaking with you and to welcoming you into the PumpMan community.”

The Call Center will be open on Wednesdays, from 9am – 12noon, EST during the month of May 2024 starting May 8^th.  Interested veterans should call (908) 625-0007. Additionally, US Military veterans can email their resume and questions to HR@pumpman.com.

Providence, R.I. – The first annual John Hazen White III Memorial Tribute was held under sunny skies on Saturday, April 27, at Narragansett Brewery. It was a memorable day filled with unity and celebration. Participants included Taco employees, cherished family members, dear friends, and valued partners at Community Preparatory School.

The event began with a meaningful one-mile walk/run, symbolizing the shared commitment to our community and its well-being. The slogan, “Come Walk or Run in Memory of Maddie’s Daddy,” provided an extra special, heartfelt incentive.

Following the walk/run, the festivities continued at the brewery, where attendees enjoyed live music, delicious food, and the joyous camaraderie of being together. It was a time to reflect on the impact of John Hazen White III’s legacy and to honor his vision of making a positive difference in the lives of others.

“Seeing everyone here today means so much to us,” said Kate White, Corporate Social Responsibility Partner at Taco. “This is exactly the type of event that John would have loved—an opportunity to spend time together with family and friends for such a wonderful cause. We wish he was still here, but we know he lives on in all of us,” Kate mused.

John H. White, Jr, Executive Chairman and Owner of Taco, reflected on the day. “Today’s event was truly special. Sharing time together with friends, family and the Taco community is the perfect way to celebrate John’s life and the joy he brought to all those who knew him,” said John.

“We are so thankful for everyone joining us here to pay tribute to John,” said Ben White, Program Manager, Business Operations at Taco. “He made us all better people and continues to have a positive impact on our lives. As we have been saying, love is not a big enough word when it comes to John,” concluded Ben.

We invite you to consider donating to the John Hazen White III Endowed Scholarship fund at Community Preparatory School. Your generous donations will help us continue his legacy of empowering young minds and transforming lives. Details on how to donate can be found at https://bit.ly/44inhTJ.