Plumbing and HVACR apprentice contests in Birmingham are set to showcase top talent this year. Falls Church, Va. — A strong line-up of top apprentices will have their opportunity to shine at the PHCC Educational Foundation’s National Plumbing and HVACR apprentice contests. This two-day competition will take place during CONNECT 2024, October 7-10, at the Read more
contractors
Plumbing and HVACR apprentice contests in Birmingham are set to showcase top talent this year.
Falls Church, Va. — A strong line-up of top apprentices will have their opportunity to shine at the PHCC Educational Foundation’s National Plumbing and HVACR apprentice contests. This two-day competition will take place during CONNECT 2024, October 7-10, at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Center, Birmingham, Alabama.
These contests — always a popular attraction on the trade show floor — will highlight the skills and expertise of the nation’s top apprentices in the plumbing and HVACR industries and allow attendees to watch the contestants’ progress.
Apprentices from across the country will come together to showcase their expertise and compete for the title of the nation’s top apprentice. This event offers apprentices not only a chance to demonstrate their skills but also an opportunity to network with fellow apprentices and industry professionals.
Plumbing apprentices must rough-in a bathroom – including the drain, waste and vent lines, a toilet, a sink and shower. HVACR apprentices must demonstrate their knowledge with a written test, plus their hands-on skills with brazing, pressure testing, refrigerant recovery and diagnosing and repairing a package unit system.
The evening of Tuesday, October 8, will kick off with a pep rally on the tradeshow floor to energize and support the contestants. University of Alabama sportscaster Chris Stewart will emcee the event. After the contest concludes on Wednesday, October 9, participants and attendees are invited to celebrate at the awards breakfast on Thursday, October 10. This event will honor the top performers and offer a final chance to honor the hard work and dedication of the next generation of industry leaders.
“We are very proud to sponsor these contests each year,” says Kevin Tindall, PHCC Educational Foundation chair. “Not only do they provide a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for star apprentices to demonstrate their skills on a national stage, but the contests also support the Foundation’s mission by helping to generate awareness for local apprentice programs, boosting interest in the fields of plumbing and HVAC and attracting new recruits to the industry.”
For more details, visit phccweb.org/CONNECT. This site offers information on education sessions, speakers, exhibitors, registration and hotel reservations, as well as the many attractions of Birmingham, Alabama, known as “The Country’s Best Kept Secret.” Register for CONNECT 2024 here.
Taco Comfort Solutions is pleased to announce the appointment of Tony Furst as its newest Commercial Trainer. With over 40 years of distinguished experience in mechanical engineering and a comprehensive background in overseeing multimillion-dollar projects, Tony brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Taco team. Tony’s career spans significant roles across renowned organizations Read more
Taco Comfort Solutions is pleased to announce the appointment of Tony Furst as its newest Commercial Trainer. With over 40 years of distinguished experience in mechanical engineering and a comprehensive background in overseeing multimillion-dollar projects, Tony brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Taco team.
Tony’s career spans significant roles across renowned organizations within the HVAC industry, including Armstrong Fluid Technology, where he served as the US Director of Application Engineering. His responsibilities included providing extensive application engineering support and developing technical education content for commercial HVAC systems. Tony’s commitment to excellence and innovation has consistently resulted in the successful completion of projects on time and within budget.
“We are thrilled to welcome Tony to Taco Comfort Solutions,” said Cheryl Merchant, CEO of Taco Family of Companies. “His deep understanding of mechanical systems and his passion for educating others will be invaluable as we continue to enhance our training programs for the commercial sector,” added Merchant.
Tony holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Dayton and an MS in Education from Michigan State University. He is certified in Plumbing Design by the American Society of Plumbing Engineering (ASPE) and is a LEED Accredited Professional with the US Green Building Council. Throughout his career, Tony has been a dedicated member of ASPE and ASHRAE, contributing significantly to technical education committees and serving as a speaker at various industry events.
“I truly enjoy sharing knowledge with others to make modern hydronic systems better,” said Furst. His commitment to advancing industry standards aligns perfectly with Taco Comfort Solutions’ mission to provide innovative and efficient solutions for HVAC systems.
In his new role at Taco, Tony will join a team of esteemed trainers, including Brett Zerba and Rich Medairos, enhancing the company’s capability to deliver comprehensive training programs tailored to the needs of commercial clients.
“It’s rare when you get the opportunity to add someone with Tony’s background, experience, and knowledge to your team,” said John Barba, Director of Training at Taco Comfort Solutions. “Adding Tony to our commercial training team is like having three Hall of Famers in your outfield. I’m looking forward to seeing Tony, Brett, and Rich share their wit, wisdom, and knowledge with our industry,” concluded Barba.
Furst’s appointment marks a significant addition to Taco Comfort Solutions, reinforcing its commitment to excellence in commercial HVAC training and education.
Houston — RectorSeal has announced the acquisition of PSP Products (PSP), an innovative supplier of surge protection and load management electrical solutions, which has worked with RectorSeal in recent years to build a comprehensive line of HVAC electrical products. This strategic acquisition broadens RectorSeal’s existing surge protection product line while allowing for continued market expansion Read more
Houston — RectorSeal has announced the acquisition of PSP Products (PSP), an innovative supplier of surge protection and load management electrical solutions, which has worked with RectorSeal in recent years to build a comprehensive line of HVAC electrical products. This strategic acquisition broadens RectorSeal’s existing surge protection product line while allowing for continued market expansion and growth outpacing the market.
Based in Manassas, Va, PSP Products has provided superior surge protection and load management products for over 30 years. The company has developed industry-leading load management systems for residential and commercial applications. All PSP surge protection devices have been designed, tested, and built for consistent and superior performance and have UL safety ratings. In addition to excellent performance, function, and protection, PSP Products use a unique hybrid design that allows products to perform efficiently for years in extreme power and environmental conditions.
“PSP has been a great partner to RectorSeal, working hand in hand to develop an industry-leading series of HVAC electrical products”, said Jeff Underwood, President of RectorSeal. “Bringing Clay and the rest of the PSP team into the organization will allow us to continue our innovation pace and better serve electrical distributors and contractors with a broader product offering.”
“I have had the chance to work with RectorSeal for the last five years and am confident that RectorSeal will be a good steward of the PSP team,” said Clay Outlaw, President of PSP Products. “We’re excited to join an industry leader and to continue innovating with new products to meet the electrical and HVAC contractor’s needs.”
Jaworski’s Foundation Jaws Youth Playbook Donates Back to School Supplies to PAL Students Philadelphia, PA (August 6, 2024) – Former Eagles Quarterback, Ron Jaworski and his foundation, Jaws Youth Playbook (JYP) are teaming up with Bradford White Water Heaters, to host a “Back to School Pep Rally” for the children of Philadelphia Police Athletic League Read more
Jaworski’s Foundation Jaws Youth Playbook Donates Back to School Supplies to PAL Students
Philadelphia, PA (August 6, 2024) – Former Eagles Quarterback, Ron Jaworski and his foundation, Jaws Youth Playbook (JYP) are teaming up with Bradford White Water Heaters, to host a “Back to School Pep Rally” for the children of Philadelphia Police Athletic League in Philadelphia that will prepare them for the start of the school year. Together, Ron Jaworski (better known as “Jaws”) and our community partners will provide new Book Bags, AT&T laptops, Shoes, Socks, School Supplies, Books and much more.
Location Time
Southwest Pal August 13, 2024
5900 Elmwood Road. 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Philadelphia, PA 19143 MEDIA TIME: 1:45 PM – 2:15 PM
“I am excited my foundation is partnering up with Bradford White Water Heaters, to host our annual “Back to School Event” for Philadelphia Police Athletic League – We all know the financial burden that comes with the start of a new school year. September can be a hard month for so many families in our area, especially for our underserved communities. This event will kick-start the school year for so many families. “We will be providing backpacks, supplies, new shoes from Soles4Souls, socks and so much more”, said Ron Jaworski.
“Bradford White Water Heaters is proud to partner with Ron Jaworski and Jaws Youth Playbook for the Back-to-School Pep Rally to benefit the Philadelphia Police Athletic League. This event is very meaningful to us, demonstrating our core value of community and making a positive impact in the lives of children and families where we live and work. The back-to-school drive is critical to providing Philadelphia-area students with essential supplies for the start of a successful school year,” stated Rebecca Owens, Senior Communications Manager, Bradford White Corporation.
A special thank you to our top sponsors: Bradford White Water Heaters, AT&T, Scott Payne Custom Pools, Soles4Souls, Chemglass Life Sciences, Pepco Manufacturing, Columbia Bank, Independence Blue Cross, DiNicola Family Foundation, Target, Balashine Properties, GF Hotels & Resorts, and Stopain.
To learn more about this event, please visit https://jawsyouthplaybook.org/back-to-school-pep-rally
Falls Church, Va. — Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors National Association (PHCC) unveils Jeff Butler and Mary Kelly as the keynote speakers for CONNECT 2024 in Birmingham, Alabama, October 7-10, at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex. Jeff Butler is a workplace strategist, who has offered expertise to help companies like Amazon, Google and John Deere foster a harmonious Read more
Falls Church, Va. — Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors National Association (PHCC) unveils Jeff Butler and Mary Kelly as the keynote speakers for CONNECT 2024 in Birmingham, Alabama, October 7-10, at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex.
Jeff Butler is a workplace strategist, who has offered expertise to help companies like Amazon, Google and John Deere foster a harmonious and high-performing workplace. Butler will present a keynote address, “Building an Effective Multi-Generational Workplace.” He will also lead a breakout session on the topic of “Winning the Talent War.”
Mary Kelly is a Council of Peer Award of Excellence speaker, best-selling author and Navy commander. At CONNECT, Kelly will share various stories and experiences of interest to p-h-c contractors during her keynote address, “Why Leaders Fail and the 7 Prescriptions for Success.” Kelly will also lead a breakout session, “Master Your World,” where she will emphasize effective tactics, practical strategies and innovative solutions that are tailored to dilemmas faced by today’s leaders.
“I know that many attendees, including myself, are anticipating the remarks that Jeff and Mary will share,” says Joe Cornetta, PHCC national president and co-owner of Cornetta Brothers, Inc., Elmont, New York. “We are excited to have these two leaders join us and help offer invaluable insights to the industry.”
For more details, including the schedule-at-a-glance, visit phccweb.org/CONNECT. This site offers information on education sessions, speakers, exhibitors, registration and hotel reservations, as well as the many attractions of Birmingham, known as “The Country’s Best Kept Secret.”