Birmingham, Ala., rolls out the crimson red carpet for Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association (PHCC) and its attendees. “The Magic City” played host to the annual PHCC CONNECT show and the city pulled out all the stops. With mild October temperatures, it was the perfect setting to connect with fellow attendees and soak in the vibrant culture Read more
heating and cooling
Birmingham, Ala., rolls out the crimson red carpet for Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association (PHCC) and its attendees.
“The Magic City” played host to the annual PHCC CONNECT show and the city pulled out all the stops. With mild October temperatures, it was the perfect setting to connect with fellow attendees and soak in the vibrant culture of Birmingham.
The CONNECT show began with an opening reception at the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum—recognized by the Guinness World Records as the world’s largest motorcycle collection and home to other rare cars—and ended with an Alabama Tailgate Party at Birmingham Citywalk, where visitors could enjoy an array of food trucks serving local delicacies and engage in fun games.
The trade show floor was buzzing with latest in products and technology. New this year—although one needed to be a member to gain full access to the entire CONNECT experience—the Products & Technology Showcase floor was open free of charge to local walk-ins. This indeed brought in dozens more from the greater Birmingham area.
“This is the best place to do all of the networking,” says Erica Barnes, president, General Plumbing & Air Conditioning, Inc., Lake Worth, Fla. “I love getting new ideas form the floor and seeing what’s developing over time, such as artificial intelligence (AI) or seeing what new tools are coming out.”
A cool moment during PHCC president Joe Cornetta’s CONNECT opener, 94-year-old James Lindsey of Lindsey Brothers Plumbing and Heating in Norfolk, Va., was recognized for his contributions to PHCC and the industry. Starting his plumbing career at 16, he founded his own business, which will celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2026.
The annual CONNECT Show opens with an opening breakfast emceed by Bruce Carnevale, CEO, Bradford White, a staunch supporter of the association and the skilled trades. Carnevale gave an update on the company and talked about the impending NAECA 4 regulations coming down the pike in 2029, with the eventual movement away from atmospheric venting to all condensing. The Department of Energy (DOE) says the standards will require minor updates to gas-fired storage water heaters, while electric storage water heaters more than 35 gallons will require heat pump technology.
A yearly staple at the CONNECT show is the PHCC Educational Foundation’s National Plumbing and HVACR apprentice contests where plumbing apprentices roughed-in a bathroom—including the drain, waste and vent lines, a toilet, a sink and shower. HVACR apprentices demonstrated their knowledge with a written test, and put their hands-on skills to the test with brazing, pressure testing, refrigerant recovery, and diagnosing and repairing a package unit system. This year, Logan Cunningham with John J. Maurer Inc., Cataumet, Mass., took top prize for plumbing, while Dane Gonser with Emcor Services Fagan, Kansas City, Kansas, was the winner of the HVAC portion.
This year’s theme, “Authentic Connections,” highlighted the importance of building trust and fostering relationships within the industry. From the daily keynotes featuring best-selling author and Navy commander Mary Kelly, who uncovered the key factors behind leadership success and failure to Jeff Butler, who with the help of the three “Cs”—cadence, collaboration and communication—explored actionable strategies to effectively manage cross-generational challenges and leverage the diversity of your multi-generational workforce as a competitive advantage.
Another highly informative and interactive session featured some of the industry’s most recognizable social media personalities who gave advice in a session aptly named, “What the Hell Is an Influencer?” In addition to friends George DeJesus, George’s Drains LLC, Morris County, N.J., and Mike Prencavage Jr., The Family Plumber, Los Alamitos, Calif., last-minute, heavy-hitter fill-ins, Dustin Van Orman, Any Hour Services, Orem Utah, and Roger Wakefield, Richardson, Tex., stepped in to inform attendees how to use social media in an effective way, for business of course.
The final keynote on reverse mentoring, moderated by yours truly, featured Erica Barnes, president, General Plumbing & Air Conditioning; Daniel Birmingham, project manager, JRC Mechanical, Chesapeake, Va.; Chris Johnson, owner, Charles Chester Plumbing & Heating, Elko, Nev.; Chase Johnson, general manager, Charles Chester Plumbing & Heating; and Tyler Arndt, Arndt & Sons Plumbing, Brooklyn, Wis., as they shared their experiences and how their ideas and contributions could help their companies thrive in the future.
Also new this year to CONNECT was live podcasting from the tradeshow floor. The magic of spontaneous discussions, solutions, and insights came alive with some of the industry’s top podcasters. These media personalities hosted high-profile guests as they shared their particular insights to the industry.
Oh, and why is Birmingham called the Magic City, you may ask? Including other names such as “The Iron City” or “The Pittsburgh of the South,” Birmingham is referenced as the Magic City because its soil contained the three necessary elements to produce steel: limestone, coal and iron ore.
Next year’s CONNECT will take place in Grand Rapids, Mich.
https://vimeo.com/1022947522 This week we talk ASPE, which just took place this week actually. Tim Ward gives an update from the show floor and we visit with our friends from Uponor. We have a new Contractor Spotlight on the site. We talk American Plumber Stories Season 5, Episode 2. And, of course, we’ll talk podcasts Read more
This week we talk ASPE, which just took place this week actually. Tim Ward gives an update from the show floor and we visit with our friends from Uponor. We have a new Contractor Spotlight on the site. We talk American Plumber Stories Season 5, Episode 2. And, of course, we’ll talk podcasts.
https://vimeo.com/1020210961 What normally is a “quiet” time of year in terms of traveling for us, we have been on the road the road these last few weeks. In this update, we’ll talk PHCC CONNECT in Birmingham, Ala., ASPE in Columbus, Ohio, our critically-acclaimed weekly podcasts, and, yes, hand washing Read more
What normally is a “quiet” time of year in terms of traveling for us, we have been on the road the road these last few weeks. In this update, we’ll talk PHCC CONNECT in Birmingham, Ala., ASPE in Columbus, Ohio, our critically-acclaimed weekly podcasts, and, yes, hand washing.
Aalberts integrated piping systems (IPS), a global leader in advanced integrated piping systems for the distribution and control of liquids and gasses, is excited to announce its participation in the upcoming ASPE Convention & Expo, taking place from October 18-23, 2024 in Columbus, OH. Aalberts IPS will be exhibiting at booth #1815, where attendees can Read more
Aalberts integrated piping systems (IPS), a global leader in advanced integrated piping systems for the distribution and control of liquids and gasses, is excited to announce its participation in the upcoming ASPE Convention & Expo, taking place from October 18-23, 2024 in Columbus, OH. Aalberts IPS will be exhibiting at booth #1815, where attendees can explore the company’s latest innovations, services, and product lines, designed to deliver complete, tailored piping solutions across industries.
Aalberts IPS is renowned for its mission-critical products surrounding valve and connection technology, with a legacy spanning 96 years under its “Apollo”® Valves brand. The company offers a wide range of products, including: ball valves, butterfly valves, safety relief valves, control valves, mixing valves, backflow preventers, and more. These products are engineered domestically to meet the needs of key verticals from commercial to industrial and utility markets globally.
At the ASPE Convention & Expo, Aalberts IPS’ booth will feature key information about the company’s design and field services, as well as products like the Revit plug-in among the Shurjoint and “Apollo”® product lines. Aalberts IPS provides expert advice and support for piping applications, from the initial planning stages to the final implementation of piping systems. Their unique design service ensures that every project is optimized for efficiency and effectiveness. Additionally, Aalberts IPS offers a comprehensive range of field services to ensure that piping systems are installed correctly and operate efficiently. Their experienced team provides on-site support, from installation to maintenance, ensuring long-term system reliability with minimal downtime.
Booth visitors will be able to witness the Aalberts IPS Revit plug-in, a powerful tool designed to streamline the design process, allowing engineers and architects to easily integrate Aalberts IPS products into their projects. This plug-in enhances project accuracy and efficiency, ensuring things are done right the first time and minimizing costly extended lead times. The Shurjoint range of mechanical piping solutions, which will also be highlighted at the event, is known for its versatility and ease of installation. This product line is designed to offer reliable and extremely durable pipe connections for a variety of piping systems whereas the “Apollo” SmartPress® line of press fittings and valves offer quick and secure connections, reducing installation time and costs while ensuring long-term reliability.
https://vimeo.com/1017199033?share=copy This week we’ll talk soaring heat pump sales numbers, we unveil an eye-popping number that 43% of students surveyed said they would consider a skilled trade if they had more information, and Milwaukee Tool expands, and did you know where the best states are to live to be in the trades Read more
This week we’ll talk soaring heat pump sales numbers, we unveil an eye-popping number that 43% of students surveyed said they would consider a skilled trade if they had more information, and Milwaukee Tool expands, and did you know where the best states are to live to be in the trades?