heating and cooling

We hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving and you are able to take some time to share it with family, friends and loved ones. This update is dedicated to some examples of those giving back. We’ll also tell you what’s cooking with our weekly podcasts as well.

Leading manufacturer partners with charitable organizations in Pennsylvania and Michigan this Thanksgiving, committing $25,000 in donations

Ambler, Pa. — Bradford White Corporation, an industry-leading manufacturer of water heaters, boilers and storage tanks, is providing much needed support for three charitable organizations this Thanksgiving season, including Jaws Youth Playbook, Mel Trotter Ministries and Philabundance. The company’s charitable contributions include both monetary support and employees volunteering their time.

“At Bradford White, we manufacture water heating products that provide families with access to essential hot water for their health, safety and comfort,” said Rebecca Owens, senior communications manager at Bradford White Corporation. “That said, we recognize that too many families and individuals have even greater concerns this holiday season, like having enough to eat. Through our support, our hope is that we lessen the worry over food for our communities and honor the true meaning of Thanksgiving.”

Leading manufacturer Bradford White Corporation sponsors Ron Jaworski’s (pictured, right) Jaws Youth Playbook Turkey Drive along with other charities in Pennsylvania and Michigan to support the fight against hunger this Thanksgiving.

Once again, the company is partnering with former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski and his foundation Jaws Youth Playbook. Their $5,000 donation supports a Thanksgiving Turkey Drive where full meals will be distributed to families in need across Philadelphia.

Bradford White is also excited to sponsor this year’s Camp Out for Hunger, and provide a $10,000 donation to Philabundance, the beneficiary of the event. Each year, local Philadelphia radio hosts Preston & Steve “camp out” at the Wells Fargo Center complex for a week, broadcasting live and encouraging donations of food or funds to Philabundance.

Plus, this year employees at Bradford White’s headquarters in Ambler, PA, will be hosting a food drive and donating the collected items to Camp Out for Hunger in support of Philabundance, whose mission is to drive hunger from communities today and to end hunger for good.

Bradford White’s contribution to Mel Trotter Ministries in Middleville, MI, includes both time and treasure for the Thanksgiving Community Meal at DeVos Place in Grand Rapids, MI. Their $10,000 donation allows many unhoused individuals and families to eat a full meal around a community table on Thanksgiving. In addition, 25 Middleville employees and their families plan to volunteer at the event.

“We love being a part of the communities where we live and work and believe that no one in them should have to go hungry,” Owens said. “We’re so thankful that organizations like these exist, and being able to partner with them and brighten Thanksgiving for our neighbors in need is a meaningful way to kick off the holiday season.”

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

Columbus, Ohio — Buckeye Heating, Cooling & Plumbing, a leading heating, cooling and plumbing company serving greater Columbus, is proud to announce it is providing a complimentary Carrier home heating and cooling system to an outstanding local educator. Since 2022, Buckeye Heating, Cooling & Plumbing has provided a free heating and cooling system to an educator within its service area.

This year, a free Carrier home heating and cooling system is being given to Reid Parrett, an intervention specialist at Franklin Heights High School. Parrett has a history of helping students both during and after-hours to ensure every student has what they need to succeed. In addition to teaching within her school, Parrett volunteers at her church’s nursery.

“Our teachers invest in local youth every day. Today, we are so proud to invest in one of them,” said Mike Roszkowski, President of Buckeye Heating, Cooling & Plumbing. “Supporting a local educator each year is something we are incredibly proud of here at Buckeye. We are thrilled to celebrate Ms. Parrett and the contributions she makes in the classroom.”

Buckeye Heating, Cooling & Plumbing’s teacher home comfort system giveaway is part of its MAX Gives initiative that focuses on charitable contributions to the communities in which the company serves. Other initiatives have included HVAC giveaways to families in need, water heater giveaways to first responders and community volunteers, monetary contributions to local charities, scholarships to deserving high school seniors, and donations to local families in need during the holiday season.

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.