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The Power of Awareness: Heating and Cooling

  

By Laurie Crigler, PHCC—National Association President
Source: Solutions, Winter 2017

As you all know, PHCC traditionally has been known as the “plumber’s” association. We need to change that perception of representing one portion of our membership to one that emphasizes both the plumbing and HVAC aspects. One of the “A”s in my presidency platform – The Power of A – is Awareness. We have been working very hard for several years to help our membership and the industry become aware that there really is an “HC” associated with this association.

Through our strategic planning, we are focused on ramping up our HVAC training and education programs. The PHCC Educational Foundation’s new e-learning platform includes not just plumbing apprentice training but all four years of HVAC apprentice training, as well. In its fifth year of existence, our HVAC apprentice competition at CONNECT 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, featured 12 HVAC union and nonunion apprentices showing off their skills through a series of challenging tasks.

The next Business Interest Group (BIG) being developed for online communication and “chats” will be focused on HVAC. This BIG will help our HVAC contractors and industry members find a home where they can explore ideas and problem solve in this specific, technical area of expertise.

In addition, the number of HVAC companies that are sponsors, partners or exhibitors with PHCC continues to increase. For example, Rheem Manufacturing, a key player in the HVAC arena, became a major sponsor at CONNECT 2017. We also saw a greater number of HVAC manufacturers and suppliers at our national Product & Technology Showcase, and more are providing educational content for members on new technologies and best practices in HVACR.

Additionally, some exciting news regarding a partnership that we have been working on for a while is that we will be co-locating with the Refrigeration Service Engineers Society (RSES) – a leading education, training and certification association for HVACR professionals – for CONNECT 2018 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

This collaboration brings even more value to our platform of education and training opportunities at CONNECT, giving HVAC contractors an array of sessions and other events that will enhance their business acumen and their technician training.

As a result of this focus, we are hoping to attract other primarily HVAC companies in some capacity (as members, sponsors, partners or even corporate sponsors), bringing them on as part of the process that will help us enhance the “HC” in PHCC so that we can truly become the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association our members deserve.

The industry and our members are becoming more aware that – through a PHCC membership – more and better programs for HVAC businesses are at their fingertips … not only increasing the value of their membership but reaffirming our reputation of “Best People. Best Practices.”

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