Complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has always required employers to walk a fine line. The guidelines aren’t always clear, every disability and particular situation involve a unique set of factors, and the laws are constantly developing. Many are still trying to sort out the implications of the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA).

This country’s recent economic problems have caused strains on most small business owner’s cash flows, making it harder than ever to cover one’s overhead. The result is that many self-employed people are facing lawsuits from creditors, vendors, and suppliers, more so than from unhappy customers.

It’s another year and it will soon be time again for more of the hustle and bustle of contractor shows. It’s time to shake hands, meet new business prospects and - most importantly - sell, sell, sell. If you’re a contractor who plans on going to a local or regional home and garden show in order to round up some new business, be sure to take maximum advantage of your time at the show.

In North Carolina, contractor Greg Crumpton likes to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to technology. His company, AirTight, is based in Charlotte, and serves commercial, industrial, and mission critical customers within a 100-mile radius.

As more and more consumers are purchasing smartphones and tablets for both business and personal use, more software applications are being developed specifically for these devices. One company that has decided to focus solely on designing mobile applications for the HVAC industry is Carmel Software Corp.

An Android phone, Gmail, and 500-plus followers on Twitter. That doesn’t sound like the typical description of an HVAC contractor, but it sums up Rob Benefiel in a nutshell. In an earlier era, Benefiel, owner of Certified Comfort Heating and Cooling, would not have been able to start and run his business the way he does today.

It may be hard to believe, but Apple launched its iPad less than a year ago. Since then, its popularity has soared. As the iPad has taken the world by storm, it has also made its way into the HVAC industry. Read this article to learn how a contractor and a distributor are pioneering the use of the iPad as a key tool in their businesses.

I have come to the conclusion - again - that the more things change, the more they stay the same. I’m referring to the hectic work schedule that HVAC contractors, especially those in my economically-challenged region of southeast Michigan, are trying to keep up with during the very hot summer last year.

Approximately two years ago, the United States Navy issued a solicitation for innovative ideas on how to decrease the size of heat exchangers on mobile equipment. The solicitation eventually funded several heat exchanger proposals. Our company was one of many that submitted proposals that were not selected.

In the first column in this series, “Customers and True-Blue Customers” (Jan. 17), we identified that the most important number that matters is the number of repeat customers you’ve established. In this column, we’re going to take a lesson from elementary school and apply it to retaining customers.