2004 was a good year for many HVACR contractors, and it was a great year for the "elite eight" who were selected as winners in The News' 2004 "Best Contractor To Work For" contest. The list of winners stretches from Seattle to Charlotte, N.C. - and for the first time includes a Canadian contractor.
Pat's Heating and Air Conditioning Inc. is fun to work for and the employees feel like part of the family, which are some reasons why it is the Midwest winner of The News' 2004 "Best Contractor To Work For" contest.
One business expert notes that paperboys are dependable and self-starters, unafraid of getting up early for work and working under harsh conditions. Consider asking prospective employees if they ever delivered newspapers.
Comfort Systems USA Inc., a provider of commercial, industrial, and institutional HVAC services, announced that it had acquired Granite State Plumbing & Heating from KeySpan Corp., a New York-based natural gas and electric utility.
Every major trade in the construction industry has them - Web sites, that is. There are thousands in the HVACR field, many crossing over into other fields. If you ask Bud Goodman, one of these crossover sites is a perfect fit for sheet metal workers.
Mark Matteson is a familiar face to the HVACR contracting trade. He is a regular speaker and seminar host. Matteson recently launched a Web site that provides tips on improving personal and professional relationships.
While the Internet can make it easier for consumers to shop and compare prices, it also raises concerns among the HVACR trade that do-it-yourselfers who purchase products online are not correctly installing and maintaining the equipment. This situation may lead to warranty problems.
The Internet is a useful tool for HVACR contractors the way a set of gauges is a useful tool for technicians. The various Web sites offered by Rheem to its network of contractors, for instance, are designed to help contractors access the latest information.
How often do you put yourselves in your customers' shoes? That's a question that Eric Kuns posed to attendees of his seminar on strategic account management (SAM) held at the recent Excellence Alliance Inc. (EAI) meeting.
A decision by the city council of Terre Haute, Ind., requiring North American Technician Excellence (NATE) certification as a license requirement to do HVACR work within city limits is the first of its kind for any U.S. city. The council recently met and approved amendments to Chapter 4 of the Terre Haute City Code, Article 10, "Contractors and Skilled Trades."