There is a new technician certification program in town. And, HVAC Excellence believes its Master Specialist program will produce even better, all-around techs.

Three members who helped in the creation of the Air Conditioning Contractors of America's (ACCA's) new HVAC Quality Installation Specification introduced the draft version of the document at the association's 2006 convention.

In his workshop, "Hey Dude! Managing Age Diversity in Today's Workplace," at the 2006 ACCA Convention, Robert Wendover provided a realistic, yet amusing, look at each generation and how each generation should go about relating to other generations.

James Gerdsen of Apollo Heating and Cooling had the task of installing the heating and cooling system at a historic dairy property. Three barns were put together to form a unique, 12,000-square-foot home.

Even with termination policies in place, it is rather surprising to find out what some employees will attempt to do - and will do - behind a contractor's back. Moonlighting, for the most part, is prohibited by most contracting businesses, yet it still exists in this day and age - and it costs contractors big time.

In his seminar, titled "Inventory and Productivity ... Controlling the Beasts!", presented at the 2006 ACCA Convention, Vince DiFilippo, owner of DiFilippo's Service Co., provided some valuable tips on managing, as he termed them, "the big two."

Contractors Chris Colditz, Bruce Silverman, Jeff Miller, and Skip Snyder discussed the current health insurance environment in a panel roundtable held at the 2006 ACCA Convention.

There were moments of levity, but contractors who had come to the Industry Leadership Breakfast, sponsored by The NEWS, at ACCA's annual convention wanted to find out what the heads of four leading industry manufacturers had to say about current issues.

The 2006 HVACR and Plumbing Instructor Workshop was a big success as 270-plus teachers attended sessions and discussed topics such as the latest classroom challenges, instructional techniques, and technology updates.

The essence of leadership is influence. So believes Rob Sherman of Sherman Leadership Group. That's the top "law" of "Sherman's 12 Laws of Leadership," which he offered at the Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA) Convention.