ARLINGTON, Va. - The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) has announced an expanded schedule of live online training for the HVACR industry.

These 90-minute online webinars are taught by successful contractors and other experts on topics chosen by ACCA’s members. Participation in each webinar requires access to both the Internet and a phone line. The sessions are interactive, allowing participants to ask questions of the presenters and provide real-time feedback.

Access to the webinars is on a per-login basis. With a speakerphone and a computer projector, contractors can involve multiple employees in the training for one registration fee.

“We launched the webinar program this spring and it has been successful beyond our expectations,” said Paul T. Stalknecht, ACCA president and CEO. “Contractors all over the country are taking advantage of these unique sessions to train their key staff on vital management and technical topics - in the comfort of their own office.”

Updated course listings and online registration are available at www.acca.org/training/online/. Each webinar begins at 2 p.m. Eastern time and lasts about 90 minutes. The following classes have been scheduled so far through the end of 2007:

Sept. 11 - The HVAC Is Okay, But the House Isn't! (Jim Herritage, Energy Auditors): Customers want to be comfortable, and blame their HVAC when they're not. But sometimes it's a house that can make you look bad. This webinar will provide a 10-point checklist to better recognize when a customer’s home is making their HVAC look bad.

Sept. 18 - Planning & Executing a Profitable Exit Strategy (Brandon Jacob, Contractors Financial Opportunity): Whether you intend to sell tomorrow or 10 years from now, understanding the fundamentals of business transactions, and preparing an exit strategy far in advance, will help you maximize your company's value. Learn the basics of business valuation, how it applies to HVAC contractors, preparing for a sale, and the life of a business transaction.

Oct. 3 - The New Manual N - The Times Are A-changing (Jack Bartell, Virginia Air Distributors): As buildings and materials change, so must load calculation processes. The original Manual N, the standard for light commercial loads, has been revamped to account for many changes in construction and will be released later in 2007. This webinar will provide an overview of the new procedure, what’s changed, and how it applies to your business.

Oct. 11 - Aggressive Ways to Keep Competitors from Stealing Customers (Adams Hudson, Hudson Ink): Hudson will provide tips on how to keep your customers when your competitors are trying to steal them away. You'll learn practical ways to build retention, referrals, and word of mouth, and “iron cage” retention methods that have been shown to work.

Oct. 16 - How to Ease the Rising Cost of Healthcare (Donna Brunn, TASC): Health costs have risen at an alarming rate, and are expected to increase on average more than 14 percent in 2007. The IRS has developed several ways for employers to cut some of these costs, including Health Savings Accounts, Flexible Spending Accounts, and Health Reimbursement Arrangements. Learn how to offer healthcare benefits while also lowering your costs.

Oct. 19 - Energy Calculations for HVAC Contractors (Jim Herritage, Energy Auditors): Energy costs are risings, and customers are looking for expert advice. This webinar will provide tools you can use to perform energy calculations in the field. Learn how to apply the five most important energy calculations to help customers make informed decisions (and close more sales).

Nov. 7 - Make High-Margin Revenues with Boiler Maintenance (Skip Snyder, The Snyder Company): There’s money to be made in boiler maintenance programs. Learn how to make the "H" in HVAC work for you through establishing good relationships, how to tell your customer what they don't know (but need to), leverage codes and rules, and expand business opportunities while also balancing your workload.

Nov. 15 - Make Money with Quality Installation (Ellis Guiles, TAG Mechanical): Contractors can set themselves apart with ACCA's Quality Installation specification, and offer high-quality systems to customers who want assurance that they are getting the best. Learn how to implement the QI spec in your business, use it to improve internal processes and installation practices, and turn it into a “marketing weapon” to generate higher revenues, more profit, and happier customers.

Dec. 4 - Managing Cashflow for Year-Round Success (Brandon Jacob, Contractors Financial Opportunity): HVAC is a cyclical business. That's why all contractors must be prepared to weather times when cash flows are lowest. Learn how to understand the budget process and cash flow statements, apply appropriate budget formulas, and manage your business when business is slower.

Dec. 13 - Creating Customers for Life (Robert Wilkos, Peaden Air Conditioning): Learn how an award-winning contractor uses a systematic, consistent approach to quality in order to ensure customer satisfaction and improve bottom line profits. Wilkos will share his company's formula for “quality assurance” to provide a blueprint for more motivated workers with better skills, a new career path for technicians, a more consistent business model, and “customers for life.”

For more information about these webinars and to register, visit www.acca.org/training/online/, or contact ACCA's Katie Littlepage at 703-824-8840 or katie.littlepage@acca.org.

Publication date:08/06/2007