ARLINGTON, Va. - The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) will offer a series of "Best Practices" workshops and panels featuring contractors speaking from their business experience as part of the educational program at the 2004 ACCA Conference & Indoor Air Expo to be held Feb. 25-28, 2004, in New Orleans.

The workshops and panels include:

"Best Practices of the Residential Contractor," moderated by John Hall, Business Management Editor of The News. This panel of some of ACCA's top residential contractor members will discuss marketing, positioning, hiring, managing finances, and the best practices they employ.

"Basics of Financial Ratio Management," led by Mike Callahan of Venvest of Florida LLC. This workshop is designed to help contractors understand and implement best practices in financial management as used by profitable contractors around the country.

"Under 15 Employees: Growing and Improving Effectiveness and Image," led by Chris Colditz of Laco Mechanical Services. This workshop will cover office practices to promote professionalism, handling customer data, communications, and memberships in local groups.

"Best Practices of the Commercial Contractor," moderated by Mark Skaer, Editor-in-Chief of The News. This panel of some of the most successful commercial contractors will discuss marketing, positioning, hiring, managing finances, and the best practices they utilize.

"Women in the HVAC Industry," moderated by Laura DiFillipo of DiFillipo's Service Co. Inc. This panel of prominent women in the HVAC industry will discuss the ways they got started, the issues and challenges they faced, and the ways they moved ahead.

"Diversity in the HVACR Industry," led by Grace Odums of Diversity Unlimited. This workshop will explore the issues of diversity in terms of markets and employees and how to make smart decisions in marketing and hiring practices.

"How to Affect Change in State Politics," led by Chris Colditz of Laco Mechanical. This workshop will show contractors how to become the HVAC legislative consultant that state officials want to talk with for answers to their questions.

For more information, visit www.acca.org or call 703-824-8856.

Publication date: 12/15/2003