Periodically, The News will challenge their expertise with questions about top issues such as utility competition, consolidation, labor shortages, training and certification, the latest technological improvements, energy management, and more. The plan is to pick their brains for answers that are important to you.

Plans also include discussing some success stories with the panel, all designed to learn how they solved problems involving installations and service, customer complaints, and human resource management. Their solutions may help you improve your bottom line and deal with the everyday aspects of running a busy shop.

Without further fanfare, let’s meet The News’ contractor consultants, who will be working for you.

Western region

• Tom D’Agostino, 47, president, Valley Wide Mechanical, Inc./GroupMAC, Avon, CO. Business: Residential and light commercial installation and service. Employees: 40.

•  Bob Dobrowski, 51, vice president, Ideal Service Co./Blue Dot, Concord, CA. Business: Residential and light commercial service and add-on installation. Employees: 90.

•  Jo Navaretta, 47, service manager, AireServ Heating & Air/Pitzer A/C, Lake Havasu, AZ. Business: Residential and light commercial retrofit plus service and new construction. Employees: 20.

•  Jeff Stewart, 44, vice president, Quality Air Conditioning Service, Inc., Las Vegas, NV. Business: Residential service and retrofit. Employees: 50.

Mid/upper west region

• Scott Getzschman, 43, general manager, Getzschman Heating & Sheet Metal/Service Experts, Fremont, NE. Business: Residential, light commercial, and industrial new construction, plus service and replacement. Employees: 65.

•  Mary Marble, 39, general manager, J.A. Marble Co., Detroit, MI. Business: Commercial, industrial, and institutional retrofit. Employees: 20.

•  Steve Miles, 38, general manager, Jerry Kelly Heating & Air, St. Charles, MO. Business: Residential and light commercial service and installation. Employees: 32.

•  Aaron York, 66, owner, Aaron York’s Quality A/C, Indianapolis, IN. Business: Commercial and residential. Employees: 25.

East/northeast region

•  Hank Bloom, 44, president, Environmental Conditioning Systems, Mentor, OH. Business: Commercial and industrial institutional piping; sheet metal; service; controls and automation; 95% design-build new construction; and retrofit. Employees: Approximately 100.

•  Tom DiPietro, 53, general manager, Climate Design Systems, Inc./Service Experts, Haverhill, MA. Business: Residential and light commercial service, plus retrofit and IAQ. Employees: 85.

•  Jeff Somers, 45, service operations manager, Monsen Engineering Co., Fairfield, NJ. Business: Commercial and industrial service and installation. Employees: 105.

South region

• Dave Dombrowski, 45, regional sales/marketing manager, Metro Heating & A/C-ARS/ServiceMaster, Raleigh, NC. Business: Residential and light commercial new construction and retail. Employees: 270.

•  Bill Flynn, 43, executive vice president, Mallory & Evans Service, Scottdale, GA. Business: Commercial and industrial construction and service. Employees: 250.

•  Tom Lawson, 36, owner, Advanced Air Conditioning & Heating, Inc., Bossier City, LA. Business: Residential and light commercial retrofit and service. Employees: 16.

•  Laura Pearman, 40, vice president, Allstate/Service Experts, Tampa, FL. Business: Residential and light commercial service and installation. Employees: 20.