FORT WORTH, Texas - Twenty-one business owners, operations managers, project managers, estimators, and superintendents spent four days at the PHCC Educational Foundation's recent offering of its Essentials of PHC Project Management Course, a training program sponsored by American Standard and Trane. The session, held in Fort Worth, Texas, demonstrated to attendees how pre-planning and a commitment to supporting field labor can significantly reduce wasted time and save their businesses substantial amounts of money.

"Managers working on the office side of a contracting business need to realize that making money in this industry depends completely on how well they can support their field labor," said Kirk Alter, director of the Foundation's management courses and lead instructor for the Essentials course. "By increasing field labor efficiency by just one percent, many companies could double their net profits."

"American Standard and Trane are proud to sponsor this training program," said Michael Vos, American Standard's Southwest region wholesale sales director, as he greeted attendees. "The knowledge and professionalism gained this week will benefit your bottom line and, as your partner in the supply channel, will help us to better serve your needs."

During the program, attendees also learned how scheduling software can help keep their projects on track and protect against delay claims. Special attention was also given to teaching attendees about how their management of individual project finances affects overall company cash flow, profits, and financial health.

The next Essentials of Project Management Course will be held January 4-7, 2006, in Lansdowne, Va., near Washington's Dulles Airport. American Standard and Trane also sponsor the Foundation's Business Owners Management Workshop, a session designed to teach contractors and their key staff how to shape their companies into leading firms in their markets.

The PHCC Educational Foundation (Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors-National Association) is dedicated to developing and delivering business management educational programs for plumbing-heating-cooling contractors. For more information, visit www.phccweb.org/foundation.

Publication date: 06/27/2005