ATLANTA - The Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors (PHCC) convention offered a wide range of seminars geared toward topics like recession-proofing a business, analyzing cash flow, going green, and identifying new business opportunities. There were also new, more intimate, learning opportunities offered, such as “Ask the Expert”, on marketing, Web and business management topics, and luncheon roundtables set up with similar contractors.

Nearly 1,000 people attended Network ’08, which is the combined convention of PHCC and the American Supply Association (ASA). Participants also had the opportunity to visit hundreds of exhibitors featuring the newest products and services at the ISH North America trade show. During the event, Joe Schmitt of Joe Schmitt & Sons Plumbing & Heating, Englewood, Ohio, was installed as 2008-2009 president and Frank Maddalon of F.R. Maddalon Plumbing & Heating, Hamilton, N.J., was elected vice president. The first international chapter, PHCC AMERIC-Mexico, was also announced.

During the Network ’08 closing party, the winners of the 2008 PHCC Apprentice Contest were announced, too. Kyle Holcomb, Pasadena Plumbing, St. Petersburg, Fla., took first place; Edwin Rivas, The Plumber, Las Vegas, took second; and Michael Nelson, Eagle Plumbing, University City, Mo., took third.

For more information, visit www.phcc.org.

Publication date: 10/20/2008