Good to know that the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors-National Association (PHCC), along with the PHCC National Educational Foundation, is looking into the worker shortage, specifically in hurricane-ravaged Louisiana.

What do you get when you combine an aging population with advancements in technology? Answer: An upswing in construction and design in the health care industry.

Over the holidays, time permitting, I plan to sit down at my computer and explore ALL of the Websites of ALL of the candidates vying for the White House. Right now I am leaning toward voting for Hilary Clinton, but I can definitely state I am not totally convinced that she is the right person to be the next President of the United States.

Don’t be surprised if your customers inquire about ground source heat pumps. Based on a recent conversation at the Skaer family’s Thanksgiving dinner, it appears the general public is becoming more and more educated concerning air source heat pumps and geothermal heat pumps.

Believe it or not, North American Technician Excellence (NATE) is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. Rex Boynton, for one, can certainly believe it. “Sure, I can believe it’s been 10 years. I’ve got the gray hairs to prove it,” mused the president of NATE. From inception to its current status in the HVACR industry, the road to unified certification has not always been smooth.

In a recent survey of chapters belonging to the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA), manpower shortages were identified as a concern by over one-third of respondents.

OK, I knew that headline might grab you, but I really DO want to know whom I should vote for in 2008. Who is the best person to step in after George W. (thankfully?) walks away? Really, I seek your input here. Give it to me.

It was rather appropriate that International Service Leadership (ISL) held its 2007 Owners’ Conference in the Show Me State. ISL brass certainly had plenty to show, tell, and introduce - including many exclusive program offerings - to the nearly 200 members, owners, and general managers that came to the St. Louis Airport Marriott for three full days of learning, learning, and more learning.

I am a fan of Rick Johnson, founder of CEO Strategist and a veteran of the wholesale distribution industry. He recently sent me an e-mail, discussing the topic of behavior and its importance. It’s worth repeating here.

The nearly 130 student chapter members who attended the Mechanical Contractors Association of America’s (MCAA’s) 2007 Student Chapter Summit received a solid taste of what to expect from the 2007-08 Student Chapter Competition, which culminates at next year’s association convention.