As the Portland, Ore. housing market headed toward all-time lows in 2007, Sky Heating & Air Conditioning had to make major changes to survive. The end result, a total transformation into a growing company focused almost entirely on selling high-end, high-efficiency products like 16 SEER heat pump and geothermal heat pump systems. 

The commercial, new-construction market has been operating for decades under two processes: plan and spec, and design-build. These systems are now being challenged by integrated project delivery (IPD), a new concept that is gaining traction nationwide.

When talking to the management or employees at My Plumber Heating and Cooling, it is hard to tell if they are part of a large contracting firm or a big extended family, which is the key to success at this Manassas Va.-based company, and why The NEWS recognized the company as its “Best Contractor to Work For” Eastern region contest winner.

Because of my involvement in the ACCA Disaster Relief Committee, I have heard about several contractors whose businesses and lives were upturned by the storm.