When the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) was formed in 1989, current president Bill Lundquist said the organization represented a small group of individuals “focused on promoting source removal as the only legitimate approach to cleaning ductwork.”

Since then, HVAC cleaning companies of all sizes have begun to take notice of the industry’s many opportunities for expansion. As consumer awareness has grown, duct cleaning companies have developed into full service HVAC inspection, maintenance, and restoration businesses.

NADCA members will continue to discuss ways of expanding at the association’s 2008 Annual Meeting and Exposition, scheduled for March 7-10 in San Diego, Calif. Lundquist is excited about the program.

“For business owners interested in growing their business, this year’s annual meeting program promises to help you see the possibilities and develop an appropriate vision for your company,” he said. “Not only will you get to learn from those who are already implementing their own plans, but the instructional sessions will give you the tools needed to help you train your personnel to support your company’s growth.”

Terry Donohue, of Power Vac in Toronto, Ontario, and chairman of this year’s annual meeting committee, said attendees will receive information about the new paths that NADCA is pursuing. “It will feature a panel of high profile technical and administrative people who will present a vision of the future and answer questions from the membership that reflect your visions and concerns about the future of duct cleaning and NADCA’s place in it,” he said.

SPANISH CLASS, TOO

Some of the planned sessions include “Developing a Million Dollar HVAC Cleaning Business,” to be presented by Jeremy Stamkos of EnviroAire Pty. Ltd.; “Current Trends in IAQ,” to be presented by Joe Hughes of IAQ Training Institute; and “Duct Leakage: The IAQ Connection,” to be presented by Ken Summers of Comfort Institute.

Many education sessions are on the docket. NADCA’s certification exam prep classes will be available. For the third straight year, the “Big Bucks in Air Ducts” course will be presented, considered as a strong primer on the fundamentals of starting and operating a profitable HVAC system cleaning business.

The Continuing Education Credit (CEC) Training Program has been expanded for 2008, providing a cost-effective way to earn CECs toward Air System Cleaning Specialist (ASCS) certification renewal. The training program, among other objectives, is designed to provide owners tools to deliver comprehensive, in-house training to their personnel.

A new twist to the upcoming meeting will be, for the first time, a session to be taught entirely in Spanish. Longtime NADCA member Carlos Gonzales Boothby, of In-Viro Care Inc., will conduct an introductory class on air duct cleaning and IAQ. Topics to be covered include mold prevention and remediation, as well as a variety of health and space topics to provide a comprehensive introduction to the HVAC system cleaning industry.

Providing the keynote presentation will be best-selling author and television host Larry Winget, dubbed the “Pit Bull of Personal Development.” Winget, the author of Shut Up, Stop Whining & Get A Life: A Kick-Butt Approach To A Better Life, is certainly to provide attendees a straightforward approach to business and personal success.

In addition, some of the industry’s leading suppliers will be on site to demonstrate the types of products and equipment duct cleaners need to compete.

“This year’s program is very good, and offers a lot of great educational sessions to go with the certification training and testing sessions,” said meeting committee member Peter Haugen of Vac Systems International, Burnsville, Minn. “Couple that with the trade show, San Diego weather, and the chance to meet and network with your peers from across the country and you’ll realize that this is the one trade show every air duct cleaning contractor should attend.”

For more information or to register, visit www.nadca.com.

Publication date: 03/03/2008