Boston Brings HVAC Leaders Together: Unified Group’s Construction Forum Fosters Innovation, Connection
Insights on labor tracking, onboarding, innovation, and company culture take center stage
PRACTICE: HVAC professionals from all across the country assembled in Boston, Mass. for the Unified Group’s 2025 Construction Forum.
The hum of conversation and collaboration echoed through the Renaissance Boston Patriot Place Hotel late last month, as more than 55 HVAC industry professionals from around the country gathered for The Unified Group’s 2025 Construction Forum. Over three days, attendees exchanged hard-won knowledge on everything from labor tracking to company culture, all while forging new relationships in the heart of Massachusetts.
The program, held September 24-27, wasn’t just about lectures and panels. The agenda was packed with hands-on sessions, practical walkthroughs, and candid discussions on topics like onboarding and offboarding, employee reviews, and managing the ever-present challenge of change orders. “The opportunities to engage with the (Unified) Group are priceless. From large to small group discussions, to chatting in between events, this is a great group of people,” said Ashley Duncan of General Sheet Metal.
The event kicked off with Gary Myers of Intech Mechanical setting the tone as MC, before Mike Keenan of VHV Company and Brian Howard of Legacy Mechanical dove into field measurement tools for Prefab/VDC. Later, Jen Clark from General Sheet Metal and Ben Robertson from Air Controls mapped out their labor tracking strategies, offering actionable insights attendees could take home and implement.
One of the standout moments was a guided tour of Unified Group member Environmental Systems, Inc.’s (ESI) nearby facility in Taunton. Attendees rotated through eight stations—ranging from sheet metal and pipe fabrication to engineering and CRM—getting an inside look at real-world operations. “I really got a lot out of this, including inspiration,” said Grant Wiegmann of Wiegmann Associates. Casey Corbin of Legacy Mechanical agreed: “The people at ESI were great, and it was extremely impressive to see all of their presentations.”
Day two kept the momentum going with sessions on onboarding and offboarding led by Rob Ritz of frēijē Engineered Solutions and Jeff Baker of Intech Mechanical. Attendees were quick to note which strategies they’d be taking back to their own companies. The “Best Ideas Session” brought fresh perspectives, including Gordon Rehdantz’s “NOS (Never Out of Stock) Box” system for keeping field teams supplied, and Ben Robertson’s experience with Kojo, a platform designed to streamline procurement and spending.
To cap off the second day, participants took in a Red Sox game at Fenway Park—an evening that mixed business with Boston’s legendary sports spirit. “The best part of the meeting for me was realizing that, no matter the size of the company, we all deal with similar issues,” Brian Howard of Legacy Mechanical reflected. “Since nobody in the meeting is a competitor, it allowed us to openly share ideas with each other.”
The forum’s final day focused on the future of workforce management, with a panel zeroing in on matching crews’ skill sets with the right jobs. A group discussion led by Gary Myers covered closeouts, O&M process improvements, and tips for avoiding costly return trips. The collaborative atmosphere impressed Jimmy Roth of General Sheet Metal: “One of the highlights from this forum was the common theme of strong culture and team-first mentality among all of the companies in the Unified Group.”
The 2025 Construction Forum wrapped with participants heading home energized and equipped with new strategies—and new connections—to help their companies thrive. The Unified Group will keep the momentum going with upcoming forums on Safety, Design Build, and Service Management. For those interested in joining or learning more, Janet Kelleher can be reached at KelleherJ@TheUnifiedGroup.com.
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