APRIL 2012

Thanks to a new sponsorship from Kohler Company, this year the Foundation has expanded our webinar offerings. PHCC members have access to all previous sessions through our web site at www.phccfoundation.org.

Our March webinars focused on technology that can help contractors secure new work, overcome obstacles and become more profitable. Here are some lessons from these recent webinars.

BIM Technologies for Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors

Customers are increasingly requiring use of Building Information Modeling technology, especially on government projects. Getting started does require an investment in the technology tools and training, but now is the time to do so to stay ahead of your competition and to not miss out on good opportunities.

A guide to getting started with BIM is now available on the Foundation website. The first step is to develop an implementation plan and a company team to research the best hardware and software options for your company. The guide includes a list of common software platforms to examine,

including AutoCAD MEP, Revit MEP and Navisworks, all from the software company Autodesk.

Making Mobile Technology Work for Your Business

Service and repair contractors who successfully incorporate mobile technology can enjoy improved productivity, with less phone chatter and more information-sharing. Mobile devices can process transactions and email receipts electronically, reducing paperwork handling, data entry errors and allow immediate updates from the jobsite. Billing processes can be greatly streamlined, and credit card processing fees can be also reduced. Use of mobile technology also promotes a stronger corporate image – a business that appears technologically competent helps to build confidence in the customer’s mind.

How GPS Tracking Can Solve Your Top 5 Fleet Management Challenges

Every truck on the road means a potential source of headaches for p-h-c companies. In this session, attendees learned that GPS systems can help companies to reduce costs and provide better service for their customers. GPS systems allow data tracking that can be used to reduce fuel costs from poor dispatch and excessive idling or speeding. Better dispatching is possible, because the office knows exactly where every truck is at all times. This helps

to provide better customer service, reduce wasted time and provides better security against vehicle theft.

Watch for the monthly Focus Flash e-mail for reminders and registration information on upcoming webinars. Previous session recordings are available for viewing any time by PHCC members at www.phccfoundation.org.

Upcoming Foundation Training Opportunities

Regional Instructor Workshops:

May 10-11 in San Diego June 7-8 in Indianapolis Aug. 9-10 in Baltimore

Foundation workshops designed to help PHCC apprentice

program instructors with lesson development, teaching methods

and the how-to’s of being a great instructor. Contact Merry Beth

Hall at hall@naphcc.org for more information.

Foundation Webinars Sponsored by Kohler Company:

May 9 - Webinar Putting a Dollar Value on Water Conservation for the Customer Presented by Kohler Company

May 23 - Webinar Recruiting, Hiring and Retaining

Top Performers Presented by Les Strech,

ConnectusPro

June 6 - Webinar Standardizing Processes to Profit

Presented by Kirk Alter, Fast Management

FOUNDATION WEBINARS: KEEPING PACE WITH TECHNOLOGY

EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION

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REGIONAL INSTRUCTOR WORKSHOPS PROVIDE EXPERT TRAININGThe PHCC Educational Foundation is offering a pilot program series of two-day regional instructor workshops in spring/summer 2012. These three regional instructor workshops will offer an all-day instructional boot camp as well as a second day of more condensed, high quality seminars focused on incorporating newer technologies into the apprentice curriculum. Regional workshops will be held on May 10-11, 2012 in San Diego, California; June 7-8, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana; and August 9-10 in Baltimore, Maryland.

“Many apprentice program instructors work in the field during the day and are up-to-date on the latest technologies in the marketplace,” said Foundation Director of Apprentice and Journeyman Training Merry Beth Hall. “However, these individuals may not have had training in classroom skills. These regional instructor workshops will help our instructors become more skilled and confident in the classroom setting.”

The first day of the workshops will feature a boot camp on instructional design and methods for the adult learner, presented by Dr. Katherine Manley from Ferris State University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Dr. Manley’s expertise in career and technical education methods,

combined with her quick wit, ensure content that is both realistic and enjoyable.

The second day of the workshop includes presentations by Cengage Learning on maximizing use of instructional CDs, including PowerPoints and test banks; Copper Development Association on teaching alternative joining methods; Cast Iron Soil Pipe Institute on instructional methods for cast iron soil pipe; and GreenPlumbersUSA on incorporating water and energy conservation into the curriculum.

Registration is available on the PHCC website, under the Events Calendar at www.phccweb.org.

New Labor Calculator Software Coming This Summer

A fresh, new version of the Foundation’s popular Labor Calculator software program will make its debut in early summer. The new version will feature over 10,000 national average installation times for plumbing and HVACR materials. This installation labor hour data helps estimators to develop more accurate bids and reduce the risk associated with labor estimates.

The completely rebuilt software allows more flexibility in making local adjustments to labor units and online updates to the database as new labor units are developed. Users will also find new labor unit sections on PEX, CSST, push-fittings and other additions. The Foundation partnered with Maxwell Systems on the development and programming of the software.

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PHCC FOUNDATION ECLIPSES $2.1 MILLION IN SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING

“ The PHCC Educational Foundation scholarship was so important in allowing for this great opportunity. Without it, I don’t know that I could have afforded the tuition, and I’d certainly be a different person today.” – Allen Whitaker, now working at PHCC Member Brown Brothers Plumbing & Heating

Each year, the PHCC Educational Foundation plants the seeds for the future by attracting new talent and supporting their education. With generous donations, this year it plans to award over $60,000 in scholarships to students wanting to work in plumbing, heating and cooling.

In 2006, the Foundation awarded $12,000 to Allen Whitaker, who grew up in a family that was very involved in the plumbing-heating-cooling (p-h-c) trade and who landed his first job at 16 years old as a service department helper. Since then, every job in his young career has been with PHCC member companies: Shoffner Kalthoff Mechanical Electrical Service in Knoxville, Tenn., Lee Company in Nashville, Tenn., and Brown Brothers Plumbing & Heating in Durham, N.C.

Whitaker praises the PHCC Educational Foundation for making it possible to attend the University of Tennessee – Knoxville as a finance major and graduate in 2010 with a degree in business administration.

Where is he now?

Today, Whitaker works for Brown Brothers Plumbing & Heating, a company that focuses on commercial and residential plumbing and heating service. Allen says that he’s truly learning the p-h-c industry from “the ground up.”

Whitaker credits his education for giving him an edge. “From my education, I know the expectations from a business standpoint, especially on the large p-h-c job sites,” he says. “Sometimes I can tell that I look at a situation differently than some of my co-workers because of what I have learned during my college years.” He credits his education for having that “alternate viewpoint” and recognizes those learned business practices being carried out daily on the job site.

“When I’m confronted by a practical situation,” Whitaker says, “I think back to college, whether it was from an accounting, finance or logistics class.” While he says his work life may not be “glamorous,” he knows that the combination of education and first-hand experience will make him a “better boss and businessman” someday.

A wise career choice?

Whitaker sees the p-h-c industry as one that is “always growing.” After all, he adds, “whether it is clean water or restrooms or heating and air conditioning, this industry is as much a part of people’s daily lives as anything else around.”

His advice to people trying to enter the field is to “not be afraid of a little hard work.” This is an industry “that values experience and toughness. The people in the industry tend to be very proud to be in the trade, and they respect a person – with or without a college degree – that they believe is ‘one of them.’”

Equipped with his degree, he looks forward to going into management at a p-h-c company. “I enjoy seeing a job grow into something that is beneficial to both the builders and the people who populate the building. This industry is so important to our daily lives that I have a great amount of respect for the people and the trade.”

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EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION PAST NATIONAL OFFICERS

TEXAS AUXILIARY MASSACHUSETTS AUXILIARY

2012 Foundation Scholarship Sponsors

PHCC EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION 2012 CONTRIBUTORSOur thanks to all of our contributors for their 2012 Gifts!

FOUNDATION FELLOWS - $1000+: Bloomington/Normal PHCC, Laurie C. Crigler, David and Jan Dugger, Federated Insurance, GE Mechanical, Steven Heidler, Sr., Bill and Patty Jones, Gerry Kennedy, Ron Newman, Plumbing & Mechanical Contractors Assn of Northern IL, Stephen Pfendler, Plumbing & Mechanical Professionals of VA

CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE - $500+: Tony D’Ascenzo, Gregory J. Faustina, Chip Greene, Hudson Ink, Lee Company, PHCC of Lincoln (NE), PHCC of Minnesota, PHCC Ohio, Skip & Ann Pfeffer, Russo Bros. & Co., Doug Santoro, Cindy Sheridan, John Zink

CENTURY CLUB - $100+: Al Bourgeois Plbg. & Htg., Rodolfo Avila, Daniel Bonetti, Bill Chamberlin, Steve Coscia, C & W Plumbing, Rene Dauterive, Jr., Paul and Regina Dent, Pat Dickinson, Jim & Nancy Eberhardt, Fred Falkena, Dan Foley, Dave Halverson, Jeff Heger, Hot Water Solutions, Todd Iocco, Brad Isley, John’s Reliable Plumbing, G.W. Kadow, Terry and Barb Kreifels, Rob Kreutzer, Michael McParlan, Daryl Miller, Perry Plumbing, Vincent Pierangali, Kyle A. Robicheaux, Plumbers & Pipefitters Local Union #9, South Dakota Board of Directors, Walter Regehr, Rinchuso’s Plumbing & Heating, Service Roundtable, Alan Taecker and Sue Taecker, Ralph and Lucille Wetzel

SUSTAINING DONORS, Up to $99: Todd and Brooke Bohls, Ryan Carney, Joseph Cornetta, Kathy Jonas, BDI Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Vent, Randall Shoup, Dave Waggoner

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Memorials & Special GiftsIn Memory of Earl Antrim – Anne Williams

In Memory of Kenneth Lloyd Brown – Bienvenu Brothers Enterprises,

Metro New Orleans PHCC

In Memory of Ann Smith – Anne Williams

In Memory of Doreen Taecker – Orville Taecker

In Recognition of Bill Jones – Doug Turner Plb. Co.

Make Your Gift Online at www.phccfoundation.orgThe Invest in Your Future annual giving campaign helps to fund the development and delivery of educational programs and scholarships to the contractors in our industry. Please make your gift

by calling (800) 533-7694, or online at www.phccfoundation.org. Matching contributions provided by:

BUILDING OUR FUTURE THROUGH EDUCATION 2012 Invest in Your Future Campaign

YOUR TAX DEDUCTIBLE GIFT PROVIDES:Professional Contractor Education &

Scholarships for StudentsFrom the PHCC Educational Foundation

and PHCC National Auxiliary

EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION NATIONAL AUXILIARY