In this month's cover story extra, Editor Steve Smith sits down with Jon Hirsch, director of business development for Auer Steel & Heating Supply Co. — a family-owned HVAC wholesaler based in Milwaukee. Hirsch and his team routinely visit local high schools to talk to the students about working in the skilled trades, and in 2023, Auer opened its own 5,400-square-foot Technical Training Center to train both aspiring and existing techs. 

Tune in as the duo discuss why Auer Steel was inspired to get high school students to pursue careers in the skilled trades, how perceptions of the skilled trades have evolved over the years, what teaching methods the company uses to keep students interested, and more. Plus — we dive further into this month's cover story and learn more about the company's work with trade skills program ACE Academy and contractor Air Tech Heating. 

In our latest episode, The Wholesaler Editor Ruth Mitchell is joined by Josh Aberman, CEO of Lehman Pipe and Supply! The wholesale distributor of pipe, valve, and fittings is based in Miami, with five locations in Florida and the Caribbean. Josh joined the company more than 15 years ago as its general manager, working his way through leadership roles when he was named president in 2023 and CEO in September 2024. 

Tune in as he and Ruth discuss Lehman Pipe's recent decision to partner with a private equity firm, the specific goals and challenges the company is addressing, and the advice Josh has for other businesses looking to take a similar path. Plus — learn all about the Plumbing Contractors Association (PCA) and Josh's involvement with the group! 

In our latest episode, The Wholesaler Editor Ruth Mitchell is joined by Amy Zucchi-Justice, director of marketing for Matco-Norca! The company is a supplier of globally sourced, code-compliant plumbing and PVF products for use in residential, commercial and industrial applications.

With a hands-on approach and a creative mindset, Amy has built a career leading strategic planning, branding, and business development initiatives. Join her and Ruth as they dive into how wholesalers can harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to elevate customer engagement and streamline content creation! 

In our latest Off the Cuff episode, The Wholesaler Editor Ruth Mitchell is joined by Mary Jo Hann, Vice President of Enterprise Marketing for mSupply (formally known as Marcone), a $2 billion distributor to the HVAC, plumbing, appliance parts, commercial kitchen and pool/spa industries.

With a staff of 15, Mary Jo oversees marketing for 12 individual HVAC distributors, three plumbing companies and another three verticals spanning both the United States and Canada. Tune in as we discuss her career path, what excites her most about the current opportunities in the HVAC industry, her experience on HARDI’s marketing council, the advice she would give to other women looking to advance in HVAC, and more! 

A new season of the Off the Cuff podcast is here! In our latest episode, PHC News Editor Steve Smith, author and HVACR marketer Ryan Kiscaden, and Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) President and CEO Barton James are discussing Kiscaden's new children's book, "The Air Came to a Stop." 

Released last fall, the book is designed for children ages 4 to 10 years old and aims to help combat workforce challenges by sparking curiosity in trade careers early on. Tune in to learn more about the inspiration behind the book, why ACCA became a sponsor, the association's other education efforts and more! 

Those interested can purchase a copy of "The Air Came to a Stop" at https://www.acca.org/members/hvacr-workforce-center/the-air-came-to-a-stop 

During PHCC CONNECT 2024, PHC News Editor Steve Smith sat down with Brady Kroll, who represented the United States at the 2024 WorldSkills Competition this September in Lyon, France! Tune in as they discuss Brady's experience participating in the plumbing and heating competition, how he trained for the event, why he entered the skilled trades, and what lies ahead for the 22-year-old tradesman. 

Earlier this year, The Wholesaler Editor Ruth Mitchell and HARDI (Heating, Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International) CEO Talbot Gee discussed the current landscape in HVACR distribution. Tune in as they go over key trends shaping the HVACR market today, HARDI's primary initiatives, how the organization is actively engaging with its members to navigate challenges and opportunities, and more!

This interview was recorded in April 2024. 

In our latest episode, PHC News Editor Steve Smith sits down with Cindy Sheridan, CAE, CEO of Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors (PHCC)—National Association!

Tune in as the duo discuss everything new and exciting with PHCC CONNECT 2024, from how the event is more convenient than ever for attendees to the ways it's taking education to the next level. Plus — get a preview of the conference's keynote speakers, its Pep Rally for the Plumbing and HVAC Apprentice Contest contestants, what to look out for at the Product & Technology Showcase, and all of the networking opportunities that will fulfill its 2024 theme: “Authentic Connections."

For more information and to register for PHCC CONNECT 2024, visit https://bit.ly/46KRAn0.

About Cindy:

As CEO of PHCC —National Association, Cindy works to advance and educate the plumbing and HVACR industry and ensure that PHCC contractors are the best choice for professionalism, reliable products, and knowledgeable service. A frequent speaker on workforce issues, she is a strong proponent of initiatives to close the skills gap and promote the value that plumbing and HVACR industry careers offer. 

In our latest Off the Cuff episode, The Wholesaler Editor Ruth Mitchell is joined by Melissa Lunak, Chief People Officer of DSG — an employee-owned wholesale distributor that offers an extensive array of products and solutions to professionals across various sectors including electrical, plumbing, HVAC, communications, utility, automation, waterworks, as well as onsite sewer and well industries. 

Tune in as Melissa describes her role at the company and how its core values influence her approach to HR and people management. Plus — the duo discuss the balance of aligning HR strategies with overall business objectives, what's trending in regards to the wants and needs of employees, and some of the HR innovations Melissa is particularly proud of implementing at DSG.

A special thank you to Zoeller Pump Co. for sponsoring this episode! Visit  www.zoellerpumps.com to learn more about the products it manufactures for your basement sump, sewage ejector, and septic systems needs.

In our latest episode, The Wholesaler Editor Ruth Mitchell is joined by Katie Hubach, manager/partner of Signature Sales! Tune in as Katie shares insights learned from her role at the company and her initial year of leadership as the first female president of AIM/R.

Plus — the duo discuss the evolving role manufacturers' reps play in the distribution chain, trends having the most significant impact on reps today, emerging technologies, and AIM/R's goals for the year ahead!

Thank you to Bradford White Corp. and Laars Heating Systems for sponsoring this episode! Visit www.bradfordwhite.com to learn how the company's products are 'Built to be the Best.'

In our latest Off the Cuff episode, PHC News Editor Steve Smith is joined by David Chisolm, vice president and general manager of APCOM and Water Systems for A. O. Smith! Tune in for a deep dive into A. O. Smith's history as the company celebrates its 150th anniversary this year. Plus — the duo discuss how A. O. Smith is addressing decarbonization and electrification trends, the ways the company continues to grow in the water technologies space through acquisitions, the new Adapt Premium Condensing Gas Tankless Water Heater with X3 Scale Prevention Technology, and more. 

In our latest Off the Cuff episode, The Wholesaler Editor Ruth Mitchell is discussing all things warehousing and logistics with Fielding Alderman, Executive Vice President & General Manager, PDI!

Tune in as Fielding shares how PDI is using Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) to improve experiences for both customers and vendors;  warehouse layout optimization; how the company has seamlessly integrated robotic systems with its workforce; PDI's 50th anniversary, and more! 

In our latest Off the Cuff episode, The Wholesaler Editor Ruth Mitchell is joined by Mark McGann, general manager at The National Energy Control Corporation (NECC)! Tune in as Mark discusses his role at NECC along with the importance of training in HVAC and the following:

• What the typical training curriculum looks like for an HVAC technician
• The importance of hands-on training for pneumatic controls
• How advancements in HVAC technology have impacted training programs
• How certifications play a role in the training process 

Visit https://necc-controls.com/training.html to see NECC's upcoming training dates in September and November. 

Thank you to our sponsors:  This episode is co-sponsored by Belimo, a global market manufacturer in the development, production, and sales of field devices for the energy-efficient control of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems, and NECC, one of the leading distributors of HVAC controls and parts in the United States. Learn more at belimo.com and necc-controls.com. 

In our latest episode, The Wholesaler Editor Ruth Mitchell is joined by Tim Goedeker, senior regulatory, sustainability, and technical advisor for TRICORD Consulting — and a long-standing member and supporter of the Valve World Americas Expo & Conference!

Tune in to learn about Tim's journey through the industry, what's in store for attendees during Valve World Americas Expo & Conference 2023 this June, some of the event's key themes and takeaways, and more!

Valve World Americas Expo & Conference 2023 will take place June 7-8 in Houston. Learn more at https://valveworldexpoamericas.com/

HVACR and plumbing marketer Ryan Kiscaden joins the podcast to discuss his first children's book in the NEXT UP TRADES Series, "The Water Came To A Stop." Tune in to learn about the inspiration for the book, Ryan's writing process, his thoughts on the labor shortage, and more! 

About Ryan: Ryan holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration and an MBA from Elizabethtown College. He lives outside of Philadelphia with his wife and two young sons. In 2020, he published a book available on amazon.com.  His experiences include working for an HVACR and plumbing wholesaler, running a non-profit focused on recycling thermostats and major plumbing equipment and plumbing category manufacturers. More information on his professional background is available on LinkedIn and www.kiscadenconsulting.com. 

The Wholesaler Editor Ruth Mitchell sits down with Matco-Norca team members Dan Hunt, Melissa Hunt, and Eric Berglund to discuss the company’s milestone anniversary! Tune in to learn all about their history with Matco-Norca, the company's culture of empowerment, and how it lives up to its motto: Always growing, always changing, always something new. 

About the Company: Matco-Norca is one of the largest independent sourcing companies marketing its own branded fittings, pipe nipples, valves, plumbing specialties and PVF products for use in residential, commercial and industrial applications. Located in Brewster, N.Y., the company serves wholesale distributor customers across the United States.

Franklin Electric Business Unit Trainer Jeremiah Brodie joins us to discuss how he joined the PHCP industry, Little Giant's "Train the Trainer" philosophy, and the company's current training opportunities — including the FranklinTECH virtual learning platform and mobile training facilities.

Little Giant produces pumping solutions for HVAC contractors and plumbing professionals. Learn more about the Franklin Electric brand at www.littlegiant.com.

Did you know? The core product that Little Giant still offers today was originally conceived in 1926 when plumber R.M. "Doc" Wolfe had an issue with the currently available pumps failing at a frustrating rate. As the company celebrates its 80th anniversary, Little Giant’s Rob McConnell joins PHC News Editor Steve Smith to discuss this fascinating history and how the company's products have evolved over time. Plus — hear the latest developments on Little Giant’s newest products and find out everything new and exciting in store for the company’s milestone year! 

In 2020, when COVID-19 changed  everything, we reached out to Jack McDonald, president and CEO of Matco-Norca,  to discuss the economy, our industry’s  business climate — and above all — safety to customers, employees and the community. So much has happened since last year, and we wanted to know what the horizon looks like now for the supplier of globally sourced, code-compliant plumbing and PVF products.  Tune in to find out what we learned! 

Ripley PR CEO Heather Ripley shares public relations advice for home service businesses and discusses her new book, "Next Level Now: PR Secrets to Drive Explosive Growth for your Home Service Business."

Interplay Learning CEO Doug Donovan joins us to discuss how his company is helping to prepare the next generation of skilled tradespeople with online and virtual reality training for the HVAC, plumbing, electrical, solar and facilities maintenance workforce. 

Tune in to our interview with Troy Locke, manager of technical training and technical support at Viega, to get the scoop on Viega’s two new press tools: the Pressgun 6 and Pressgun Picco 6. Plus, you’ll learn all about the benefits of press technology, the current state of the press fitting market in the U.S., the training opportunities the company has in store for 2021, and more. 

PHC News Editor Steve Smith and Milwaukee Tool Group President Steve Richman discuss how the company started to develop solutions for plumbing and heating contractors and the ways it continues to meet its philosophy of “Disruptive Innovation.” Plus, tune in to learn about some of the company’s new products, what’s in store for the year ahead, and more!

Richman was appointed group president of Milwaukee Tool in January 2007 and is responsible for Milwaukee's Power Tool, Hand Tool, Accessory, Empire Level, and Imperial Blade divisions. As such, he oversees Global Product Development, Manufacturing and Operations for each division, as well as Milwaukee Sales in North and South America.  He has over 25 years of experience in the management of industrial, electrical, plumbing, and retail distribution channels. He has held key management positions with BLACK & DECKER, and MURRAY, served as president of SKIL and BOSCH Power Tools, and served as president and CEO of Werner Co.  Richman contributes an extensive knowledge of manufacturing, product development, sales, and marketing.  He holds a bachelor's degree from UCLA.

PHC News Editor Steve Smith is joined by Cathy Ahern, director of facilities and grounds at Finger Lakes Community College (FLCC), and Eric Morrow, product manager, micro-combined heat and power products. The trio discuss Lochinvar's Micro CHP XRGI25 and why FLCC chose to integrate the combined heat and power system into a new KNIGHT boiler system. 

PHC News Editor Steve Smith discusses the benefits of hydronic heating with Lochinvar product managers Dan Rettig and Robert Wiseman.  

Tune in to learn all about the latest residential and commercial trends, tips and tricks for installers, how to convey the advantages of hydronic heating to both homeowners and commercial property owners, and the new and updated Lochinvar products to look out for in 2021 —  including the CREST condensing boiler, Power-Fin boiler,  KNIGHT XL commercial boiler, and Noble combi boiler.