If someone asked you ‘Where do you see yourself in 25 years,’ would you be able to provide a solid answer? Maybe it consists of living somewhere tropical, or maybe it’s surrounded with tons of children and grandchildren. It could even be enjoying your retirement by traveling the world, or actively giving back to your community through acts of service. Overall, 25 years is a lot of time spent, and should be used in an exceptional way. So, where do you see yourself in 25 years? 

The Unified Group, which is celebrating 25 years in business this year, was founded in August of 1998 by a core group of quality driven, independent mechanical contractors. When the consolidation movement kicked in and posed a threat to the HVAC industry, these contractors joined together to form The Unified Group. The purpose of the group is to provide training and resources to promote the success of quality independent HVAC contractors, to raise the standards of excellence in the industry, and to ultimately increase the value provided to our customers. 

“The Unified Group, in my opinion, has allowed for my own, and my team’s, confidence to grow,” Chris Schaff (President of Air Controls and a member of The Unified Group for 18 years) said. “I have made some good friends and would totally trust anyone from this group. Best investment we could have ever made.”

Through hundreds of professional development opportunities, including various conferences for all facets within an organization, member-led webinars, vendor opportunities with rebates, and many more, The Unified Group has hit them all. If a company wants to truly succeed and grow in a positive direction, The Unified Group is notorious for having each other's backs every step of the way.

“There are so many accomplished, educated, and intelligent individuals in this group,” Frank Quintanar (Vice President and Service Manager of J&J Air Conditioning, and member of The Unified Group for 16 years) said. “This is the best HVAC family in the industry.”

Family – that is what The Unified Group is all about. To have a close-knit community of like-minded professionals that you can reach out to at any time is invaluable. Through sharing personal successes and getting vulnerable with their failures, The Unified Group has experienced it all. Regardless of how busy each member is, if another company needs help, any member will take a phone call, share their resources and do whatever they can to assist.

“The Unified Group has been a transformative force for me as a leader and for our business as a whole in the growth and success of SUI,” Brian Martinenza (Vice President of Service Unlimited, Inc. and member of The Unified Group for 6 years) said. “We would not be on the path we are on without this group. My only regret is that we did not join sooner.”

Whether you have had the pleasure of being in The Unified Group for one year or 25 years, the membership has had some kind of lasting impact. Through the training experiences and the relationships built, The Unified Group is one-of-a-kind and unlike any other association out there. Together we really do make the difference.

If you are interested in learning more about membership with The Unified Group or attending an upcoming session (Safety Directors’ Forum, Construction Forum, Annual Meeting & Owners’ Forum, Service Management Forum, Sales Forum, and many more!), contact Janet Kelleher at KelleherJ@TheUnifiedGroup.com.