Rosemont, IL – More than 30 HVAC Technicians from across the country attended The Unified Group’s first HVAC Technicians Forum in March. The conference took place at the Hilton O’Hare in Rosemont, IL, and included two full days of learning, best practice sharing and networking.

“I really came away with some great tools from all the discussions to be able to apply immediately on the job and in my everyday life,” said Tyler Starliper of Blauch Brothers (Harrisonburg, Va.).

Nic Bittle, Founder of Work Force Pro, led the first day of the forum. An industry leader, author and creator of professional development programs, Bittle works with contractors and organizations that want to prepare and develop their workforce to lead with impact.

His presentation began with a communication/relationship building exercise where attendees broke into smaller groups and discussed what they were excited about. Other group members then asked questions to dig deeper. Many doors in this industry are opened through building relationships, and the exercise showed how spending a few minutes getting to know someone a little better will help to form a deeper relationship.

Attendees spent time discussing different mindsets that the technicians deal with on a daily basis and received a friendly reminder to not let ego drive your attitude. Bittle shared tips on how to have tough conversations by always asking permission to do so, presenting the facts, being honest and giving the other party the information they need to succeed.  Lastly, attendees learned how a career mindset is different than just a job mindset, and that there are two important days in everyone’s life: the day you were born and the day you find out why.

“In this short time, I feel as though I have learned more about myself and additional areas that I can improve on that I wasn’t even aware of,” said Matt Maxwell of Air Controls (Billings, MT). “I look forward to being able to implement this newfound knowledge and utilize it to help other coworkers or family members. I can honestly say that I believe I am a better communicator and leader than I was a day ago. Many thanks to Nic for sharing with us.”

Eric Miske, Owner of EES Facility Services (Dayton, OH), served as the meeting MC. On the second day, he shared the actual cost versus profit of an hour of service by breaking down benefits, office wages, licenses, etc. This was an eye-opener to many as not everyone realizes how many expenses come out of an hourly rate. Frank Quintanar, Owner and Service Manager of J&J Air Conditioning (San Jose, CA) facilitated a panel discussion revolving around how technicians stay organized in the field; tracking outstanding jobs, start-up meetings, tracking parts. The panelists and attendees participated by sharing their daily struggles and how they overcome them.

In the afternoon, Marcus Quintanar and Salvador Pedroza Ceja from J&J Air Conditioning showed the group how they create and share curriculum to train technicians on topics ranging from hands-on equipment training to customer service skills. 

The day concluded with a breakout session for technicians to share their biggest challenges and get feedback from their peers. Everyone created an action plan with three goals so they have the steps to make an impact within their company upon returning home.

“I am extremely humbled and grateful to have met these people,” said Antonio Sanchez of Air Controls. “Each of them is open to helping one another and bettering themselves. So inspiring.”

The Unified Group’s first Technicians Forum was a huge success. It was a great opportunity to join together those who are on the front line in the field to share laughs, camaraderie and learn from one another.

Upcoming meetings include Sales, Leadership, Financial and Construction! If you are interested in learning more about attending a meeting or becoming a member of The Unified Group, contact Janet Kelleher at KelleherJ@TheUnifiedGroup.com.