Fort Worth, TX- The 2026 Service Management Forum brought together more than 50 service professionals, making for an energizing and impactful start to the year. Attendees shared best practices covering everything from the structure and logistics of high-performing service teams to balancing field operations, breaking the cycle of old habits, and developing strong service supervisors.

“I learned that many of the challenges we face in service organizations are universal, regardless of market or company size, and that consistent fundamentals make the biggest difference. The discussions reinforced the importance of clear processes, accountability, and strong communication between service, sales, and operations. I also gained insight into how other leaders are aligning metrics with behavior, not just outcomes, and using structure and consistency to drive both performance and culture,” stated James Childers of Intech Mechanical. 

Joining us to kick start our meeting we had Nic Bittle, our guest speaker. Nic focused on helping leaders strengthen the people side of leadership by mastering four key skills: setting clear expectations, holding others accountable with respect and consistency, delegating effectively to develop emerging leaders, and adapting communication to different mindsets for stronger connections and conflict resolution. One of the biggest takeaways was learning the difference between leading with a “Hungry, Humble, Smart” mindset and looking at situations with a genuine “Help Me Understand” approach.

In the afternoon we transitioned to presentations from Chris Reiter with A&G Services, Rob Ward with VHV Company, and Ramon Santiago with Westbrook Service Corporation on Developing Strong Service Supervisors, focusing on how to enhance leadership and team management skills effectively. We wrapped up the day with Michael Hamilton of General Sheet Metal sharing about their FastField Service App, which is a Field Based App for Service Technicians.

“The best part of the Unified event for me is meeting new people and networking. Some of the best ideas I have ever received have been at the dinner table having small group discussions and comparing notes,” stated Andy Gura of Blauch Brothers. 

Day two featured several standout sessions, beginning with two panel discussions focused on Balancing the Field: Optimizing Resources & Priorities and Creating and Developing a Problem-Solving Culture. Panelists shared real-world strategies for prioritizing workloads and empowering teams to proactively address challenges in the field.

The day also included two interactive large-group discussions, led by our meeting MC, Andy Gura of Blauch Brothers, centered on Instituting Change: Breaking the Cycle of Old Habits and Unique Roles. These conversations encouraged open dialogue around managing change, redefining responsibilities, and embracing new approaches that drive long-term improvement and accountability across teams. The Service Management Forum concluded with actionable takeaways that attendees can implement. The collaboration and knowledge shared throughout reinforced a collective commitment to continuous improvement and service excellence!

“I liked being able to talk with others about positive and negative work experiences and being able to see these experiences from others’ perspectives. I learned about the importance of building relationships, as well as different mindsets and how everyone goes through each mindset at one point or another,” said Hannah Kramer of Environmental Systems, Inc. 

Upcoming Forums include Annual Meeting & Owners’ Forum, Sales and Controls! If you are interested in learning more about attending a meeting or becoming a member of The Unified Group, contact Janet Kelleher at [email protected].