The Unified Group’s 2026 Sales Forum brought together over 40 HVACR professionals from around the nation to connect, learn from each other, and walk away with new strategies to strengthen sales efforts.

The first day of the forum began with a presentation by guest speaker Al Lindeman, co-founder and chief operating officer of Anavo Growth Partners. Lindeman is also co-founder and chief program architect at the IgniteSkills Academy. His presentation focused on change, discovery, and growth. 

“Al prompts a whole new way of thinking. I needed that,” Seth Stanton of Cullum Mechanical said. “I loved his presentation. I learned a lot and have so much to apply.”

Both days of the Forum were led by master of ceremonies Grant Wiegmann of Wiegmann Associates, who helped guide discussions and kept the energy high.

Keith Battaglia, of Battaglia Industries, said he walks away from every Unified Group Forum with new insights and ideas to bring back to his company, and this Forum was no different. “Thanks to everyone who made the panels so engaging — great discussion around building strong, lasting customer relationships,” he said.

The final day of the Elevating Sales Strategies Forum featured a mix of panels, large group discussions, and attendee presentations. The first panel focused on sales processes, covering how teams approach customers, prepare quotes and bids, and handle objections to successfully close deals.

Ralph Froelich of Blauch Brothers and John Murray of Environmental Systems Inc., gave a presentation on how they effectively overcome objections and resistance while attempting sales, sharing helpful real-world examples. Other final day highlights included presentations on negotiation skills from Grant Bergman of Wiegmann Associates and Eric Fincham of Westbrook Service Company, which emphasized the importance of creating and communicating value rather than competing on price.

Dave Larsen of Mechanical Service and Systems, Inc. said he continues to value Unified Group Forums for their networking opportunities and actionable insight.

"If I didn't attend this meeting, I would have missed the ability to make connections and build my network — and the knowledge that I can take back and apply to my day-to-day operations," he said.

Upcoming Unified Group Forums include Controls, Financial, and Construction. If you are interested in learning more about attending a Forum or becoming a member of The Unified Group, contact Janet Kelleher at [email protected].