Years ago, in my plumbing company’s infancy, I got a call from an unhappy customer. One of my technicians had handled a routine service call differently than I would have. 

Ken Smith, RPG Plumbing Services, Virginia Beach, Virginia, will become president of PHCC-National Association at CONNECT 2026, Oct. 19-22, in Milwaukee. 

We planned to talk to Valerie Butler earlier in the day when we headed to see her at P.I.P.E. Inc., a contractor specializing in commercial plumbing and fire protection in the Indianapolis market and where she’s worked since 2020.

There is an age-old question that every business owner has to contemplate: Should I grow my business? 

In 2011, I moved to North Carolina, unaware of the ticking time bomb hidden behind my walls. Like many transplants, I knew very little about the unique quirks of local homes and infrastructure.

You’re standing at the back of your truck making sure you have everything for the boiler install today.

While teaching a class on hybrid boiler plants at the Association of Higher Education Facilities Officers’ conference for university facility managers, I noticed one attendee sitting in the back of the room with his arms folded and a skeptical look on his face.

In the trades, strength, reliability and hard work are valued traits. But mental health is just as important as physical health. Work demands, family responsibilities, financial pressures and everyday stress can all affect mental well-being.

Schizophrenia affects more than 3 million adults in the United States, yet many people don’t know what schizophrenia or psychosis looks like — or what to do when they notice changes in someone they care about.