With the end of the year rapidly approaching, we begin to focus on what to expect in the year 2020. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported an increase in the construction industry’s jobless rate. It rose to 4 percent at the end of the third quarter, despite a gain of 10,000 jobs.

The PVF Roundtable experienced another year of exceptional growth in 2019 — in membership, sponsors and event attendees. We are supported by an all-volunteer board of directors and dozens of individual volunteers at each of our events.

As we enter 2020, we hope you will forgive a little walk down memory lane for us. As we write this, almost exactly 15 years ago, Rich and his dad (Grandpa Joe Schmitt) were writing their last column together.

The average annualized sales growth for the 12 months through October 2019 is 6.1 percent.

The award will be presented on Wednesday, Dec. 11 in Baltimore at the Four Seasons Hotel Baltimore.

The company acquired the assets of Equipment Sales Corp., as well as the rights to distribute Bryant HVAC equipment in Alabama and the Gulf Coast on Nov. 1, 2009.

The first Tuesday after Thanksgiving is the e-commerce company's busiest day of the year.

The company took students on a tour of the foundry and showed them several critical processes used to make cast iron soil pipe and fittings.