Roger S. Balser is the Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer of Balser Wealth Management, LLC with more than twenty-five years experience. He works one on one with individuals and middle market companies to help regain control of their investment and retirement portfolio(s). Balser Wealth Management, LLC, 36873 Harriman Trail Avon, OH 44011, 440-934-3114, roger@balserwealth.com, www.balserwealth.com.

Scott Benfield is a consultant to distributors and manufacturers in B2B channels.  He can be reached at Scott@BenfieldConsulting.com or (630) 428-9311.

Irv Blackman, CPA and lawyer, is a retired founding partner of Blackman, Kallick, Bartelstein LLP and chairman emeritus of the New Century Bank (both in Chicago). Want to consult, need a second opinion? Call Blackman at (847) 674-5295. E-mail him at blackman@estatetaxsecrets.com or visit www.estatetaxsecrets.com.

Howard Coleman is the Principal of MCA Associates, a management consulting firm since 1986. MCA Associates works primarily with wholesale distribution companies that are seeking operational excellence. Coleman and his staff of Senior Consultants provide operational excellence - idea-leadership - and implement continuous improvement solutions focused on business process re-engineering, inventory and supply chain management, sales development and revenue generation, information systems and technology, organizational assessment and development, and succession planning. MCA Associates can be contacted at their corporate office in CT at 203-732-0603, at their Florida Southern Regional Office at 561-989-3221, or by email at hcoleman@mcaassociates.com. Visit their website at www.mcaassociates.com.

Samuel S. Dannaway, P.E., FSFPE, is a licensed fire protection engineer and mechanical engineer with bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Maryland Department of Fire Protection Engineering. He is a past president and fellow of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers. He is vice president of Fire Protection Technology at Coffman Engineers Inc., a multidiscipline engineering firm with over 360 employees across eight offices. Sam can be reached at dannaway@coffman.com.

Richard P. DiToma has been involved in the PHC industry since 1970 starting as an apprentice, then, becoming a journeyman and master. He spent 41 years as an award-winning contractor. As a contracting business coach/consultant he has authored books on contracting business management as well as customized price guides for contractors. He created and facilitates seminars on business management for groups and individual businesses. His Contractor Advantage programs show contractors how to do the right thing. For information or to contact DiToma: call 845-639-5050; email richardditoma@verizon.net; mail to R & G Profit-Ability, Inc. P.O. Box 282, West Nyack. N.Y. 10994.

Jay Egg is a consultant and designer of geothermal HVAC systems, in addition to being author of two books and several articles on the subject. He is the Founder of Egg Systems, and focuses on geothermal consulting, engineering, and contracting technologies. He can be reached at jayegg.geo@gmail.com.

Dan Foley is president and owner of Foley Mechanical, Inc. based in Lorton, Va. FMI specializes in radiant, hydronic and steam systems as well as mechanical systems for large custom homes. He can be reached at 703-339-8030; dfoley50@verizon.net; or www.foleymechanical.com.

Ron George, CPD, is president of Plumb-Tech Design & Consulting Services LLC. Visit www.Plumb-TechLLC.com.

Chip Greene is president of Greene & Associates Inc., mechanical contracting firm based in Macon, Georgia. Greene is a graduate of Mercer University with a BBA degree in management and has more than 30 years of experience working on commercial HVAC and plumbing projects in the educational, medical and institutional markets. He also serves as the 2016 national president of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association. Contact him at cgreene@greeneandassociatesinc.com.

John Gregory, mechanical coordinator in HDR’s Phoenix architecture studio, has 28 years of experience in medical gas systems design and inspections, process piping, plumbing and fire protection systems design for multiple business classes. He coordinates projects with HDR’s clients, and he supervises team members on plumbing, process piping, fire protection and medical gas systems. John is a certified medical gas inspector NITC 6020. He serves on the NFPA 99 Technical Committee for piping and installation, and he is a co-chair of the P.I.P.E. Medical Gas Committee in Arizona. He can be reached at john.gregory@hdrinc.com.

Linda Jennings is President of Jennings & Company, a public relations agency specializing in the decorative plumbing and luxury hardware industry. For more than 20 years, she has worked with significant editors and journalists in the consumer home market, identifying trends and providing newsworthy products. Jennings can be reached at linda@jenningsandcompany.com.

Carol Johnson is a project manager for Edmonds Engineering EEI. She has been in design and project management for 28 years. She is responsible for designing as well as educating and developing standards for EEI. She specializes in Fire and Plumbing for hospitals and commercial projects. She is the current ASPE VP Legislative and sits on multiple committees. She has been recognized as a leader in the plumbing industry and holds multiple credentials LEED AP, CFI, CPD. Reach out at CJohnson@Edmondsengineering.com.

Stephen Letko launched his own firm, SPL Enterprises LLC, in 2000 after a distinguished career in executive positions with companies including Dodson Steel Products, Mills Iron Works and Crane Company. His expertise includes implementation of new markets, restructuring companies to improve their financial position, and developing marketing, quality and employee incentive programs. Contact him at 770-972-8282 or sletko@splenterprises.com.

Sean McCormack is co-owner of BMC Plumbing and Heating Inc. He can be reached by Email at seanmccormack99@yahoo.com; Phone 845-596-7770; Twitter @seantheplumber1; and Periscope @seantheplumber. Visit Sean’s website at www.seantheplumber.com.

Dr. Donald McNeeley is president and CEO of Chicago Tube and Iron Co., headquartered in Romeoville, Ill., as well as a Professor of Engineering at Northwestern University. Founded in 1914, CT&I is one of the largest steel service centers in the U.S., with 10 subsidiaries throughout the Midwest. Inventory, fabrication and processing is facilitated in over 1.2 million square feet of efficient, state-of-the-art facilities. CT&I houses over 30,000 line items of inventory from some of the world’s premier manufacturers. It has a 90+ year history of consecutive profitability that has provided the necessary capital resources for growth. Contact Dr. McNeeley at (800) 972-0217, or visit www.chicagotube.com.

BF Nagy specializes in sustainable technology solutions, government energy initiatives and modern economics. He writes for magazines, journals and clean tech organizations all over the world. He recently completed 15 years of expert interviews for a book that is nearing completion, entitled The New Energy Age.

Steven Nudelman is a partner at the law firm of Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis LLP in Woodbridge and Roseland, New Jersey. He is a member of the firm’s Litigation Department and its Construction, Alternative Dispute Resolution and Alternative Energy & Sustainable Development Practice Groups. He may be reached at (732) 476-2428 or snudelman@greenbaumlaw.com.

Harvey Ramer is the owner of Ramer Mechanical (RM) LLC. RM specializes in radiant heating and hydronic heating systems. The company also provides other mechanical services to the residential and light commercial market. Ramer also provides heating system design services and consultation across the country. Contact him at hrvramer@yahoo.com.  

Heather Ripley is founder and CEO of Ripley PR, an elite, global public relations agency specializing in home service and building trades. For additional information, visit www.ripleypr.com.

Max Rohr is a graduate of the University of Utah and manager of REHAU Academy in Leesburg, Virginia. He has worked in installation, sales and marketing in the hydronics and solar industries since 1998 and writes this column in his personal capacity. The views expressed are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of the company he works for. He can be reached at max.rohr@mac.com and on Twitter @maxjrohr.

Ellen Rohr is president of the franchise company, ZOOM Drain, www.zoomdrain.com, and offers "in the trenches" insights to contractors and family business owners. Reach her at (417) 753-1111 or ellen@ellenrohr.com. For free business tips, problem-solving webinars, money-making tools and lots of love, visit www.ellenrohr.com.

Bob “Hot Rod” Rohr has been a plumbing, radiant heat and solar contractor and installer for 30 years. Rohr is a longtime RPA member and Plumbing Engineer and Phc News columnist. Bob joined Caleffi North America as manager of training and education. He can be reached at hotrodradiant@mac.com.

Rich Schmitt is president of Schmitt Consulting Group Inc., a management consulting firm focused on distribution and manufacturing clients for pricing, consulting seminars and profit improvement. He is co-owner, and Jennifer Schmitt is VP/GM, of Schmitt ProfiTools Inc. (SPI), which provides web storefronts and handheld tools, print catalog software, content creation and services, and pricing management and analysis. Visit their company website at www.go-spi.com. Rich Schmitt can be reached directly at rich@go-spi.com and Jen Schmitt can be reached directly at jen@go-spi.com.

Bristol Stickney has been designing, manufacturing, repairing and installing solar hydronic heating systems for more than 30 years. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and is a licensed Mechanical Contractor in New Mexico. He is the Chief Technical Officer for SolarLogic LLC in Santa Fe, N.M., where he is involved in development of solar heating control systems and design tools for solar heating professionals. Visit www.solarlogicllc.com for more information.