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.

Being without air conditioning in the Atlanta heat is stressful enough. But there’s another type of stress that’s easily overlooked. Techs enter the home carrying tools and equipment.

The thermostat has always occupied an odd place in the HVAC world. Crucial to system performance, yet easily ignored as just another commodity item to the homeowner and financially unremarkable to the contractor.

Discover how mechanical contractor Cox Engineering uses creative social media marketing to bridge communication gaps, build trust, and successfully recruit the next generation of tradespeople.

Discover how California’s inaugural Heat Pump Week aligns policymakers, consumers, and contractors to accelerate electrification and reshape the competitive HVAC landscape.

Learn how Trane’s Trade Warriors program is bridging the skilled labor gap by transforming transitioning service members into highly disciplined, job-ready HVAC professionals.

Viega North America’s first-ever Chief Customer Officer, Todd Schwarzenbach, discusses how a sharpened focus on customer feedback, practical training, and innovative press technology is helping contractors and distributors navigate a rapidly changing market.

Discover how CornerStone One founder Steve Adkins transformed a garage-based plumbing startup into a $50 million mechanical powerhouse by prioritizing people, leadership culture, and the "courage to diversify."