The role of the foreman is evolving, a fact demonstrated clearly at the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors—National Association (PHCC) Educational Foundation’s recent Creating Super Foremen workshop, held May 2–3 at the Viega Seminar Center in Broomfield, Colorado. With instruction led by Purdue University Professor Emeritus Kirk Alter, the event brought together twenty-seven foremen from the contracting companies nationwide for an immersive two-day training experience.

This year’s program emphasized the foreman’s critical role as the first line of company management; the individual on the jobsite responsible for aligning field performance with their company’s business goals. A key part of that alignment is leveraging technology and innovative tools to drive communication, planning and accountability.

In one standout activity, attendees worked hands-on with an artificial intelligence platform to build a career progression roadmap for a new hire, outlining a clear path from apprentice to journeyman to foreman. The incredibly detailed eight-year plan featured technical and soft skills to be mastered each month, plus quarterly goals, and structured evaluation checkpoints. Participants also used AI to craft messaging to address concerns they would hear from an 18-year-old considering a career in the trades - such as the perceived length of time it takes to grow into a leadership role. The generated answer compared the extended training process to pressure testing an incomplete piping system; explaining that it takes time to ensure that all the necessary pieces fit together properly.

“You are used to being the most productive field worker on your job,” Kirk Alter told the attendees. “But now as a foreman, you are getting paid to help the members of your crew to be the most productive workers on that jobsite. Your tools are now your computer and your brain. And you are seeing how A.I. is another incredibly powerful tool that you must learn how to use to be successful today.” 

In addition to exploring new technologies, the course also reinforced the importance of thorough planning, clear documentation, and ongoing communication with office staff. These foundational skills allow foremen to provide timely updates that help project managers and contractor business owners make informed decisions and deliver the support needed to complete jobs efficiently and profitably.

Viega generously sponsored and hosted the event at their Seminar Center in Broomfield, Colorado. “We’re proud to support this training and share in mission of empowering the attendees to take on bigger career roles through the education they gained here,” said Michele Passaretti, national account manager for Viega.