A contractor alliance dedicated to technical training shows cooperation to be a potent force.

Tom Grello, owner of another local HVAC firm, Tru-Comfort Inc., also was invited to that luncheon meeting. It's unclear exactly why Nicolai singled out these two service contractors. Probably it had to do with the fact that they were reputable, and maybe in part because with Stipe based in Easton, Tru-Comfort in Bethlehem, and Hannabery in Allentown, they represented each leg of their tri-city market. Perhaps Nicolai also had heard through the grapevine that they shared his wish of remaining independent when omens pointed the industry in a different direction.