Petri said that the industry needs to recruit more at the middle and high school levels to let teenagers know that they can attend trade school after high school for much less than the cost of a typical four-year college.

Jobs don’t have genders.
That’s the message Judaline Cassidy wants to get across. Cassidy, founder and chief vision officer of Tools & Tiaras and self-proclaimed feminist plumber, has more than 20 years’ of experience in the trades.

The plaques to the BTF Industry Champions during the 2023 International Builders Show in Las Vegas. 

With increasing awareness on energy efficiency, natural gas bans, decarbonization and indoor air quality, the world has been undoubtedly changed, and the plumbing and HVACR industries continue to be on the frontlines of these challenges.

It’s no secret that there is a major shortage of skilled workers in the plumbing industry right now. According to one report, the booming real estate market, combined with piqued interest among homeowners in renovation projects during the pandemic, substantially increased customer demand for home services that isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

Does anybody else feel like 2022 just flew right by, or is it just me? It seems too early for Christmas decorations and music — just a few short weeks ago, Michigan was still having 70-degree weather! But ‘tis the season!

The National Assessment for Educational Progress (NAEP) reported in what’s referred to as the "nation’s report card" in September 2022 that recent long-term reading and mathematics assessments during the COVID-19 pandemic showed that “average scores for age 9 students in 2022 declined five points in reading and seven points in mathematics compared to 2020.

As I write this month’s column, I’m attending Plumbing Manufacturer’s International annual Manufacturing Success conference in Louisville, Kentucky. PMI has done a great job with its programming content this year, especially with keynote presenter Andrew Winston, a corporate environmental strategist and author, who discussed how today’s companies are now expected to take a stand against the world’s social and environmental problems — and in doing so, earn a profit.

The great resignation has exposed just how vulnerable service and trade industries can be when there’s a shortage of skilled workers. As competitors promise new opportunities to try and tempt your company’s best and most seasoned employees, retention is crucial.

You are a dealer in hope when you give your customer a sense of optimism by anticipating their fear, tackling their needs while offering great value and meeting their concerns on their terms.