Industry News

Apple Valley, Minn. — Uponor North America has been named the 2024 Plumbing – Rough-In Vendor of the Year by Winsupply, a leading supplier of materials for residential and commercial construction as well as industrial use, and the 2023 Mechanical Supplier of the Year by DSG, a top distributor of innovative products and services in the Midwest.

Uponor was honored with Winsupply’s Plumbing – Rough-In Vendor of the Year Award during the company’s 2024 Vendor Showcase Awards to celebrate the success of Winsupply local companies and vendors.

“We selected Uponor for our Vendor of the Year Award based on feedback and voting of Winsupply Local Company Presidents,” says Tom Ponting, vice president of Vendor Relations at Winsupply. “Uponor has been a strong partner of ours for many years and is known for reliable performance and a forward-thinking mindset. We are proud to present them with this award and are excited for what the future holds.”

The DSG award was presented live at a Circle of Excellence Awards ceremony as part of their 2024 FMS Virtual Summit. Uponor received top honors from a field of 120 suppliers for being an all-around top supplier who is helping DSG grow sales and profitability as well as exemplify DSG’s core values.

“The Supplier of the Year recipient exudes the qualities and values that DSG seeks in a partner, and we’ve found that with Uponor,” says Joe Solheid, vice president of Sales and Marketing at DSG. “They consistently perform in all key areas, including supporting DSG with new opportunities and solutions for customers, which supports long-term growth and continuous improvement. We look forward to continuing our successful partnership and achieving even greater milestones together.”

“The entire Uponor team is honored to receive these awards from Winsupply and DSG,” says Matt Bahr, vice president of Sales at Uponor North America. “These recognitions reflect our commitment to providing outstanding customer experiences — it’s what they’ve come to expect from the Uponor brand. We look forward to growing our partnerships with these organizations in 2024 and beyond.”

By John Schaufelberger, Ph.D., and Michael R. Copp, MA, Hon. MIRM

The American Council for Construction (ACCE) needs industry experts to volunteer as Visiting Team volunteers to accredit Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration (HVACR) AAS and BS degree programs and Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs) in good standing with the US Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship. ACCE is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as a construction program and single-purpose construction institution accreditor. In July, ACCE will be celebrating 50 years of service to the construction industry.

A growing number of institutions have expressed interest in pursuing ACCE HVACR program accreditation and hence, it is extremely important that we develop a trained cadre of committed industry experts to support the accreditation of these programs. To be successful, we need your participation.

ACCE Visiting Team members utilize the ACCE’s accreditation criteria to assess a program-candidate’s Self-Evaluation Study and participate in college, university, and training site visits. Visiting Teams are composed of three members, one of whom is an HVACR educator and one of whom is an HVACR industry expert. The third member is either an educator or practitioner. In addition, there may be one or two members-in-training. Site visits last three days, Sunday through Monday, and expenses incurred while participating on a site visit are reimbursed by ACCE. “I found the site visit experience this past spring to be very rewarding and insightful,” said Michael Copp, ACCE’s Workforce Development Consultant.

Participating in site visits enables practitioners to contribute to the industry by verifying the reviewed programs meet ACCE criteria for accreditation of HVACR degree programs and registered apprenticeship programs. The goal is to make certain that programs are meeting the required content and level of achievement for prescribed program objectives as well as performing in a manner consistent with their stated claims.

HVACR Practitioners can also participate in the ACCE Industry Caucus and provide an industry voice in establishing accreditation criteria and other industry concerns- to include the capability and employability of students. This critical input helps bridge the gap between academia and industry by ensuring that graduates are prepared for workforce demands and armed with the most relevant and up-to-date skills and knowledge needed in the field. This need is especially critical given the ongoing labor shortage according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics with roughly one of four open construction positions being filled, more sophisticated climate-control systems, impact of artificial intelligence, and a crumbling infrastructure. Tangentially, ServiceTitan’s HVAC Job Outlook 2023 noted that according to a 2022 Statista Research Department report, the global HVAC market is projected to reach about $367.5 billion by 2030, based on a compound annual growth rate of 3.9% between 2020 and 2030.

To be qualified to be a member of an ACCE Vising Team, a practitioner must do the following:

1. Submit a Visiting Team application (FORM A-22)
2. Attend Initial Visiting Team Training,
3. Participate on a Site Visit as a Member-in-Training,
4. Attend Advanced Visiting Team Training, and
5. Attend the Visiting Teams Case Studies Workshop.

All the required training is offered by ACCE during its Midyear Conference in February and its Annual Conference in July. An Initial Visiting Team Training session for educators and industry experts will be conducted on Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Denver as part of the ACCE Annual Conference. You are encouraged to consider attending this training, and volunteer to serve as a member-in-training during the 2024 Fall semester or the 2025 Spring semester.

If you are interested in attending the Visiting Team Initial Training during the 2024 ACCE Annual Conference in Denver July 24-27, 2024, please contact Michael Copp, ACCE’s Workforce Development Consultant at Michael.Copp@acce-hq.org.

Local Students to Gain Hands-On Experience at Citizens Bank Park on April 24 and August 1

Philadelphia—The Philadelphia Phillies and NEST, the pioneer of integrated facilities management, are joining forces to launch the Skilled Trades All-Star Program, a dynamic initiative aimed at guiding Philadelphia-area youth towards promising careers in the skilled trades. The initiative kicks off with a series of educational events at Citizens Bank Park this season.

On April 24, students from Mercy Career & Technical High School will inaugurate the program. Subsequent events are scheduled for Aug. 1, featuring participants from MyWIC, an all-girls construction camp. These future industry professionals will learn the intricacies of stadium operations, covering aspects from HVAC and groundskeeping to carpentry and maintenance.

“Partnering with NEST allows us to inspire future generations right here at the home of the Phillies,” said Carolyn DiGiuseppe, General Manager of Facility Services at Citizens Bank Park for Oak View Group (OVG). “The Skilled Trades All-Star Program isn’t just about a single day at the ballpark; it’s about sparking a lifelong interest in the trades that build and sustain our communities. This is a great opportunity for students to go behind the scenes and experience firsthand the impact of the building trades on the day-to-day operation of the ballpark.

Based in South Jersey, NEST helped establish the Skilled Trades Advisory Council (STAC) in 2023, uniting industry experts across the country to champion skilled trades as viable and rewarding career choices. The Skilled Trades All-Star Program is a direct extension of STAC’s mission, seeking to illuminate the path for youth toward these essential roles.

“Rejuvenating the skilled trades has been a priority for us at NEST and the founding members of the Skilled Trades Advisory Council, and we are making incredible progress,” said Rob Almond, CEO of NEST. “The Phillies share our passion for the trades and will play a key role in helping shed light on these amazing career opportunities for the next generation.”

The urgency for such programs is underscored by a report from Associated Builders and Contractors, which indicates the construction industry needs to hire an additional 500,000 workers in 2024 alone to meet labor demands.

Watts has successfully wrapped up Q1 of their 150^th Anniversary Sweepstakes.  Lucky winners from across the U.S. and Canada have won some exciting prizes. The winners represent a broad range of plumbing industry professionals, including contractors, wholesalers, engineers, facility managers, and more.

Q2 Sweepstakes: an Invitation to create your backyard oasis

Building on the momentum of quarter one’s success, Watts has introduced their second quarter (Q2) “Backyard Oasis” prize theme, now running from April 1 to June 30, 2024. This new theme aims to bring the dream of a perfect backyard retreat to life, with prizes that promise to transform any outdoor space into a haven of relaxation and entertainment. Customers could win one of the following exceptional prizes:

• Kamado Joe Classic Series grills (3 available)
• Ooni Koda 16 pizza ovens + essentials bundles (5 available)
• Yeti Tundra wheeled coolers (3 available)
• Stainless steel patio heaters (3 available)
• Padded hammocks and stands (6 available)
• 34” aluminum round LPG firepits (3 available)
• 150” home theater projectors and screens (12 available)

Empowering customers through learning and earning

Watts is committed to not only providing top-tier products, but also to educating its customers on the unique benefits and applications of its offerings. By engaging with Watts’ differentiated products and solutions, customers can earn limited-time tickets for a chance to participate in “The Backyard Oasis” anniversary sweepstakes.

A year-long celebration

2024 marks a significant year for Watts, as it hosts a series of sweepstakes designed to reward its loyal customers and engage a wider audience with its innovative solutions. The “Backyard Oasis” anniversary sweepstakes is the second in a series of quarterly and monthly drawings, including the grand prize, an all-expense paid trip for two to the heartbeat of New England: Boston, MA.

Watts invites industry professionals to join this celebration of learning, earning, and winning big! Stay tuned for more opportunities to win and make 2024 a memorable year with Watts.

How to participate:

For more information, interested parties are encouraged to visit watts.com/150sweepstakes. For the official rules, including how to enter, eligibility requirements, prize package details, and how to enter at no-cost, please visit watts.com/150sweepstakesrules.