People in the News

The leading Pacific Northwest plumbing and electrical provider partners with the Tacoma Rainiers to recognize another slate of outstanding veterans and active service members

Harts Services, a top-rated Pacific Northwest plumbing and electrical company founded in 2013, is proud to look back on another season honoring area veterans and active service members through the Harts Hometown Heroes program in partnership with the Tacoma Rainiers, the AAA affiliate of the Seattle Mariners.

Harts Services recognized seven Hometown Heroes during the Rainiers’ 2023 season for their commitment and sacrifice. Each Hometown Hero enjoys a Rainiers game with friends and family from the exclusive Commencement Bank Summit Club courtesy of Harts Services and is introduced to fans from the Cheney Stadium field between innings.

Harts Services also donated $4,300 to the Wounded Warrior Project at the end of the season — $100 for every Rainiers home win in 2023.

“We have many service members and veterans in the area, and we’re proud to be able to give something back to them,” said Richard Hart, co-owner of Harts Services. “The Hometown Heroes program is our way of saying thanks to some of the outstanding members of our community who have sacrificed on our behalf. Without their service, we wouldn’t be able to enjoy the freedoms we have.”

Between May and September, Harts recognized the following Hometown Heroes:

• Karin Harnishfeger: After joining the U.S. Navy in 1995, the first Harts Hometown Hero of 2023 was stationed in Kuwait, Japan and Spain as well as multiple locations in the United States during her career. Harnishfeger retired in 2017 as an E8 senior chief.
• Matthew Westberry: Staff Sgt. Matthew Westberry’s 13 years in the U.S. Marine Corps included deployment in Operation Enduring Freedom.
• Jacob Sullivan: U.S. Air Force Sgt. Jacob Sullivan is currently stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. He has been stationed around the United States and Italy during his 14 years of active duty, including deployment in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.
• Amanda Stambach: Lt. Col. Amanda Stambach is a veteran of combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Currently stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, she will retire from the Army in January after 24 years of service.
• Steve Hice: Steve Hice joined the U.S. Army on his 18^th birthday and was stationed in Germany when the Berlin Wall fell and was later deployed for Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. He’s been a train conductor in Tacoma for the last 31 years.
• Selena Coppa: Sgt. Selena Coppa served eight years in Army intelligence and security command, including deployment in Iraq, before retiring.
• Wesley Howard: Wesley Howard served multiple deployments as an aviation electrician on U.S. Navy aircraft carriers during his eight years of service (2000-2008).

Harts Services provides critical plumbing services, including emergency plumbing, bath and kitchen plumbing, water lines, water heater repair and installation, sewer line repair and installation, trenchless sewer repair, drain clearing, sump pump repair and installation, and more. Harts Services also offers top-notch electrical services, including breakers, circuits, outlets, lighting, EV charge stations, generators, and more. For more information, call (253) 470-8766 or visit www.hartsservices.com.

The leading provider of technician-first software for contractors announces the promotion of Enterprise Account Executive Austin Piazza and Account Executive Lindsey Fisher

XOi, the leading provider of technician-first smart technology for commercial and residential field service companies, announces two new sales promotions as the company continues to build opportunities and provide support for contractors and field service business owners.

In their new roles, Enterprise Account Executive Austin Piazza and Account Executive Lindsey Fisher are responsible for developing and enhancing relationships and educating the industry about XOi’s unique capacity to help contractors solve the skilled trades gap and grow their business.

XOi, the leading provider of technician-first field service technology, has promoted Enterprise Account Executive Austin Piazza (left) and Account Executive Lindsey Fisher (right) to develop and enhance customer relationships and educate the industry about XOi’s unique capacity to help contractors solve the skilled trades gap and grow their business.

“At XOi, we’re shaping the future of field service,” said Aaron Salow, founder and CEO of XOi. “Our sales team is essential to our mission. They connect our technology with the contractors and technicians who are using it to transform the industry. Austin and Lindsey have proven their commitment and expertise, and we’re looking forward to seeing them continue to excel and drive results for XOi and our customers.”

Piazza, a University of Alabama graduate, joined XOi in 2019. He has more than a decade of management, technology and business development experience. As an enterprise-level account executive, Piazza is focused on connecting large businesses with XOi’s solutions.

“I’m passionate about helping clients discover the right software solutions for their specific needs,” Piazza said. “XOi has established itself as the right tool to empower technicians in the field so they can operate more efficiently and increase revenue.”

Fisher, who also graduated from the University of Alabama, joined XOi in 2020. She has extensive sales experience in SaaS and technology.

“I’m excited to take this next step with XOi,” Fisher said. “I truly believe XOi can deliver meaningful, measurable results for contractors by addressing the skilled trades labor shortage and making their companies more efficient.”

XOi users report, on average, a 20% reduction in the amount of time it takes to complete tasks, an additional $1.4 million in new replacement and preventive maintenance contract revenue, and a 40% reduction in second truck rolls.

For more information about XOi, visit https://xoi.io.

Presentation showcased Danfoss solutions for decarbonization

Danfoss North America president Rick Sporrer presented Danfoss’ most recent whitepaper, “Roadmap for Decarbonizing Cities,” on September 19 at the Chrysler Building in New York City. The presentation was part of a three-day Sustainability Summit, organized by the Danish consulate during Climate Week NYC. Organized by Climate Group and run in coordination with the United Nations and the City of New York, Climate Week brings together leaders from business, government and the climate sector to discuss progress toward addressing climate change and the challenges ahead.

This year’s Climate Week theme is “We Can, We Will.” Danfoss firmly believes that we can and will meet our climate goals and is committed to developing the technologies and solutions that will help lower carbon emissions and reduce energy consumption.

One of the most crucial keys to meeting climate goals will be energy efficiency as it is the single largest measure the world can take to reduce energy demand. Energy efficiency is, and always should be, the ‘first fuel’ for clean energy transitions. The technology is available, and it’s the quickest and most cost-effective carbon mitigation option.

Decarbonization is a key pillar of Danfoss’ ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) goals, as it works toward achieving its own goal of becoming carbon-neutral across its global footprint by 2030.

“Roadmap for Decarbonizing Cities,” the company’s recent whitepaper, emphasizes that cities offer some of the best possibilities to optimize urban planning and accelerate a green transition, and there are already accessible, cost-efficient technologies capable of cutting emissions sufficiently to meet global climate goals. But political leaders need to take action to ensure the infrastructure exists for the technologies to be adopted and scaled. With cities accounting for two-thirds of global energy consumption and more than 70% of annual global carbon emissions, and with increasing urbanization, it is clear that in order to reach the goals of the Paris Agreement, business and political leaders must commit to decarbonizing our cities.

Examples noted:

• Energy-efficient heating and cooling in buildings. By adopting low-carbon technologies such as heat pumps, buildings can significantly reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. If all urban areas and cities in Europe, the US, and China invested in energy-efficient heating and cooling of buildings, this would contribute 20% to the 1.5C target of the Paris agreement.
• Electrification of urban transport would contribute 28% to the target.
• Sector integration. Excess heat can provide for a substantial portion of heating/cooling needs in cities. This heat can be reused, but a holistic approach to energy reuse in cities is crucial to build out this capacity and decarbonize the power supply of cities.

“Cities are the key to reaching our climate goals,” said Sporrer. “While some cities, like New York, are implementing energy efficiency standards and mandating reductions in carbon emissions, we still have a long way to go to make our cities cleaner and more sustainable. I was glad to be part of the conversation on how we can harness innovative technologies to meet our climate goals.”

Joseph Sullivan of J.J. Sullivan Plumbing in Woburn, Massachusetts has joined the PHCC Educational Foundation Board of Governors.

The Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors — National Association’s (PHCC) Educational Foundation has named Joseph Sullivan to the organization’s Board of Governors. This distinguished group – composed of leading contractors, manufacturers, and other industry partners who are major donors to the Foundation – is responsible for guiding the development of industry education and training programs for contractors and their employees.

After graduating from Boston College with a degree in accounting, Joe Sullivan served on active duty and then in the Army Reserve for six years. He then started on a career in finance at a national public accounting firm. In 1968, Joe’s father convinced him to come work at the family business – J.J. Sullivan Plumbing. When his father passed away two years later, Joe found himself in charge of the family business at 28 years old.

To help get the knowledge he needed to be successful, Joe joined a local plumbing association – PHCC. In time, he took on leadership roles, including becoming president of the state association. He continued to be active and served as the PHCC of Massachusetts state treasurer for 20 years.

In 2001, Joe was asked about serving on the PHCC Educational Foundation’s Scholarship Committee – a role he took on without hesitation. For the next 22 years, Joe would spend his summers reviewing the application materials of thousands of apprentices and students looking to earn a scholarship award.

J.J. Sullivan Plumbing and Heating is thriving as the firm takes on commercial and institutional jobs, working in schools and labs in the Cambridge, Massachusetts area. Joe’s two sons, Patrick and Mike, are now helping to run the business as the third generation for the company. Joe’s wife Ann passed away in 2005, and he remarried in 2008 to Jacqueline Piret, a retired microbiology professor. He still shows up for work regularly, but makes his own hours as he likes.

When asked about why he is joining the Foundation Board of Governors, he simply stated “I value the organization and I want to support it, to be a part of something bigger that is helping the industry that had supported my family for all these years.”

“Joe is one of the Foundation’s great volunteers,” shared Foundation Chair Kevin Tindall. “His work on the Scholarship Committee for more than 20 years is a reason the Foundation has been able to help so many apprentices with their training expenses. We are happy to welcome him to our Foundation family.”

The PHCC Educational Foundation will formally recognize Joe and present him with his Board of Governors plaque and pin at the Foundation Donor Reception during PHCC CONNECT in Cleveland, Ohio on October 26th.