NASHVILLE, TENN. — Back by popular demand, the Mechanical Town Hall will be during Comfortech 2014 next week in Nashville, Tenn. If you have never attended a Mechanical Town Hall and you are going to Comfortech you are in for a treat — make sure to add this to your schedule — it is a must see!
The Mechanical Town Hall will be on Thursday, Sept. 11, at 2 p.m. right on the show floor (booth #1209). CONTRACTOR’s Bob Mader and John Mesenbrink (brainchild of the Mechanical Town Hall) will emcee the very casual forum with guest panelists Eric Aune, owner of Aune Plumbing; Dave Yates, owner of F.W. Behler; Alana Ward, owner of Baggett Heating and Cooling; and Mark Eatherton, executive director of Radiant Professionals Alliance (RPA).
All the panelists have an impressive background! For starters, there is Eric Aune. He started Aune Plumbing LLC in 2004 and specializes in residential and small commercial hydronic heating systems and service. He is a graduate of Dunwoody College of Technology and Plumbers Local 15, Minneapolis Apprenticeship Training Program, and is currently a United Association Instructor and teaches for the Plumbers Local 15 JATC. Aune is also founding partner and vice president of mechanical-hub.com, and a CONTRACTOR magazine columnist.
Dave Yates, president of F.W.Behler in York, Pa., bringing years of industry experience to the panel. Yates is a veteran plumbing, heating and solar contractor and CONTRACTOR magazine columnist. He’s a great resource for technical, education and project management questions you may have.
And then there is Mark Eatherton, the Executive Director of the Radiant Professionals Alliance (RPA). A 36-year veteran of the radiant/hydronic industry and an RPA member since 1995, Eatherton was hired as the RPA’s Technical Director in January 2013. Eatherton served the industry for years as an expert witness and consultant. The opportunity to help develop the first radiant code, however, played a significant role in his decision to join the RPA staff.
Last, but not least is Alana Ward, president of Baggett Heating & Cooling, a residential retrofit contractor located in Clarksville, Tenn. Last year she discussed the importance of social media and the ease of online networking.
This year, you will be sure to hear discussion around hot topics, such as the upcoming water heater efficiency standards, training and education, social media, new technology, the skilled labor shortage, and radiant heating and cooling. Attendees will also have an opportunity to interact with the panelists and ask questions important to running a contracting business.