FREELAND, MICH. — Building, holding, and maintaining apartment complexes can be complicated business. Rent’s paid late, but the bills are still due. Equipment can fail and tenants will complain, inevitably at the least convenient moment. But none of this comes as a surprise to Jim Boufford, owner of Boufford Builders, JB Enterprise and Real Estate, and JB Rentals, all located in Freeland, Michigan. He’s been in the business for 20 years....More

HERSHEY, PA. — OESP (National Association of Oil & Energy Service Professionals) hosted its 60th Annual Convention and Trade Show here in eastern Pennsylvania in mid-May. The association’s convention theme of “Racing Towards Education” gave attendees the Triple Crown of education, new products and networking....More

CINCINNATI — TP Mechanical, a mechanical contracting firm specializing in plumbing, pipe fitting, sheet metal and fire protection, marks its 60th anniversary this spring. The company, which prides itself on safety, teamwork, servant leadership and a winning attitude, provides comprehensive contracting, mechanical and pre-fabrication services to the healthcare, hospitality, education and public sector industries in Columbus and Cincinnati, Ohio, and the Louisville and Lexington, Kentucky, areas....More

HOW ARE ECONOMIC conditions in 2013 for the nation’s major mechanical contractors? It’s difficult to say because it depends on the specific market in which a contractor is working....More

OAKBROOK TERRACE, ILL. — If a tradeshow made specific attempts to be in your backyard, why wouldn’t you attend? Why wouldn’t you want to see the current products and technology that affect you, here and now! If you can’t afford to leave your business for more than two to three days at a time, then check out a local show. For example, state and local PHCC chapters put on local and regional shows all over the country. You can’t beat the price of admission since most of the shows are free....More