It’s Superbowl Monday as AHR Expo Tackles Chicago Today
The New England Patriots and New York Giants have been crowned NFL conference champions and are now preparing for the Superbowl. The next two weeks will be filled with team meetings, breaking down of game tapes, practices, traveling, and much more. Yup, that’s alot of work that needs to be done prior to the big game.
Now consider the amount of time and resources needed to design, construct, manage and pull off our industries Superbowl, the 2012 AHR Expo. Starting today, McCormick Place will be packed with tens of thousands of professionals looking to boost their knowledge and push the HVAC industry past the goal line and on to new heights.
This show is predicted to be the largest and most impressive trade show in history. There is a reason why the show is three-days long—I’m quite certain it is impossible to absorb what the show has to offer, especially with thousands of exhibits from all around the world.
Sunday night it was lights out early, as I prepare for this historical couple of days. My free time has been filled with plans for the journey that will start Monday, January 23. To some, this may be just another day out of the office. To me and the rest of the HVAC enthusiasts, this is our championship game. Instead of rooting for our football team, we’re rooting for our peers. Day after day we have had to endure the ups, the downs, and the heartaches of the business. And that has brought us this year to Chicago in hopes that the new products soon available will make us champions of the industry.
Going green has proven to be not just another fad. Most of the show seems to be heading in the direction of green energy. Leaders in geothermal, solar heat, and zoning will most likely take the spotlight. On my drive to the show, I have one question that needs to be answered. How can I save myself as well as my customers money? In fact, that same question will be replaying itself in my mind as I walk from exhibit to exhibit. I’m sure that same question will be on the minds of most visitors throughout the show. I’m hoping Wednesday night I will have many answers to this question.
The expectations have been set. Will they live up to all the hype? Having attended the shows in years past I would say they will. AHR has never let me down and hopefully never will. As my knowledge and passion grows for the industry so does everyone else’s, which should be reflected this week. The day is finally here and nothing will stop me and thousands of others from attending but don’t expect any wardrobe malfunctions from Janet Jackson during the halftime show.
Next Steps:
- Sign up to receive a review of the show in your inbox later this week.
- Check out Goodway’s great products at the show.
- Check out our learning center on Industrial Maintenance Cleaning Equipment.
- Stay up to date on facility maintenance tools such as chiller tube cleaners,boiler tube cleaners andhose/pipe cleaners,descaler systems,test instruments,industrial vacuums,commercial pressure washers, and drain cleaners.
Download our 2012 HVAC Career Development Map or visit our Learning Center.
Top 3 HVAC Industry New Year’s Resolutions
It’s that time of year again—time to finalize resolutions for the new year that some of you probably will not keep. And in most cases that’s OK. It may not be crucial that you hit the gym six days a week or lay off the chocolate. But there are some resolutions that are critical for you and your HVAC career.
Below are three such resolutions and how to act on them now.
- Establish an emergency-preparedness plan for your facility – Unfortunately 2011 included a number of natural disasters that effected facilities in the US and around the world. Although you should always plan for such disasters, facility emergency-preparedness will become a front burner priority for many facility managers in 2012. Once you have a plan in place, you can manage and resolve emergency situations more effectively. Don’t put off developing an emergency-preparedness plan for “another day.” Do it today and you’ll sleep better tonight.
- Overhaul your facility’s HVAC maintenance checklist – Many facility managers talk about overhauling their buildings’ preventive maintenance plans to achieve maximum effectiveness. However few actually follow through. Here’s a resource to help you rebuild that important document.
- Advance your HVAC career – There are many online resources to help you advance your HVAC career. But getting that industry certification or extra know-how to advance your career has been just out of reach for whatever reason. To make things easier for you we’ve created a map that centralizes the top career development resources in the industry. The resources are broken out into three categories and home to live links to key resources.
This downloadable map also:
- Offers option to add or update links so you can help maintain and develop the live document.
- Allows you to share it with your colleagues and your boss—maybe he’ll even cover all the costs to get that LEED certification you’ve been putting off.
Don’t wait any longer! Make those 2012 resolutions to create an emergency-preparedness plan, overhaul your facility’s HVAC maintenance checklist and bolster your HVAC career. Once you check these off your list, focus on laying off those chocolates and joining that gym.
Here are some additional steps you can take in 2012:
- Check out our learning center on how best to maintain all your facility’s existing equipment.
- Subscribe to our blog to get the latest HVAC maintenance news and insight.
- Stay up to date on facility maintenance tools such as chiller tube cleaners, boiler tube cleaners, hose/pipe cleaners, descaler systems, test instruments, industrial vacuums, commercial pressure washers, and drain cleaners.
Download our 2012 HVAC Career Development Map or visit our Learning Center.
Certified Plant Maintenance Manager (CPMM): A Valuable Tool for Facility Managers
A few weeks ago, we discussed the value of certain certifications such as CFM, FM, or CHFM. Now let’s take a look at another respected credential, the Certified Plant Maintenance Manager (CPMM) designation. This is obtained from the Association for Facilities Engineering (AFE), a great organization which I happen to belong to. Although I am not currently a CPMM, I have considered testing for it in the past. Writing this post has reminded me once again of the value of CPMM certification and, as a result, I am going to complete my application now. Here’s why:
The testing consists of multiple disciplines including Preventative Maintenance, Computerized Maintenance Management, Total Productive Management, Return On Investment and Work Flow Planning and Scheduling. This is a pretty diverse array that, when mastered, really shows that you are a well-rounded manager. All of these concepts encompass diverse sets of skills that help to differentiate you in today’s demanding work environment. Let’s take a look at a few of them.
Download our 2012 HVAC Career Development Map or visit our Learning Center.
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Facility Management Certifications (FMC, CFM, CHFM) are Valuable Tools
The facility management industry is as competitive as it has ever been and the core competencies for a facility manager have evolved rather quickly. The days of being promoted because you are the guy who knows how the facility or power plant works are over. Employers, including your current one, are looking for engineering degrees, business acumen, tool / equipment know-how and solid personnel management skills to go along with the real world knowledge that used to suffice.
How do I know? Last year I was in job search mode in a market full of qualified applicants. I was confident that my 12 years of facility management experience would be enough to get me hired. However, I discovered that my experience, although critical, was not delivering immediate job offers. Everyone I was competing against also had management skills, on the job experience and worked extensively with tools and equipment like test instruments, descaler systems, industrial vacuums and so forth. I could not differentiate myself on experience alone.
One thing that always came up when I did have an interview was my CHFM (Certified Healthcare Facility Manager) designation. Prospective employers were interested in what went into obtaining it. It was instrumental in my landing my current position at a major pharmaceutical company. So whether you are looking to climb the ladder, or plan to stay put in your current position but want to become better at what you do, certification is a valuable tool.
Certifications like FMC, CFM or the more targeted CHFM are all quality, respected designations that can help you in the following ways:
- It confirms you have the necessary core competencies. Even if you fail the exam, any areas of weakness are exposed, so you know where you need to improve.
- It adds credibility when dealing with management and your staff.
- It shows that you have the drive to improve and grow as a facility manager.
- It instantly gives you a peer group to network with for insight and support. When you have a certification, you are a member of a select club.
- It gives you a leg up on much of the competition when you are looking for a new position internally or with a new employer.
So if you have been considering obtaining a certification, remember that it will not only help you become better at the job you are doing today, but could very well help get the one you want tomorrow.
Next Steps:
- Learn about the Top 10 Steps to LEED Certification for a construction project.
- Check out our learning center to help identify maintenance-related equipment and products every facility maintenance shop should have.
- Subscribe to our blog to stay informed on the latest HVAC maintenance news and insight.
- Stay up to date on facility maintenance tools such as chiller tube cleaners, boiler tube cleaners, hose/pipe cleaners, descaler systems, test instruments, industrial vacuums, commercial pressure washers, and drain cleaners.
John Thompson
Goodway Blogging Team
Download our 2012 HVAC Career Development Map or visit our Learning Center.
How HVAC and Power Plant Professionals Used LinkedIn in June
At this point in our collective cultural life, LinkedIn has become to the business and professional world what Facebook is to the social world: if not an absolute necessity, then just one step removed from it. So this post is not about chiller tube cleaners, boiler tube cleaners, descaler systems, industrial vacuums, commercial pressure washers and other HVAC maintenance related equipment. It’s about making you aware of some industry-related LinkedIn groups where experts and thought leaders share ideas, answer questions and provide valuable business insight.
Download our 2012 HVAC Career Development Map or visit our Learning Center.
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