Registration Now Open For ACCA's Business Technology & Operations Forum

May 3, 2017

ACCA, the Indoor Environment & Energy Efficiency Association, announced that registration is now open for its annual Business Technology & Operations Forum (BTO), taking place October 24 - 25, 2017, at the New Orleans Marriott in New Orleans, LA. Contractors can register for the event at www.btoforum.com.

Running a profitable HVAC business requires more than just trained technicians and powerful equipment – it demands a well-organized and well run office. From finding the right employees, scheduling the right jobs, implementing the right technology, following the right laws in the right way, dealing with customer (and employee) complaints, refereeing disputes between teams, managing inventory, and just plain getting everything done when it's supposed to be done is quite a complex job. But you are not alone, join your fellow contractors as they share their struggles and success with you at BTO.

Building On Last Year's Success
2016 was the first year ACCA put on BTO and it was one of the best received training events that ACCA has ever developed.

Here is what attendees had to say about the event:

“The mix of sessions was really good and I can’t say there was a single one I didn’t like,” said Ed Utterback of Paitson Bros. Heating & Air Conditioning in Terre Haute, IN. “The classes sparked some great conversations in the hall and I got some of the best ideas from talking to other attendees in between classes.”

"I was able to really connect to the topics covered during the event and they were all related to what I do," said Jason Koons of Zimmerman Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. in Mechnicsburg, PA. "Plus, the location was great, which made it a top-notch event."

"ACCA did a great job of bringing in an amazing opening and closing speakers that set the stage for the entire event," said Bob Barnes of Western Heating & Air Conditioning in Boise, ID.

Powerful New Program
Building on the success of the 2016 event, ACCA worked with leading contractors and their office managers around the country to create a new lineup of learning labs to will help run a productive and profitable service office. 

Kicking off the 2017 BTO Forum is Bruce Wilkinson, a leadership, communication, and culture implementation strategist, who is going to help attendees unlock the secrets of enthusiasm and self-motivation and the role these techniques play in achieving goals, dreams, and career ambitions. During the no-nonsense session, Bruce will open attendees' eyes to how their attitude, motivation, and enthusiasm concerning their job is what is either accelerating or hindering their success. This is not going to be a pep talk, it's going to be a real look at what you need to do to be more successful now.

BTO also includes 12 learning labs running concurrently over two days and features topics exclusively aimed towards employees who work in the office of contracting businesses and keep operations running smoothly day-to-day. Some of the managers and industry experts you will learn from are:

  • Edward McFarlane, Haller Enterprises
  • Mike Agugliaro, Gold Medal Service and CEO Warrior
  • Steve Lauten, Total Air & Heat Co.
  • Andrea Hughes,  DUCTZ of North Lauderdale and Pompano Beach
  • Joshua Davis, AccuTemp Services
  • Mark Pippin, Pippin Brothers
  • Dave Boduch, Danboise Mechanical
  • Ruth King, HVACChannel.tv
  • Laramie Sandquist, Federated Insurance
  • Brooke Duncan, Adams & Reese

Learn more about these speakers at www.btoforum.com.

The event closes with Jerry Rollins, the Director of Training at Morris-Jenkins in Charlotte, NC, giving attendees a strategy for developing a powerhouse team. He will share programs and techniques that his company has used to invest in its team members' skills, which has led to overall company growth and success.

"The office staff is vital to your organization, because they have the first interaction with your customers and they run your technician’s schedules,” said Kevin Holland, ACCA's senior vice president – business operations & membership. “Training for office staff is just as important as keeping technicians up-to-date on their training, which is why ACCA has developed another strong program that focuses on what office staff needs to be successful.”

To round out the event, attendees can spend time talking to some of the top manufacturers, suppliers, and service providers in the industry in the Sponsor Showcase. Sponsors include: Davisware; Emerson; Federated Insurance; Jackson Systems; Mirage Appliances; NATE; Nexstar; Service Automation; Survey Square; and USA Refrigerants. There are still sponsorship opportunities available, and interested companies should contact Tom Murphy at tom.murphy@acca.org or 703-824-8875.

Registration is open for this event at www.btoforum.com or by calling ACCA at 703-575-4477. Contractors can register for the early bird rate of $445 until July 18, when the price will increase $100.

ACCA has also secured a special rate of $199/night plus applicable fees and taxes at the New Orleans Marriott. The ACCA rate is good until October 2, 2017, or when the block is full, whichever comes first. To make your reservation call 888-364-1200 and mention ACCA to receive the discounted rate or visit www.btoforum.com to book online.

 

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ACCA is a non-profit association serving more than 60,000 professionals and 4,000 businesses in the indoor environment and energy services community. Our member firms are the nation's most professional contracting businesses, serving residential and commercial customers in every state. With roots stretching back a century, ACCA was incorporated in its present form nearly 50 years ago. Today, ACCA sets the standards for quality comfort systems, provides leading-edge education for contractors and their employees, and fights for the interests of professional contractors throughout the nation. Learn more about ACCA here.