February 2015
ACCA Florida FOCUS
This column is called From
Ken’s Pen but sometimes I think it should be changed to “word to the wise” or “shared wisdom”. There is little doubt that this industry is ready to explode with opportunities and challenges but you must be prepared to embrace the change. You have the opportu- nity to grow your business if you are prepared for the challenge. You can view the challenges as stepping stones or stumbling blocks; it’s just a matter of how you view them…
I “preach” every month that planning, training and safety are the foundation of every successful contractor… all key elements of running a profi t- able air conditioning business. Profi table being the key word! With the economy headed in the right direction, new home construction is picking up, commercial construction opportunities abound and service opportunities both in the residential and commercial markets surround us. It’s time to grow! But wait, do you have the staff or the infrastructure to deal with more business? For several months I have been hinting at a new train- ing opportunity offering being available to all contractors (not just members) through the ACCA FL web site. So here it is! Most small air conditioning businesses are started by a sharp technician with great customer skills but struggle with basic business skills. Even when that’s not the cases, stay- ing abreast of good business practice is time consuming … but you need it to survive and that requires good business development training. We all know it’s getting more and more diffi cult to fi nd and keep quality team members. One solution is to promote from within but that requires understanding where your team member’s interests are - a career path. A great way to identify interests and strengths is by offering a wide array of courses. How about a course in fi nances for the non-fi nancial person? It just might identify your next operations manager. Maybe if your team members understood profi t and loss or a balance sheet, they could avoid costly wrong decisions. And how about those potential leaders? Would a course in motivation or evaluations help them improve their people skills?
ACCA FL is offering business training for your staff at a very cost effective price. ACCA FL has partnered with the Drake Training Academy to bring contractors over 1200 online courses aimed at preparing your team to embrace the chal- lenges ahead.
Florida HVAC Insider From Ken’s Pen
ACCA-FL Board Member - Ken Bodwell
Here’s an example - The current administration has empowered OSHA and the EPA to seek out businesses that are not complying with Federal Regulations and is- sue fi nes. I believe that a little pro-active preventative training is a lot cheaper than paying the fi nes… and once you are on their radar, they will be back! Everybody thinks they can drive a forklift or a lull but did you know that OSHA has regulations controlling who can
drive? We offer six courses that provide the certifi cation required to comply with Uncle Sam. Best yet – you can do it “for cheap” on line and with no lost time!
Safety is only one of our libraries just like OSHA and EPA are just a couple of regu- latory agencies. Workplace Compliance is another area that government regulations are impacting us. Everything from harassment and diversity to HIPPA requirements. While
many insurance companies offer some guidance to avoid claims, ACCA FL has adopted the position that knowledge and training in workplace compliance will minimize expo- sure to issues involving team members. Answers to ques-
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tions on background checks or discrimination or fi ring are all covered in these courses. It’s an opportunity to raise awareness and train your staff to avoid personnel confl icts. Are you hiring the right people and did you do a background check?
Some of the team may want to pursue a career in sales… we offer courses! Our goal is to strengthen your busi- ness! Even if sales is not on their career path, the module on customer communication should be a requirement for every team member. It’s a lot easier to keep a customer than to gain a new one…
One of the key points I realized as we developed continued on page 10C
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