September 2024 Newsletter
A Word from our President
by – Kenneth Baty-Reddi Industries
WOW….What a GREAT turnout for the planning meeting. There were folks there that I haven’t seen in quite a while. I’m certain they were there to give Judy here dues as it was here official farewell into retirement as our face and backbone for 19 years… again a huge thank you for her many years of service…enjoy your time as you see fit!! The planning for the upcoming year filled up faster than I have ever seen in all my years as a member and officer for the association. An awesome number of meetings will not only be valuable as CEU’s but for CODE CEU’s. I am looking forward to see what the upcoming year has to offer and seeing you all and hopefully some new faces turn up as well! If you know someone, or a company that could benefit from our association and what we stand for…please invite them to attend!
Labor day has come and gone….I know I personally am looking forward to the cooler weather heading our way….but it looks like we may have a few more days sprinkled in of the hotter weather. School is now officially in full swing so watch out for traffic and busses.
I am excited to announce that the upcoming general meeting on September17th will not only be a CEU….but is a CODE CEU. Join us for lunch at THE Scotch for this great lunch opportunity and get you hours at the same time.
SEE YOU THERE!!
Please feel free to email or call Kenneth at (316)-491-5111 or KennethB@reddi.com with any concerns or questions.
August General Meeting
WOOOOOOOW
What a great turn out we had for our planning meeting, thank you all in attendance. It was great to see everyone and a great way to send Judy off into retirement and she was the winner of the first $100 drawing. Please see the list below for our upcoming meetings that we planned out, we have 7 meetings scheduled that will have continuing education hours and 2 FREE lunches on site at the schools. Talked about the upcoming education class that KCCA is hosting in October, click here for details.
If you have not gotten your membership paid for yet, please get those in sooner rather than later. We are always looking for new members, vendors please talk to those contractors about the benefits of KCCA 😊.
Again, thank you to all who attended, it was great to see everyone!!
Hope to see you @ future meetings!! All general meetings are held on the 3rd Tuesday, except no meeting in July or December.
2024/2025 Meetings
Reminder to RSVP on website @ kccaks.com
This list is subject to change due to speakers not able to make the date we have selected for them.
3 Things Are Keeping Gen Z from Joining the Trades
Jobber Blue-Collar Reports showcases what HVAC contractors are up against
By Kyle Gargaro
How many mechanics and installers would the HVAC industry need to welcome in the next year in order to keep up with demand? If you guessed 37,700, you would be a winner.
But that is not a winning number for the HVAC contractors that need to hire them. We all know they don’t grow on trees. Take into consideration that going forward that number will grow by 6% each year, and the task gets even more daunting.
Given the median age of a U.S. home is 40 years, it is safe to say we need experts in all the trades to repair and maintain what is a person’s most valuable asset.
So, let’s get the younger generation more excited about the HVAC industry. I have had a few people on the ACHR NEWS podcast talking about that very subject. Some, in fact, were bullish on the prospect of getting the younger generation into the trades. They often referenced the Wall Street Journal article that said Gen Z is becoming the Toolbelt Generation.
As the saying goes, two steps forward and one step back. Jobber, a company that produces contractor software for the trades, produced their yearly blue-collar report, and the information was sobering.
Here are the three biggest obstacles standing in the way of the trades:
1. Family. The report showed that 61% of the Gen Z respondents said their parents haven’t spoken to them about vocational school or told them not to consider it.
The statistic is a bit alarming, considering the increasing cost of college coupled with AI advancements causing job instability. If parents don’t start changing their tune, it will be their kids that literally pay the price.
Family was identified as the biggest influencer when Gen Z was considering a career — and it wasn’t even close. Of the respondents, 50% said family, while the second-highest was a mentor at only 13%. This is undoubtedly being driven mostly by parents. The trades need parental buy-in.
2. Schools. Just 17% of those surveyed said that they have been educated about the benefits of vocational training during their high school years.
What a missed opportunity for high school counselors. Their job is to lay out all the options for their students. How did everything else stack up? Well, the majority of Gen Z (66%) felt they understood the benefits of a four-year bachelor’s degree. Community college was not far behind, with 55% feeling they understood the benefits. Vocational training was also significantly behind military service (33%) and entrepreneurship (30%).
Could the counselors be combining trades and entrepreneurship? Highly unlikely.
So far, we have family and schools hurting the trades. Just think how much time young folks spend at school and with their families. An uphill battle.
3. Hollywood. This is the one area that does not get much attention. However, Gen Z are “digital natives,” meaning they are the first generation to grow up with easy access to the internet. It is no wonder that media has a great influence in how they view different careers.
And let’s just say that Hollywood is not doing the HVAC industry — or other trades, for that matter — any favors.
Nearly half (47%) of Gen Z says tradespeople are generally portrayed negatively. Think about it and it makes sense. When they are portrayed in television shows or movies, they are incompetent at best. Think Tim Allen in Home Improvement. White-collar professionals are oftentimes portrayed as more successful.
So it is no surprise that 83% of Gen Z think that trade professionals do not have a strong sense of accomplishment compared to those white-collar professionals.
And another issue is that the trade folks in movies and television shows are almost always men. That makes it tough for an industry like HVAC that is trying to be more welcoming to females.
Family, school, and Hollywood influences are all affecting how many young people see HVAC as a viable career choice. HVAC contractors need to do their part to speak up and counter these narratives.
Funny Photos
Be Prepared With a Disaster Preparedness Plan
Don’t let disaster preparedness be an afterthought following an unpredictable event. It’s an essential practice that business owners can use to help effectively manage risks and minimize losses.
By creating and implementing a comprehensive disaster preparedness plan that includes risk assessments, preventive measures, and effective claims management protocols, businesses can better secure their operations to help reduce property or financial losses.
The Benefits of Planning Ahead
Having a well-thought-out disaster preparedness plan can be crucial in identifying potential hazards and vulnerabilities before they turn into costly emergencies. Business owners may want to consider the following actions to help them further prepare in advance by:
• Creating a robust disaster preparedness plan that incorporates risk management to help effectively manage potential insurance claims.
• Conducting a thorough risk assessment of their workplace.
• Keeping proper documentation of assets, inventory, and vital records in a safe place, and backing up critical data to help streamline any claims processes and minimize downtime.
• Practicing pre-determined evacuation routes, drills, and scenarios, and adhering to safety protocols to help employees understand how to stay safe.
• Ensuring the right safety equipment, such as first aid kits, fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems, and smoke alarms, are in good working order.
Risk Management for the Future
By implementing a comprehensive disaster preparedness plan, you can help safeguard your business and assets, educate your employees, and be ready for potential business interruptions in the face of unforeseen events.
Reach out to your local Federated® marketing representative to learn more about this and other risk management topics.