It’s that time of year again when people reflect on what they’re thankful for in the past year, and hope for a positive 2024. I cannot stress enough the job that Brent and Kathleen Ridley (@toolpros & @toolwife) do with Miracle Mechanical, a charitable organization dedicated to uplifting families in need, one at-no-cost-HVAC/plumbing repair at Read more
HVAC
It’s that time of year again when people reflect on what they’re thankful for in the past year, and hope for a positive 2024. I cannot stress enough the job that Brent and Kathleen Ridley (@toolpros & @toolwife) do with Miracle Mechanical, a charitable organization dedicated to uplifting families in need, one at-no-cost-HVAC/plumbing repair at a time. “Honestly, it’s hard to put into words,” says Brent Ridley. “Seeing and feeling the gratitude from homeowners is an incredible feeling, and something that never gets old.”
Tool Pros began as tool review brand, as the brand grew and relationships with tool manufacturers were made, Ridley felt a need to use his platform for more. “Free tools and trips are great but I thought to myself. ‘let’s actually do something that matters.’”
Combined with his platform and what he knew best—HVAC /plumbing—Miracle Mechanical was born. Shortly after the concept, Ridley reached out to his contacts at RIDGID to gauge interest. “Thankfully they loved the idea and wanted to sponsor the very first project. Two months later we completed our first project, and the rest is history,” says Ridley.
Officially, the primary facilitators of Miracle Mechanical consist of Brent and his wife Kathleen. They also bring in a production crew of three to four people, and their team of HVAC / plumbing contractors—usually a 4-man crew—for a project day.
Ridley says that the goal is always to complete as many projects as possible; however, they are averaging four to five projects per year. In fact, Miracle Mechanical just completed a project this past October with Sharkbite.
And they have partnered with RIDGID for the next project taking place in early 2024. In the past, Miracle has teamed up with the AHR Expo but nothing for 2024. “We look forward to partnering with AHR for their work force development program in the future,” says Ridley.
But between working as an HVAC contractor, content creator, Miracle Mechanical facilitator, podcaster and Lowe’s Santa, finding time to take a deep breath can be difficult. “Sure, it can feel overwhelming at times,” says Ridley. “Thankfully, I have my wife who is a full-time manager and coordinator for the Tool Pros brand and Miracle Mechanical. Her dedication to the brand allows me to focus on my HVAC/plumbing business (H & M Services, Inc.), as well as other creative outlets—without dropping any balls in the process.”
The Miracle Mechanical concept is such a good one, and one that I know Ridley hopes he can provide nationally. At this time, logistics and funding for national projects have been a huge obstacle, but one that I’m confident we’ll overcome in the next couple of years,” says Ridley.
More About Brent Ridley
Ridley started into the trades right out high school in 2004. His girlfriend’s father, at the time, owned an HVAC business, and he started the summer after senior year doing commercial duct work and hated it. It was only until he found service and repair that he fell in love with the HVAC industry. “From there, I have always strived to make it more than just a ‘Job,’ but a lifestyle. If you want to get ahead in life, you can’t clock out at 5 pm.”
In the earier days before social media, Ridley wrote long-form, trade-specific tool reviews on a site called HVACTalk.com, which no longer exists. In 2017, Ridley started his successful Tool Pros Podcast. “Not long after, the social media portion of the brand quickly outgrew the podcast, leading to many opportunities that I am very grateful for, like Miracle Mechanical,” says Ridley.
The business development, training and implementation organization for the service business industry will offer its members access to the home service distributor’s extensive supply chain of products and solutions CEO Warrior, a nationally recognized business development, training and implementation organization for the service business industry, announced today that it has entered into a collaboration with Ferguson Read more
The business development, training and implementation organization for the service business industry will offer its members access to the home service distributor’s extensive supply chain of products and solutions
CEO Warrior, a nationally recognized business development, training and implementation organization for the service business industry, announced today that it has entered into a collaboration with Ferguson , a project success company providing expertise, solutions and products from infrastructure, plumbing and appliances to HVAC, fire, fabrication and more, to provide its members with preferred access to the home service fulfillment giant.
“This collaboration with Ferguson shows CEO Warrior’s commitment to add value to the services we provide our members,” CEO Warrior CEO Scott Bohannon said. “It is our goal to offer our clients everything they need to be successful in their markets. Not only does CEO Warrior offer a full complement of training and mentoring solutions that help our members lead, grow and scale their services, we can now also offer them access to some of the finest products available in Ferguson’s supply chain.”
Founded in 1953, Ferguson is a leading value-added distributor of residential and commercial plumbing supplies and pipe, valves and fittings in the U.S. The company has 10 distribution centers offering clients rapid inventory access with the convenience of Pro Pick-Up services in as little as one hour, same-day or next-day delivery options.
“I am incredibly excited about the relationship between CEO Warrior LLC and Ferguson,” said CEO Warrior Director of Business Development Caroline Moriarty. “This collaboration enables us to deliver greater value to our clients and reinforces our commitment to continued growth and high standards of quality products and services.”
CEO Warrior is the highest level business training and implementation organization in the trades industry. It is led by experts who have achieved success building and leading their own trades businesses and its members include the leaders of home service companies that provide plumbing, HVAC and other residential and commercial service companies.
For more information about CEO Warrior and how to become a member, please visit https://ceowarrior.com/.
Intellihot, a leading innovator in smart water heating systems, hired Dave Martin as its new chief operating officer (COO). With his exemplary track record of successfully leading large companies, Martin is poised to take Intellihot to the next level of growth and innovation. As COO, Martin will oversee Intellihot’s sales and marketing teams, as well Read more
Intellihot, a leading innovator in smart water heating systems, hired Dave Martin as its new chief operating officer (COO). With his exemplary track record of successfully leading large companies, Martin is poised to take Intellihot to the next level of growth and innovation.
As COO, Martin will oversee Intellihot’s sales and marketing teams, as well as day-to-day operations, with a key focus on optimizing the company’s operational efficiency, streamlining processes, and enhancing customer satisfaction. Additionally, he will play a pivotal role in strengthening partnerships with key stakeholders, including suppliers, distributors, and contractors, to further propel Intellihot’s growth trajectory.
“We are thrilled to have Dave join our team as our new chief operating officer,” said Sridhar Deivasigamani, CEO of Intellihot. “His extensive experience and proven leadership skills in scaling companies make him the perfect fit for our team.”
Martin comes to Intellihot with decades of experience in HVAC and operations management. His previous roles include leadership positions at Coca Cola, Rheem and HTP Comfort Solutions. His keen strategic vision and ability to drive operational efficiencies have resulted in outstanding outcomes for the companies he has served.
Speaking about his new role, Martin said, “I am honored to join Intellihot and work with a team of exceptionally talented professionals who are pushing the boundaries of energy-efficient water heating technology. It is an exciting time to be part of the company, and I look forward to leveraging my expertise to contribute towards Intellihot’s continued success.”
Company aims to promote job opportunities in HVAC, Electrical and Plumbing industries as the skilled trade labor shortage continues Trade Jobs, a recruiting platform built specifically for the HVAC, electrical and plumbing industries, launched on November 13th, 2023.The company aims to address the ongoing and increasing employment crisis in the trades. A report by Fox Business stated Read more
Company aims to promote job opportunities in HVAC, Electrical and Plumbing industries as the skilled trade labor shortage continues
Trade Jobs, a recruiting platform built specifically for the HVAC, electrical and plumbing industries, launched on November 13th, 2023.The company aims to address the ongoing and increasing employment crisis in the trades.
A report by Fox Business stated that there have been more than 770,000 skilled job postings from nearly 95,000 different employers across the country in 2023. With the older generation of skilled workers retiring, that number will likely continue to increase.
Trade Jobs is addressing the longstanding challenges of costly and inefficient recruitment processes. Today, the company announces a transformative solution to streamline hiring and connect employers with pre-qualified candidates at a fraction of the cost of traditional methods.
“The employment crisis in the trades has been well-documented as the older generation continues to enter retirement,” said Jeff Bond, president of Trade Jobs. “Contractors are always looking for professional, skilled workers to fill those vacancies, but it can be difficult.”
Built for and crafted by trade professionals, Trade Jobs was developed to help contractors in the HVAC, Electrical and Plumbing spaces recruit qualified candidates. The platform helps reduce the need to sift through hundreds of resumes from unqualified candidates by connecting employers with job seekers who meet their specific job requirements.
Now through December 31st, 2023, Trade Jobs will offer exclusive, discounted charter membership pricing for employers seeking to hire within the HVAC, Electrical or Plumbing industries. The site is free to job seekers.
Start posting jobs and connecting with qualified candidates today by going to https://gettradejobs.com.
Career Training to Members of Detroit’s Gun Violence Reduction Program Interplay Learning, the leading provider of immersive skilled trades training, announces a transformative partnership with C.H.O.I.C.E.S (Choosing Honorable Options Increasing Chances to Establish Success), a community-based violence intervention program dedicated to reducing gun violence in Detroit as part of Mayor Mike Duggan’s “Detroit at Work” program Read more
Career Training to Members of Detroit’s Gun Violence Reduction Program
Interplay Learning, the leading provider of immersive skilled trades training, announces a transformative partnership with C.H.O.I.C.E.S (Choosing Honorable Options Increasing Chances to Establish Success), a community-based violence intervention program dedicated to reducing gun violence in Detroit as part of Mayor Mike Duggan’s “Detroit at Work” program. C.H.O.I.C.E.S is using Interplay Learning’s virtual reality and simulation-based training to empower at-risk youth and individuals affected by gun violence. Interplay’s innovative training equips them with valuable skills that open doors to a brighter future through sustainable employment in high-demand fields like HVAC, Plumbing, Electrical, Multifamily Maintenance, and Facilities Maintenance.
Aligning with C.H.O.I.C.E.S’ mission to empower violence-affected and/or justice involved individuals with practical job-ready skills, Interplay’s experiential videos, interactive 3D simulations, and immersive virtual reality courses complement the program’s existing in-person residential construction classes. Participants can now tailor their learning experience to align with their specific needs, schedules, and interests by taking the C.H.O.I.C.E.S in-person residential construction classes and/or Interplay’s online skilled trades courses. Using Interplay, learners can access 400+ hours of courses and hands-on simulations so they can practice their skills in a safe, realistic environment. They can leverage Interplay’s courses for as long as needed to prepare for industry certifications, secure meaningful employment with local employers, and ensure long-term success on their journey to self-sufficiency.
“We absolutely love Interplay,” said Stephanie Nixon, Chief Program Officer at Detroit at Work. “It complements our in-person learning well, and their team is great to work with. Our program participants are totally engaged; they’re having fun while learning, they’re competing with one another to complete courses, and all the while, it’s changing the trajectory of their lives.”
A critical feature of the training platform is the administrator reporting tools that enable program coordinators to identify participants who need help and provide timely support and intervention to those individuals. This proactive approach ensures participants stay on course with their training paths, bringing them closer to their ultimate goal of gaining employment and contributing positively to their communities.
“Our mission is to help institutions build better training, better careers, and better lives,” said Doug Donovan, founder and CEO of Interplay Learning. “C.H.O.I.C.E.S is making significant strides in reducing gun violence in Detroit and empowering individuals to lead fulfilling lives. We’re proud to partner with them to support the at-risk and underserved community with an innovative strategy that builds flexible pathways to meaningful trades careers.”