What I Learned at Comfortech 2007

[alexw]

.
1) There were lots of HVAC-Talk participants at Comfortech 2007. Service Roundtable Members made up the largest single group of attendees. :) :cool: :D

2) There are far too many contractors who don't charge enough for what they do. There are far too many really professional HVAC contractors who don't charge enough for what they do. So, their standard of living is not up to what it could or should be. :o

3) It is a shame that more good contractors were not there this year as they probably were/are feeling financially stressed due to the state of the economy in their market area. :(

[Ed Janowiak]

I learned that I want my daughter educated, not trained :).

[favoredwun]

that there is even more "business sense" I need to gain to ensure my success;

that I will be attending Comfortech every year, because I gained so much insight into other aspects of our industry (not just the technical side);

that there is far more equipment available for my customers than I've been exposed to;

that there are some great people in this industry;

that there are far too few women in this industry;

that our moderators are really cool, and it's great to put a name to a face;

that RoboTeq looks exactly like I thought he would!:p

I hope to see everyone in Atlanta next year!!

[Lusker]

We'll be there.. :)

[RoBoTeq]

that there is even more "business sense" I need to gain to ensure my success;

that I will be attending Comfortech every year, because I gained so much insight into other aspects of our industry (not just the technical side);

that there is far more equipment available for my customers than I've been exposed to;

that there are some great people in this industry;

that there are far too few women in this industry;

that our moderators are really cool, and it's great to put a name to a face;

that RoboTeq looks exactly like I thought he would!:p

I hope to see everyone in Atlanta next year!!


It was great meeting you Marlee. I take it you were on your way somewhere when you stopped by. I got interrupted from our conversation and when I looked back, you were gone.

And yes, there are way too few women in our industry;)

[favoredwun]

Yes, I was on my way to the 3:00 session, and I thought maybe you'd be there when it was over. It was great to finally meet you too.

Lusker, thanks for your advice. It was great talking to you. I'm sure I'll be sending you questions via e-mail from time to time.

I'm sure everyone around me is sick of hearing about Comfortech 2007. I have bee talking about it non-stop. I learned so much it's amazing. I expect to be in a much better business position this time next year from the knowledge I've gained. I guarantee it!:D

[Senior Tech]

Yes, I was on my way to the 3:00 session, and I thought maybe you'd be there when it was over. It was great to finally meet you too.

Lusker, thanks for your advice. It was great talking to you. I'm sure I'll be sending you questions via e-mail from time to time.

I'm sure everyone around me is sick of hearing about Comfortech 2007. I have bee talking about it non-stop. I learned so much it's amazing. I expect to be in a much better business position this time next year from the knowledge I've gained. I guarantee it!:D


And based on the professionalism and the desire to be a success that exudes from you...I truly believe that :)

[the editor]

I'd love to hear more comments from those of you who attended. I may quote some of you in our roundup story which will appear in the November issue. So can I get some more posts?

[pgrasso]

So can I get some more posts?

Here's another post.

-Pete

[pgrasso]

So can I get some more posts?

And another!!!

-Pete

[jrbenny]

Hmmm...

St Louis things:

Kim Massey can sing the blues like no other.
Schlafly lager is quite tasty. Close second to Fat Tire.
Pete has good taste in Italian food. Vitto's was okay even though they served martinis in a brandy snifter. ;)
Don't hang with Marge at the museum unless you are ready to do some exploring and climbing.Comfortech things:

OEM are making their products even more installer friendly. Really like the new Honeywell zoning system and Thermastor dehumidifiers. We are considering some vendor changes after seeing some of the great products at the showcase.
VD is a good thing when it comes to furnace inspections. Steve has a nice product. The Testo and Rigid cams are great compliments for the VD inspection process.
The training sessions had something to offer for everyone from installation techs to distributor managers. Great selection. Hope to attend a few more next year.

[Senior Tech]

tried to find this "fat tire" you guys keep talkin about...they don't sell it around these parts but it must be some good stuff...

[alexw]

.
I could have spent another full day going to the exhibits. I wish the exhibit time was longer. My preference would be to have an exhibits only day before the education sessions start. This would permit attendees to see exhibits which would prompt them to go to education sessions offered by exhibitors instead of the other way around. It's a chicken or egg thing.

[hvacprodmgr]

I heard a lot of the same thing about the length of exhibit time.

I heard at least 5 people as we were heading out saying they wish the exhibit time was a little longer. Myself included.. We spent probably 20 minutes after the "official" closing talking to 3-4 vendors..

[jrbenny]

Yep. I kept the Honeywell guy there on Friday.

[RoBoTeq]

I was hearing the same thing from quite a few attendees. Maybe run one day of exhibition later for those who cannot attend during the day as well.

[joe8758]

tried to find this "fat tire" you guys keep talkin about...they don't sell it around these parts but it must be some good stuff...

Senior, what part of Illinois do you live in? I never had a problem getting it in the Chicago area. Look harder I think you should be able to find it. Its really pretty good.

On another note, I planned on attending Comfortech this year, but got transferred and had to use that weekend to move. Hope to go next year.

[Marge In Charge]

What's wrong jrbenny, can't keep up with "Marge In Charge?"Hmmm...

St Louis things:

Kim Massey can sing the blues like no other.
Schlafly lager is quite tasty. Close second to Fat Tire.
Pete has good taste in Italian food. Vitto's was okay even though they served martinis in a brandy snifter. ;)
Don't hang with Marge at the museum unless you are ready to do some exploring and climbing.Comfortech things:

OEM are making their products even more installer friendly. Really like the new Honeywell zoning system and Thermastor dehumidifiers. We are considering some vendor changes after seeing some of the great products at the showcase.
VD is a good thing when it comes to furnace inspections. Steve has a nice product. The Testo and Rigid cams are great compliments for the VD inspection process.
The training sessions had something to offer for everyone from installation techs to distributor managers. Great selection. Hope to attend a few more next year.

[Lusker]

Marge... ya just got to teach him how.. :D

[Marge In Charge]

I tried to play "follow the leader" but no one followed me. In fact, security had to get me out of the caves because I was so far lost in them!Marge... ya just got to teach him how.. :D

[jrbenny]

I tried to play "follow the leader" but no one followed me. In fact, security had to get me out of the caves because I was so far lost in them!
I'm taking the kids there next weekend. Hope we don't get lost. :D

[Lusker]

So, where are the pictures??

I heard that Lori (da Boss) was hanging about 30 feet in the air.

[jrbenny]

She was taking pics. Wonder when she'll post 'em? She's probably gloating at that Chickenhawk win today. Dang it.

Back to the museum...

After a couple of slides and caves, I started hanging with some customers. They weren't quite as adventurous as Marge. They were more into the beverages. ;)

[RoBoTeq]

I made the mistake of crawling up that real twisty, slinky looking wire tube that overhung the lobby area. That was just not made for a guy my size. About half way up I made sure I could still reach my nitro just in case:confused:

[Marge In Charge]

See, you should have followed me. Obviously the choice you made caused you to have a hang-over the next day. I only suffered a few bruises which did remind me that I wasn't 16 anymore!:pShe was taking pics. Wonder when she'll post 'em? She's probably gloating at that Chickenhawk win today. Dang it.

Back to the museum...

After a couple of slides and caves, I started hanging with some customers. They weren't quite as adventurous as Marge. They were more into the beverages. ;)

[Lusker]

Oh yeah... you were at church! LOL


Sure glad you didn't post the rest of those pics... all those compromising positions you were caught in would have been real bad if posted here. :D:D

[Marge In Charge]

See, there I am leading the pack and no one following! Oh yeah... you were at church! LOL


Sure glad you didn't post the rest of those pics... all those compromising positions you were caught in would have been real bad if posted here. :D:D

[Miss Kate]

Hey I was right behind ya Marge! Maybe Weil will post the pics...

[Lusker]

Him post pics??

Don't hold your breath.. that will take a (Weil)

:p

[Marge In Charge]

I sure hope so. I knew you were with me! All the others have no idea how much fun they missed. Hey I was right behind ya Marge! Maybe Weil will post the pics...

[the editor]

Him post pics??

Don't hold your breath.. that will take a (Weil)

:p


That Lusker -- He's always such a meatball. Here are some pics of the ladies behind bars. For Marge-in-charge, that is an activity she never does, being the church-going princess that she is!!!!

The first pic is Marge trying to lead the pack to the airrplane, 4 stories above the parking lot at the City Museum:

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/4650/margeclimbingtheoutdorrzm0.jpg



Of course, once Marge realized where she was and what she was doing, she immediately sobered up and put on her best game face ...

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/6520/largemargeju5.th.jpg (http://img152.imageshack.us/my.php?image=largemargeju5.jpg)

[Marge In Charge]

Mike is correct is saying that those are the only bars I've ever been behind and that I am a church-going princess on Sundays but the game face is something to be questioned. He's never seen the game face I have at my kids soccer games . . . that one is priceless !:DThat Lusker -- He's always such a meatball. Here are some pics of the ladies behind bars. For Marge-in-charge, that is an activity she never does, being the church-going princess that she is!!!!

The first pic is Marge trying to lead the pack to the airrplane, 4 stories above the parking lot at the City Museum:

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/4650/margeclimbingtheoutdorrzm0.jpg

Of course, once Marge realized where she was and what she was doing, she immediately sobered up and put on her best game face ...

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/6520/largemargeju5.th.jpg (http://img152.imageshack.us/my.php?image=largemargeju5.jpg)

[the editor]

Of course, no Comfortech photo montage iis complete without a team shot. Pictured left to right: Benny, Pete, Gwen, Steve, Andrea, Marge (in charge), Kate.

In front: Terry and the Boss Lady (Laurie). Missing: The Editor (taking the picture with Laurie's camera), Ron, HeyBob, ARPA, Lusker, and Sr. Tech.

http://img27.picoodle.com/img/img27/9/10/12/wilderheat/t_HtalkCtechCm_40a9e15.gif (http://www.picoodle.com/view.php?img=/9/10/12/wilderheat/f_HtalkCtechCm_40a9e15.gif&srv=img27)

Note: This is the HVAC-Talk, HVAC Comfortech, and Contracting Business Team.


No for those of you who know them, these three goons are three of your most favorite moderators, hard at work (doing crossword puzzles or something):

http://img36.picoodle.com/img/img36/9/10/12/wilderheat/t_BennySrTechm_2469601.gif (http://www.picoodle.com/view.php?img=/9/10/12/wilderheat/f_BennySrTechm_2469601.gif&srv=img36)

Can you guess who they are?


Unfortunately, Fearless Leader (aka The Editor) is caught mouthing off again at the Emerson Welcome Reception. Where are his teeth?

http://img36.picoodle.com/img/img36/9/10/12/wilderheat/t_WeilEmersonm_20bcbee.gif (http://www.picoodle.com/view.php?img=/9/10/12/wilderheat/f_WeilEmersonm_20bcbee.gif&srv=img36)


Benny, Pete, and The Boss desperately searching for Starbucks.

http://img27.picoodle.com/img/img27/9/10/12/wilderheat/t_BennnyPeteTm_5ef948f.gif (http://www.picoodle.com/view.php?img=/9/10/12/wilderheat/f_BennnyPeteTm_5ef948f.gif&srv=img27)

[pgrasso]

Mike is correct is saying that those are the only bars I've ever been behind and that I am a church-going princess on Sundays but the game face is something to be questioned. He's never seen the game face I have at my kids soccer games . . . that one is priceless !:D

If you think her soccer game face is scary, you should see her church-going game face. ;)

-Pete

[Marge In Charge]

That's enough from someone who can't even get a deacon to return his phone calls! If you think her soccer game face is scary, you should see her church-going game face. ;)

-Pete

[citywide service]

While I was planning on attending this year things just didn't fall into place for me (and I only live 225m away!) but I have a do or die attitude for Atlanta next year...Where were you guys at that all the pics are comming from? It looks like a great place to take my grandkid for a learning/exploring kind of weekend!

Glad everyone had fun and learned something; hope that there will be a write up of all the new and fun gadgets you all saw there!

Well, I gotta get to work, I've put it off long enough for today (took part of the morning off) hope you all had a great day!


CW.

[chinahvacboy]

studying from you all. thank u.