SNIPS October 10, 2010 : Page 1

7th Marrio Convention October 10, 2010 MACNA Annual hi Published by: Published by y: W Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa • Phoenix, AZ • SHEET METAL AND AIR CONDITIONING CONTRACTORS’ NATIONA DAILY EVENTS Sunday 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .College of Fellows continental breakfast 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Convention registration 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . COF golf outing 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .COF meeting 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Western coalition meeting 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. . . . . . . . . . .Opening general session (Beckel and Thomas) 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . .Meet-and-greet reception Monday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Convention registration 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. . . Business development sessions HVAC contractors forum Architectural contractors forum 9:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. . . .Business development sessions Industrial contractors forum Residential contractors forum Noon to 1:45 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lunch 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. . . . . . . Business development sessions 5:45 p.m. to 7 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . SMAC PAC reception, silent auction 7:15 p.m. to 10 p.m. . . . . . . . .SMAC PAC dinner, auction The SMACNA Convention Daily is produced by Snips and BNP Media. Sally Fraser, publisher and advertising sales; Michael McConnell, editor; Karen Talan, production; and Nicole Kevonian, art direction. A Marrio Convention October 10, 2010 MACNA Annual hi Published by: Published by y: W Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa • Phoenix, AZ • SHEET METAL AND AIR CONDITIONING CONTRACTORS’ NATIONA DAILY EVENTS Sunday 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .College of Fellows continental breakfast 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Convention registration 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . COF golf outing 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .COF meeting 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Western coalition meeting 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. . . . . . . . . . .Opening general session (Beckel and Thomas) 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . .Meet-and-greet reception Monday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Convention registration 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. . . Business development sessions HVAC contractors forum Architectural contractors forum 9:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. . . .Business development sessions Industrial contractors forum Residential contractors forum Noon to 1:45 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lunch 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. . . . . . . Business development sessions 5:45 p.m. to 7 p.m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . SMAC PAC reception, silent auction 7:15 p.m. to 10 p.m. . . . . . . . .SMAC PAC dinner, auction The SMACNA Convention Daily is produced by Snips and BNP Media. Sally Fraser, publisher and advertising sales; Michael McConnell, editor; Karen Talan, production; and Nicole Kevonian, art direction. A Ill. Ill. mechanical co-chairman succeeds as president in challenging times E ven though 2010 wasn’t the best of business years, John Lindemulder Sr. said it was an enjoyable time to serve as SMACNA president because of all of the wonderful members he and wife Sandy met. SMACNA members are still optimistic about business and upbeat about the future despite the recession which is a lot deeper than we dreamed imaginable two years ago, noted the 69-year-old president. “In spite of the economy, my wife and I will have fond memories,” he said. “Because the people who are SMACNA members are still the greatest.” Lindemulder, who also serves as the co-chairman of Amber Mechanical Contractors Inc. in Alsip, Ill., added that the expe-rience left him impressed with the breadth of services SMACNA offers in tough times and the dedication of the people who run its member companies. Lindemulder visited member contractors John Lindemulder Sr. “We’re not falling asleep at the switch,” Lin-demulder said. While he was tending to his duties as SMACNA president, his son, John Lindemul-der Jr., and William Beukema Jr., oversaw operations as Amber’s co-presidents. Despite being based in the Midwest — a region where the economy is currently “ter-rible,” Lindemulder Sr. said — Amber is doing reasonably well. The company has a long leg-acy in the region. The forerunner to Amber, Amberg Heating and Air Con-ditioning, was founded by Edward Amberg in 1959. Today, Amber Mechanical is a medium-sized, full-service mechanical contractor firm, in better times employing an average of 75 sheet metal work-ers, 15 pipe fitters, 20-plus service pipe fi tters, three BAS programmers, and several CAD operators. In addition, they employ an in-house CPA and attended industry events in San Diego, Las Vegas, Phoenix, San Francisco and Brit-ish Columbia, as well as many other locales. Talking to contractors, he said he learned that some parts of North America are faring bet-ter than others in this recession. For example, companies aroundWashington, D.C., seem to be busier than many in the South orWest. Despite the recession affecting SMACNA at all levels from local to national, Lindemulder said the group has stable fi nances and its lob-byists have been working hard on behalf of members to support bills and issues impor-tant to sheet metal contractors. “There has been a lot of work done in the legislative arena,” he said. “I was really impressed with that.” In addition, the association has kept up with industry changes, publishing revised versions of some of its most popular manuals. who is their controller as well as a full-time safety professional who manages their safety program. Amber specializes in the commercial design-build and plan-and-spec HVAC con-struction market. However, their oldest niche and mainstay is HVAC service, repair and maintenance. School construction is a major market for Amber that typically runs around $33 million in annual sales. “Early on we’ve learned when the economy is bad, service work is good,” Lindemulder Sr. said. “Service work provides a steady source of cash coming in the door, every day.” The fi rm strives to keep their service vol-ume at 25 percent or more of total business volume. Today, he has more than 40 years of expe-continued on page 3

Ill. Mechanical Co-Chairman Succeeds As President In Challenging Times

EVen though 2010 wasn’t the best of business years, John Lindemulder Sr. Said it was an enjoyable time to serve as SMACNA president because of all of the wonderful members he and wife Sandy met. SMACNA members are still optimistic about business and upbeat about the future despite the recession which is a lot deeper than we dreamed imaginable two years ago, noted the 69-year-old president. “In spite of the economy, my wife and I will have fond memories,” he said. “Because the people who are SMACNA members are still the greatest.” Lindemulder, who also serves as the co-chairman of Amber Mechanical Contractors Inc. in Alsip, Ill., added that the experience left him impressed with the breadth of services SMACNA offers in tough times and the dedication of the people who run its member companies. Lindemulder visited member contractors and attended industry events in San Diego, Las Vegas, Phoenix, San Francisco and British Columbia, as well as many other locales. Talking to contractors, he said he learned that some parts of North America are faring better than others in this recession. For example, companies around Washington, D.C., seem to be busier than many in the South or West. Despite the recession affecting SMACNA at all levels from local to national, Lindemulder said the group has stable fi nances and its lobbyists have been working hard on behalf of members to support bills and issues important to sheet metal contractors. “There has been a lot of work done in the legislative arena,” he said. “I was really impressed with that.” In addition, the association has kept up with industry changes, publishing revised versions of some of its most popular manuals.“We’re not falling asleep at the switch,” Lindemulder said. While he was tending to his duties as SMACNA president, his son, John Lindemulder Jr., and William Beukema Jr., oversaw operations as Amber’s co-presidents. Despite being based in the Midwest — a region where the economy is currently “terrible,” Lindemulder Sr. Said — Amber is doing reasonably well. The company has a long legacy in the region. The forerunner to Amber, Amberg Heating and Air Conditioning, was founded by Edward Amberg in 1959. Today, Amber Mechanical is a medium-sized, full-service mechanical contractor firm, in better times employing an average of 75 sheet metal workers, 15 pipe fi tters, 20-plus service pipe fi tters, three BAS programmers, and several CAD operators. In addition, they employ an in-house CPA who is their controller as well as a full-time safety professional who manages their safety program. Amber specializes in the commercial design-build and plan-and-spec HVAC construction market. However, their oldest niche and mainstay is HVAC service, repair and maintenance. School construction is a major market for Amber that typically runs around $33 million in annual sales. “Early on we’ve learned when the economy is bad, service work is good,” Lindemulder Sr. Said. “Service work provides a steady source of cash coming in the door, every day.” The fi rm strives to keep their service volume at 25 percent or more of total business volume. Today, he has more than 40 years of expe-Rience in the HVAC industry, but it wasn’t the career Lindemulder originally saw for himself. He went to college to become an architect. But an opportunity to be an HVAC service technician made him rethink his career choice — a move Lindemulder said he doesn’t regret. In 1971, Amberg sold the company to John Lindemulder Sr. And a partner. About a year later, William Beukema Sr. Bought out the partner and became a coowner at Amber Heating and Air Conditioning. He got involved in SMACNA thanks to the Chicago chapter executive, Jim Vetos, at the time. It seems the contract with their local union was good for the large contractors, but not for the smaller guys. A longtime, well-established Chicago contractor invited Lindemulder, a newcomer, to begin participating in the negotiations. The contractor mentored Lindemulder for many years. “I learned a lot,” he said and added he finds it very rewarding that he has had opportunity to return the favor by mentoring that contractor’s son. Three years ago, Lindemulder and his partner William Beukema Sr. Transferred ownership to their sons, with the elder Lindemulder now serving with Beukema Sr. As co-chairman of the board. Today, Lindemulder isn’t too involved in Amber’s day-to-day operations, but f inds he visits work sites “quite a bit” as project manager. The company’s long list of clients includes hospitals, schools, colleges and local businesses. He said the fi rm’s success depends upon the quality of their materials and craftsmanship, the safety and security of their customers and employees, complete integrity in their services and responsiveness to their customers’ needs. When L i ndemu lde r quickly real ized the help he could provide by fixing furnaces and other HVAC service work was more satisfying than designing buildings, he knew the HVAC contracting business was where he belonged. “I haven’t looked back since,” he said. “I like to help people.”

Publication List
Using a screen reader? Click Here