eNews
Industry News
 
 
Stronger Together: As our industry continues to evolve, together we will rise to the occasion and meet whatever challenges come our way. Mark your calendars for Feb. 7-8, 2023! Join us to ensure the voice of PHCC Texas is loud and proud at the Capitol.

Tuesday, Feb. 7 | 6:30-9:00 PM: Legislative Dinner & PAC Reception
Wednesday, Feb. 8: Breakfast Briefing with PHCC Texas Lobby Team and Individual Meetings with Legislators
 
Decisions made at the capitol can have a dramatic impact on how we do business. Because of the importance of the political system to our industry, we must have a voice in the decision making process. If you can't attend the event in February, another way you can become more involved is by contributing to the PHCC Texas Political Action Committee (PAC). Through such contributions, we can help support candidates for public office who will give us fair and effective representation and are willing to take a proactive stance on our behalf. 
 
  
Last Chance to Save! Early Bird renewals will accepted through December and rates will increase in the new year. 
 
New PHCC Texas members (first-year introductory or past members who have not been active for 5+ years) can lock in 2022 pricing by joining now. Membership will be activated immediately and will include all of 2023. Interested in joining? Contact membership@phcc-tx.org!
  
It's not too late to order PHCC Texas branded items for you and your staff! 
 
These PHCC Texas items require no quantity minimums, and will be en route to you after 3-5 days of production. 
 
  
PHCC Texas is proud to provide Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners approved plumbing continuing education, in addition to test prep training. We also offer training in Medical Gas, Residential and Commercial Code, OSHA, and Backflow Prevention Testing. 
 
Use the link below to find a course in your area! 
   
K-Dimensional Holdings Inc. / CoastPay
      
SupplyHouse.com
   
  
Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, acting on the authority granted by the legislature, has paved the way for students who successfully complete a high school/trade school program to immediately test to become licensed tradesman plumbers.

Texas Workforce Commission's Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) Program supports those efforts by providing funds for training equipment supporting in-demand occupations like plumbing. The JET Program provides grants to public junior, state and technical colleges, open enrollment charter schools, and school districts to purchase and install equipment for the development of career and technical education courses or programs that lead to a license, certificate or postsecondary degree in a high-demand occupation.
  
Please save the date for our next annual conference, scheduled for Aug. 2-4, 2023, at the Hyatt Hill Country in San Antonio, Texas. Keep an eye out for more details and registration to go live early in the new year. 
 
We are excited to begin developing our educational program for the 2023 Annual Conference, and the call for presentations is now open for submissions.
Attorney Rick Alaniz addresses how employers should consider preparing for layoffs, if necessary.

More than 10 million jobs remain open, even after several months of record hiring. May saw 384,000 jobs filled, and in June payrolls increased by 372,000. In July, the number of jobs filled exploded to 528,000. Each month exceeded estimates, which seemingly contradicts other signals of economic slowdown. Despite the currently resilient job market, the Federal Reserve continues to raise interest rates in response to the highest inflation rate in decades, which could amplify the effects of any slowdown.
  
Getting a good gauge on organizational efficiency is a critical calculation for today’s plumbing and HVACR professionals. It doesn’t just involve taking the temperature of your customer-facing processes to ensure sufficient performance. It requires a clear vision to achieve a consistent flow in all areas of your operation.  
 
But where to begin? Start with a systematic inspection of back-office tasks. It’s widely known that manual data entry can put a damper on Accounts Payable teams facing a time crunch and experiencing issues in areas like lengthy approval cycles, late payments, lost invoices, and strained supplier relations. Rethinking these often-painstaking practices can lead to an increase in productivity and competitiveness. With help from Canon Solutions America, you can access highly scalable technology and services to help automate your approach, condense key challenges, and promote digital transformation.
 
Watch this video to see how you can reduce time-consuming, paper-based functions in Accounts Payable to save time and money or contact Senior Account Executive Justin Young directly at 512-506-2086 or via email at jyoung@csa.canon.com to learn more.
  
Figuring out the best options for investing for your future can be confusing and time consuming, especially for busy business owners. A common goal for many investors is to maximize growth while minimizing risk. When considering investment vehicles for your assets, one option to consider is an annuity. 
 
  
Day to day life at your business shouldn’t be risky or dangerous — you want to create a safe, clean space for your employees and clients. But without proper safety checkups conducted on a regular basis, it can quickly become unsafe, potentially leading to accidents and losses. Take a close look at your business. Is it up to par in terms of general safety, cleanliness, and functionality? Take a few moments each year to complete an annual safety checkup, and follow up with periodic inspections and regular safety meetings to help create a culture of risk management at your business.
  
Question of the Month: We are planning to host a holiday party for our employees. Are there any general considerations we should be aware of, particularly if we serve alcohol?
   
Taco Comfort Solutions
      
Federated Insurance
   
Most Versatile Durable Modular Storage System
Milwaukee Tool ®
The Milwaukee® PACKOUT™ Modular Storage System is a full system solution for the Site, Transit, and Shop, making PACKOUT™ the most versatile and durable modular storage system in the industry. With over 75 solutions, Milwaukee's PACKOUT system consists of solutions ranging from tool boxes and organizers, to totes, shelving, and more that best suit user’s needs.
Learn more
Advertisement
Education
  
Enrollment is now open for the 1-A Apprentice Training in Coppell Feb. 6-9, 2023. Applications must be submitted by January 15, 2023. 
 
This DOL-approved program allows students to maintain a consistent work schedule while attending class for four ten-hour days once each quarter. Instructors lead students through a comprehensive four-year curriculum that includes both classroom and hands-on training, and graduates of this program qualify to sit for Master exam just ONE year following Journeyman license attainment.
  
In a rush? Our digital correspondence option is the quickest way to complete your CE. Students will receive a digital copy of our book and an open-book 150-question exam that you can take at your own pace. There are two options when choosing the most recent correspondence courses: Digital Only and Standard.
 
When choosing the Digital Only option, you will receive a link to download the course and can get started right away! When choosing the Standard option, we also ship you a packet (USPS Priority) with a physical copy of the book and all course materials.
  
Please note: correspondence testing is not an option for students looking to rank up to a Tradesman or Journeyman license, but is a viable option for renewals. 
  
The Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners has been working diligently to improve processes, communicate updates that impact plumbing licensees in Texas and revise Board Rules. With so much new information coming down the pike, we've compiled these updates online for you! 

Overview of Recent Rule Ammendment Adoptions and Proposals
Legislative Updates
The 88th Legislature’s regular session will convene on January 10 and continue through May 29, 2023. March 10 is the last day bills may be filed. To keep you informed, PHCC Texas will be sending weekly newsletters to keep you informed on bills that may impact your business. Stay tuned!  
  
This has been a historic, if not unusual, midterm election season. Republicans have just secured a razor-thin majority in the House of Representatives, falling short of expectations that a “red wave” would sweep Republicans into a comfortable majority in both the House and Senate. Read more from Mark Valentini, PHCC's Director of Legislative Affairs, on what we can expect from Congress and what PHCC's priorities are moving forward. 
 
Be sure to mark your calendar to join PHCC's Chuck White and Mark Valentini on Jan. 11 for a wrap up of 2022 legislative and regulatory activities and the effects on small business. They will do their best to predict the future activities of Congress and the agencies and describe their efforts to support or oppose the Washington D.C. agenda. Mark will also provide an overview of the recent elections and provide some insights on what the results mean to you. Learn more and register here.
Membership
  
We work hard to ensure your PHCC membership provides great value, and we want to know if there are areas where we can expand our support to you. After all, it is because of your membership that we are able to be your resource for education, advocacy, networking, and more! Please take a few moments to complete the Membership Survey to help us better serve you!
  
Fueling solutions for business: streamline how you manage your company’s fuel expenses.The more your employees fuel at Exxon and Mobil, the more they maximize your rebates. 
 
For questions and/or to start an application, call (443) 668-8425 or email Juan Munoz.
Upcoming Events
  
Registration is Limited
Cadillac Bar
6:30 - 11:00 p.m.
1802 Shepherd Dr. | Houston, TX  77007
  
Stronger Together: As our industry continues to evolve, together we will rise to the occasion and meet whatever challenges come our way. 

Please make plans to join us Feb. 7-8, 2023 in Austin to ensure our voice is heard by the state legislature. Hotel room rate will expire on on Jan. 18, 2023!
  
PHCC Texas Annual Conference | August 2-4, 2023 
San Antonio, Texas | Hyatt Hill Country Resort 
Golf Tournament: Wednesday, August 2nd - Shotgun Start at 8:00
More Information Coming Soon! 
Benefits
“Best People and Best Practices” deserve the best technology. With over 300 Texas PHCC members, reliable technology should be available to streamline processes and simplify the nature of the business.
  
As a member of the PHCC community, you plug into a powerful network of valuable resources and contractors at the local, state and national level — plus our own PHCC Educational Foundation — offering the knowledge, tools, programs and services you need to succeed.