Now that the hottest part of the summer season is behind us, fall is a good time to evaluate the successes and failures of the previous season.

Many of us get wrapped up in the day to day operations of our businesses and forget to take the time to evaluate the processes that can affect the profitability of our companies. We often rely on looking at the bottom line at the end of the year to determine our success. Both profitable and unprofitable businesses need to be prepared for the hazards and opportunities in the future.

One of the best resources to measure your success or failure will be your customers. Surveys can be excellent means to gathering information about the performance of your company. Our industry is based on customer service and by listening to your customers and implementing their suggestions can only lead to more profitability.

Many of us have also taken advantage of participating in a mixed group program. The ability to network with other non-competing contractors can be a valuable opportunity to improve the efficiency of your business. Having like-minded professionals review your business and offer constructive criticism has proven to be one of the most effective business improving tools in our industry. In the upcoming months, the MACC board of directors are planning to redevelop the mix group program with other HVAC association groups in other states.

Our September meeting was well attended by our members for our continuing series “Survive and Thrive”. Special thanks to Scott Berger and Jack Fanneron for telling their stories and sharing their experiences. On Thursday, October 6, 2016, at Vivaldi Ristorante, we will continue

our “Survive and Thrive” series where business owners share stories and tips encountered during their journey in the HVAC industry. In addition, representatives from USI Insurance Services will speak about Network security and privacy. I’m looking forward to seeing you soon, and remember to visit our web site at www.maccny.org for upcoming events.

— Marc