And thanks for coming to the party. We’ve got a lot of new and exciting things planned to take us through the next 25 years. And I’d like to share some of them with you.

As you look through your copy of HVACR News this month you will see that we’ve changed our name — a major step for any publication. HVACR Business more accurately reflects the new direction that we are taking with this publication. It reflects our new mission of working with top industry leaders to develop a new standard of success for the HVACR contractor.

It may sound a bit ambitious, but it is our intention to help this industry develop a new model for successful contracting that can be used by anyone with the desire and ambition to grow more successfully and more profitably.

We believe our mission is consistent with the enormous growth potential that is projected for the HVACR industry. The industry has been around a lot longer than our 25 years, actually a hundred plus, but over that time the foundation has been laid for a major breakthrough in growth. In future issues we’ll talk a lot more about that concept.

We recognize that much of the growth potential facing the market is to a large degree dependent on the ability of the HVACR contractor to move from engineering and technical expertise to that of a highly skilled, customer-driven manager of people and resources.

We also have to tell you that we are really big fans of Jim Collins, author of "Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap ... And Others Don’t." We love his concept that says you should be working to build not just a good company, but a great company.

Easy to say, tough to do. But that’s what the future is all about. Last month we introduced two long-time industry leaders to our editorial board, Ron Smith and Jackie Rainwater. They both have built great HVACR contracting companies and now spend a great deal of their time and energy helping other contractors achieve superior results. In coming months, we will be introducing other industry leaders who will join us in developing the new model for contractor success.

Be sure to check out these new concepts monthly in the pages of HVACR Business and check in regularly on our web site, www.hvacrbusiness.com, where additional resource information is available to help your company’s growth to greatness.

The new look and feel of our new publication will make each copy easier to read. Larger photographs will give you a better feel for the products displayed throughout the issue. New columnists and topics are focused on contractors’ success in the earnest hope that they all find the capacity to build great companies.

We’re looking forward to spending another 25 years with all of you in the pursuit of greatness. Please drop me a note and let me know what you think of the changes — or better yet give me a call.