I would like to open this month's column by thanking all of the readers who have sent me their kind words of appreciation for HVACR Business. According to you, our articles are helping you each month to solve the management challenges that you face.

Many subscribers who have joined us recently have inquired how to get back issues and past articles. The easiest way is to visit our Web site at www.hvacrbusiness.com. Then, simply click on any one of the colored tabs running across the top of the page. There is one for each of the following categories: Management, Finance, Leadership, Legal, Products, Sales & Marketing, Staffing & HR, and Training & Education. 

An easy way to find articles by your favorite authors is to click on the Monthly Columnist/Guest Columnist icon on the left side of the screen. Once you launch to the landing page, click the down arrow key to see all of the authors, then simply click on the author you are looking for.

An important note regarding your subscription: If you have not filled out a subscriber card in the last 12 months or simply can't remember when you did, it's time to renew your subscription. Please take a few minutes to fill out the card in its entirety. This is all we ask in return for 12 free issues of HVACR Business magazine. You can do this on the Web or by filling out one of the subscription cards found within the magazine — postage is free. 

From Our Readers

I just wanted to tell you your magazine is extremely good and interesting. So many articles that relate to managing and operating a successful business.

Paul Franks
President
Sports Construction Group LLC

I would like to compliment you and the staff of HVACR Business  on the format that you adopted last summer. As a business owner, I find the articles very helpful in running and evaluating my business. I had intended to send an e-mail to you months ago but, like too many, got busy and never did. I am prompted to write this e-mail today because I went back this morning to the first issue with the new format to an article by Ron Smith about "C" co-workers. I used the article to explain to an employee why some people progress in a company while others lose their jobs. Good articles are timeless!

Keep up the good work.

Tom Kime
President
Standard Heating & Air Conditioning Company Inc.

I receive many trade publications each month from various sources. The frustrating thing about receiving all these magazines is that I have to search through each one to find an article or two that is applicable to me. HVACR Business is the only magazine that I look forward to receiving each month mainly because almost every article is covering a topic that is relevant to me. Sure, I need to know the latest on product development. But if I am not on the cutting edge of managing my business, there will be no work to do, no employees to do it, and no product to buy!

Steve Schmidt
President
Frederick Air Inc.

I just read your column in HVACR Business on protecting business secrets. It had some great ideas for a company to react to. Is there a generic statement you could help me at least start with to put in our company handbook? 

I recently lost a lead service technician (11 years of employment) to a large hvac franchise company that is in our geographic area, so this article caught my attention.

Thanks ahead of time for any help.

Brad Tanner
President
Triple T Heating & Cooling

Just a word to let you know how much we enjoy the new magazine. The format is different, the size of the publication is easy to handle and easy to read.

I particularly enjoy Ron Smith and Jackie Rainwater's columns. Ron Smith really gives good useable info for a company like ours. We are growing, and the ideas he puts forth are some that we can apply right now. Good stuff!

Jackie Rainwater's experience in growing his business and the things he went through to get there are helpful also.

You know, Ron and Jackie have had their own businesses, multiple I think. I can relate to them since they have been there. It's nice to see the things Ruth King puts in your magazine. There is real value to folks like me who are struggling with day-to-day problems to have someone who has gone through the same thing and can help us through it all. Book-learned advice is nice, but do I really have time for such?

I like the profiles of the companies like E. Smith Heating and Air Conditioning. I know there are a lot of monster companies out there. But there are many more small to midsize companies who are doing well and growing.   

Keep up the good work, and we look forward to more info we can use.

Bruce Auld
President
Andrews Auld Heating & Cooling Inc.