NCPMA Hosts Launch Celebration and Business Session

February 8th, 2012 1:46 PM
NCPMA Hosts Launch Celebration
and Business Session

The North Carolina Plumbing and Mechanical Association took time to celebrate its recent formation at a Launch Celebration and Business Session on Saturday, January 14th. The celebration, held at Childress Vineyards in Lexington, North Carolina, was the organization’s first opportunity to bring together its members since the association was signed into existence earlier in the month. NCPMA was created from the merger of two long-standing trade associations in the state, Mechanical Contractors of North Carolina (MC of NC) and Plumbing, Heating, Cooling Contractors of North Carolina (PHCC-NC). Association members and guests were welcomed with a cocktail event sponsored by Federated Insurance, followed by a three-course dinner, all paired with Childress Vineyards wines. Richard Childress, owner of Childress Vineyards and Richard Childress Racing, was the guest of honor and opened the evening with welcome comments and encouragement, telling the contractors present, “ Go out and do what you do best, and grow your businesses so you can create more jobs”. Following dinner, members conducted a general business session to ratify the association’s new Bylaws, and to elect a Board of Directors and officers. Joel Long of GSM Services in Gastonia was elected President of the new association.

David Hinson of Hinson Mechanical was elected as Vice-President and Jamie Robinson of Brothers Heating and Air was elected as Treasurer. All will serve a one-year term. In addition, Charlie Oxford of Hickory Plumbing and Heating was appointed as Secretary and John Hicks of Griffin Heating and Air Conditioning was appointed as Assistant Secretary/Treasurer. After the elections, board members and officers were installed by Dale Dawson, the Executive Director of the North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors. “The past year of planning and preparing for the merger is behind us and it is time to look to the future as one organization,” said Joel Long, NCPMA President. “We are physically one entity, and now we must become one mentally! Our goal is to accomplish this in 2012 and become a more significant partner with all contractors in the state of North Carolina.” Members and guests were also treated to winery tours and a Casino Night, all sponsored in part by Sure Seal Manufacturing, Murray Supply Company, and Protégé Mechanical Labor Solutions.

Net benefits from the Casino Night went to the NCPMA Educational Fund, which provides scholarships for individuals entering the cooling, heating and plumbing industries. NCPMA is a leading resource provider for education, expertise and business enhancement services for the cooling, heating, and plumbing contractors in North Carolina and serves as the voice of these industries on a local, state and national level. The association encourages and facilitates the education, expertise, and professionalism of contractor and associate members and the industry at large for their benefit, and for the safety and well-being of the industry and the general public.