Located in Houston,  the heart of the global energy sector, is the PVF Roundtable, a nonprofit networking organization that unites companies from coast to coast in the pipe, valves and fittings industry. These essential players power the oil, gas, utilities and chemical sectors with innovative solutions and dedicated service.

What started as a small group of professionals nearly three decades ago has grown into a powerhouse of more than 280 member companies. The group hosts quarterly scheduled meetings to network and discuss industry trends. In addition, the PVF Roundtable recently started a table-top booth event to bring together people, products and partnerships. 

The main goal and mission of the PVF Roundtable is to bring likeminded individuals in the PVF industry together to collaborate. In addition, the group raises funds for the skilled trades; to date, it has raised more than $2 million, donated directly to the two universities and six trade schools in the Southeast. Raising funds and awareness for the skilled trades while networking with one’s PVF partners — it’s a win-win for all.

We sat down with members of its board of directors — Board President Sara Alford, president of Newmans Valve; Board Member Emeritus Max Casada; Board Vice President Joe Costanzo of the Weldbend Corp.; Jamie Meade, director of sales and marketing at Hawk Valve; and Joe Pro, president of Pennsylvania Machine Works — to hear how the group continues to enhance and reshape the landscape of opportunity for industry rookies and seasoned professionals. 

The Wholesaler: What are the biggest challenges currently facing the PVF industry, and how is the PVF Roundtable working to address these issues? 

Joe Pro: One of the biggest challenges the PVF Industry is facing is the recruiting and retention of talent at all levels of our operations. Collectively the distributors, manufacturers and end-users employ thousands of highly skilled workers. Our industry is facing an unprecedented loss of employees and talent as the baby boomer generation continues its mass exodus into retirement.

Multiple crises over the years such as recessions, the financial crises of 2008 and 2015, and the COVID-19 pandemic caused many companies to limit hiring for long periods of time. This created large gaps of experience in our companies. In addition, because there are so many individual companies making up the PVF industry, it is harder to cast an image of how great the available job opportunities are.

The PVF Roundtable highlights the member companies through quarterly network functions that attract hundreds of industry participants. 

The Wholesaler: The PVF Roundtable is known for its commitment to funding educational and training programs. What are the group’s major fundraising events, and how much money has the group raised to date? 

Jaime Meade: The PVF Roundtable is a renowned organization dedicated to funding scholarships for industry individuals. To support these crucial initiatives, the PVF Roundtable hosts a variety of engaging fundraising events throughout the year. 

The PVF Roundtable annual golf tournament is an exciting event bringing together industry professionals for a day of friendly competition on the greens, all while raising money for education. We also host an annual online charity auction, where attendees can bid on unique items donated by industry partners while supporting a great cause. 

However, the fun doesn’t stop there — the TroutBlast in Matagorda is another must-attend event on the PVF Roundtable calendar. This thrilling tournament is one of the largest on the coast, bringing together enthusiasts for a day of fishing, camaraderie and fundraising. 

Thanks to the generosity and support of its members and sponsors, the PVF Roundtable has raised and donated more than $2 million to scholarships. This commitment to making a positive impact through education and training is evident in the success of these fundraising events. By supporting the PVF Roundtable, you’re not only hitting the links or reeling in a big catch — you’re investing in the future of the PVF industry and helping individuals further their professional development. 

The Wholesaler: Can you discuss the impact of these investments on the PVF field and how they contribute to the industry’s growth and sustainability? 

Joe Constanzo: Over the last 10 years, the PVF Roundtable has contributed that money to eight colleges and trade schools along the Gulf Coast. This impacted not only hundreds of young people receiving these funds but also the companies able to hire these newly trained associates.

Everywhere I travel, companies are crying for good and trained associates, particularly in the trades we are supporting. Projects are being postponed and delayed due to a lack of skilled workers, driving up costs for everyone.

Our efforts in helping bring new and trained associates into our industry will greatly help ensure that the pipe, valves and fittings industry can continue to grow and prosper to support all our key end-users.

The Wholesaler: Looking toward the future, what new initiatives or areas of focus is the PVF Roundtable considering to further support and advance the PVF community? Are there specific trends or opportunities you believe are crucial for the industry’s evolution? 

Max Casada: The PVF Roundtable’s mission has been to provide for relationships between manufacturers, distributors, engineers and facility owners in the PVF interface to enhance the industry while providing scholarship funds for those entering this area. In that light, we recognized the need in the industry for an improved method of passing along knowledge and began a previously announced initiative to develop an online education portal. 

This portal for PVF Roundtable members is where their employees can access validated and relevant training on all things PVF. This training will provide fundamentals on PVF items, materials, use, manufacturing processes, etc. The content will be reviewed and validated by the Online Education Committee, made up of seasoned PVF practitioners. The current team has more than 150 years of industry experience among its members.

While there are known trends and activities in the industrial arenas that use PVF, the fundamentals remain the same whether it is battery manufacture, ongoing water production/purification/transport, chemical manufacturing, power, oil, etc. The mission of PVF will remain the same:  to provide safe and effective containment, transport and control of fluids whether gas, liquids, vapor or slurry. 

The Wholesaler: If one is not a member of the PVF RT, what is your elevator pitch to enlighten them to join? 

Sara Alford: Why should you become part of the PVF Roundtable, you may wonder? Well, let us paint you a picture: imagine a vibrant community of industry experts, all coming together to share knowledge, spark important conversations and stay ahead of the curve in the ever-evolving pipe, valves and fittings industry. 

Our members are dedicated to fostering an environment where valuable information is exchanged, where we shed light on current industry issues impacting us all. And that’s not all: we’re also passionate about investing in the future of the industry by supporting educational institutions and training programs to nurture the next generation of PVF professionals. 

So why join us? Because at the PVF Roundtable, we’re not only shaping the present, we’re shaping the future.