More than 40 members attended the Unified Group's first meeting of 2025, the Service Management Forum. Group members came ready to share, learn and progress together. The event fostered many meaningful discussions, setting a strong foundation for the year ahead.

"This was my first time at this forum, and I have learned so much," said Stacey Tejeda of Environmental Systems, Inc. "As an introvert, it's comforting to work within small teams and switch up throughout the day. It's interesting to see that we have similar struggles between different companies regardless of how big or small, and very comforting to see others willing to help."

Leadership and Mental Toughness Coach Matt Phillips started day one with an interactive program divided into three training sessions: "Intro to Mental Toughness," "Build Your Stand" and "Unleash Your Routines." In the sessions, Phillips shared strategies for navigating challenges with confidence and resilience.

In the first session, tables discussed how they defined "mentally tough," and spoke on which people or groups they felt fit that description and why. This provided fascinating insights into what "mentally tough" means to different people. After this, attendees wrote "stands " of their brainstorming behaviors and the principles and values driving their day-to-day decision-making. Phillips then instructed attendees to form groups that agreed to keep in touch after the forum to hold each other accountable for working toward achieving personal goals.  

Members spent the second half of the day discussing KPIs and goal setting, followed by a panel discussion, "Creating a High-Performance Culture."

"Matt's workshop was exhilarating! Being on a mental and physical self-improvement journey for the past two years, I especially enjoyed the 'Ethos, Build Your Stand' section of the mental toughness program," said Chris Stokes of Air Controls. "This exercise helped us define who we are, allowing us to show up as our best selves for others. It provided a meaningful roadmap and a sense of purpose, making every day more intentional and fulfilled."

Unified Group members led the last day of the Service Management Forum. Angela Bedard of Environmental Systems, Inc.; Jeff Forbes of Standard Plumbing & Heating; and Frank Quintanar of J&J Air Conditioning all gave presentations on Technician Authority.

Another last-day highlight was JD Triplett of Cox-Powell Corporation sharing the implementation of his company’s “best idea:" the CARE (Customer Assurance Review Evaluation) Service Preventative Maintenance Plan, which Cox-Powell uses to ensure customers are well taken care of.

"As someone new to the HVAC industry, I've already gained a wealth of knowledge that will help me grow in this field," said Maya Taylor of Service Unlimited. "The discussions, networking and overall energy of this group have been fantastic."

Upcoming Unified Group forums include BIM/Prefab, Small/Special Projects and Human Resources. To learn more about attending a meeting or becoming a member of The Unified Group, contact Janet Kelleher at KelleherJ@TheUnifiedGroup.com.