Advancing The Skilled Trades
Date Posted: July 2, 2024
Posted In: Discussion, Workforce,
From PHCP Pros: 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.