Videos Webinar

In this webinar, Tod Ebetino, Director of Vacall Products at Gradall Industries, discusses the importance of sewer cleaning equipment operator training with workforce turnover to optimize machine performance and deliver immediate returns with a new, younger workforce.Presenter: Tod EbetinoTod Ebetino has been in the sewer and water industry for over 30 years. Tod started his career working for a water and sewer contractor before becoming the Midwest Account Manager for Vacall products at Gradall Industries. Today he is the Director of Vacall Products. Over his career, Tod has been involved with various trade organizations including training presentation to municipalities and contractors, and utilizes a commonsense approach with real life applications.

Collections system workers are injured or killed almost every year using pneumatic plugs. This entertaining, yet informative video highlights the dangers associated with the use of pneumatic plugs. This video is not intended to be an absolute instructional video. It is only designed to make the viewer aware that if a pneumatic plug is not used correctly, it could result in injury or death.M.A. "Rusty" Nezat II, sewer cleaning specialist, has been involved in the sewer cleaning industry for 30-plus years. He is the director of Nezat Training and Consulting and is in charge of operations for Jigawon. Nezat has completed extensive evaluation and testing of sewer cleaning nozzles and methodology associated with cleaning procedures. He has assisted cities with the development and implementation of mandated consent decree training programs. He holds four U.S. patents for large-diameter sewer cleaning systems; has developed numerous video training programs; and provides evaluations, classroom training and field training to organizations throughout the U.S. In the process, he has trained hundreds of sewer cleaning operators with the goal of reducing equipment downtime, increasing daily production rates and improving safety awareness. Nezat lives near Houston with his wife and three children.For more information, visit www.nezat.com or www.jigawon.net.

We will discuss in layman's terms how businesses making small, but impactful moves now end up making big moves upward in the near future ... often for reasons you cannot foresee today. Josh Yudin is founder and CEO of The Academy of Marketing, an institute devoted to studying the fundamentals of consumer behavior and marketing, as well as teaching media companies, marketers and businesses how those fundamentals can grow their brands and businesses. Both a teacher and student of the fundamentals of advertising, Yudin has a keen understanding of those fundamentals and counsels executives at some of the largest media companies in the world, including Comcast/NBC Universal, NPR and Spectrum Reach, and works directly with local companies across the U.S. to develop and grow their businesses.Through the academic Alumni Scholarship, Yudin earned his marketing degree from the University of Georgia in 1995. He then joined the family manufacturing business as vice president of international development. That business was eventually sold, and Yudin began his career in media and sales management — culminating in the founding of The Academy of Marketing as a marketing agency — eventually earning Fortune 500 clients such as Bosch GmbH, as well as regional and local brands in need of sales and marketing development. The Academy of Marketing focuses on three primary business verticals, honing its expertise through years of experience in how consumers behave in these areas specifically: media, health care and home services.

SewerAI has developed a tool, using artificial intelligence, to automatically label defects and features in sewer pipe inspection videos, which enhances the accuracy and accelerates the production of condition reports on wastewater and stormwater assets while also reducing overall inspection costs. This presentation will focus on recent examples of how public agencies, engineering consultants and inspection services contractors are using AI and machine learning to assist with the condition assessment of large amounts of pipeline video.Eric Sullivan is an underground construction professional who specializes in infrastructure condition assessment and trenchless technology solutions. Working with sewer utilities, consulting engineers and contractors, Sullivan has fulfilled a variety of accountabilities in his 13-plus years in the industry as a business development manager, national operations manager, professional certification trainer, CCTV operator, inspection system and vacuum truck technical sales representative, and sewer services project manager. Sullivan has been a Pipeline Assessment and Certification Program trainer through the National Association of Sewer Service Companies since early 2012, teaching courses throughout the U.S. and Canada. Sullivan is based in Seattle.

By using digital side-scanning technology for pipe inspection, you can increase both production and quality simultaneously while reducing overall operating costs. We will discuss why a better inspection method is needed, what four key problems most customers face and how digital side-scanning can solve those four key problems. We will also review some case study data from current users. The goal of this session is to provide an understanding of what the technology is and how it can benefit your team to create a more efficient and effective pipeline inspection operation. Chris Parker, a product manager and regional sales manager for CUES, works with clients to develop highly efficient and effective pipeline inspection programs to maximize their return on investment while embracing new emerging technologies. As a leading expert on digital side-scanning technology, Parker has authored numerous articles and white papers on the benefits of this technology. Parker has 20-plus years’ industry experience and has traveled to more than 25 countries to train and educate people on the features and benefits of this new emerging technology.

Let’s talk about trademarks, copyrights, patents and related litigation with respect to how these topics relate to wastewater service providers, dealers and distributors. Specifically, we will discuss why trademarks, trade dress, brands, branding, and product and store names are important considerations for these individuals and companies. Learn the steps individuals and companies should take if they are the subject of trademark infringement or accused of infringing another’s trademark. We will also discuss utility and design patents, what protection patents provide to the patent owner, what to do if a person or company is accused of patent infringement, and the law of copyright as it concerns websites and related media. Gary Lambert is the founder of and managing partner at Lambert Shortell & Connaughton. He has obtained hundreds of patents and registered trademarks for his clients in areas as diverse as mechanical, electrical, software, business methods, biotechnology, computer systems, musical instruments, energy and environmental innovations. Lambert has a special interest and expertise in the energy and environmental areas of patent law and worked on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee of the New Hampshire Senate as the state senator representing Nashua from 2010-12. Lambert has resolved many intellectual property disputes between patent/trademark/copyright owners and alleged infringers, either by litigation, mediation, arbitration or settlement. Additionally, he has an extensive and unique litigation background, having successfully tried hundreds of jury and bench trials in state and federal courts. Lambert holds bachelor’s degrees in chemistry and biology and was admitted as an attorney at age 24 in 1984, the same year he graduated from law school with a doctorate in jurisprudence with honors. He is admitted as a registered attorney at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in Washington, D.C. Lambert also served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve for more than 35 years and retired in 2014.

Listen in for an in-depth review of a new selling paradigm, how it works, how-tos and tips on how to make the shift, as well as DIY tasks and tools for creating content to position your firm as a thought leader and the answer provider. Learn how to use social media effectively, when and how to implement email campaigns to convert, must-haves for your website, the virtual selling habits of successful online marketers and more. Suzan Chin-Taylor is CEO of Creative Raven and founder of The TUIT Group. Chin-Taylor has more than 25 years’ experience in creating cost-effective, innovative marketing communications solutions to help clients better understand their market, strategically position their organizations, build brand awareness, generate opportunities and develop business alliances. Chin-Taylor is an Everything DiSC Authorized Partner, delivering bestselling Everything DiSC tools that unlock the potential of an organization's people, improve working relationships and communication, strengthen management skills, elevate leadership, tackle conflict, and create lasting productive and empowering workplace cultures. Current and past clients include manufacturing firms serving the water, wastewater and municipal infrastructure industry, as well as plumbing, septic, portable restroom, trenchless technology and sewer service contractors. Her firms attract a wide range of clients — from fast-track firms that engage her team as an outsourced marketing department to midsize firms that need to improve management skills to international firms that need help with a specific project. Chin-Taylor holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing and master’s degree in marketing and international business. She is a frequent keynote speaker on branding, company positioning, digital marketing and publicity strategy.

Need a strategy to keep your techs busy in uncertain times? With the current economy and the level of competition in your industry, you have no choice but to stand out. The best way to attract and retain customers is with irresistible service. These 20 practical steps will strengthen your local reputation and the customer experience. We’ll cover a wide range of internal and customer-facing improvements you can start using today. Whether your ideal customer is residential families, contractors or franchisees, these actions will lead to lasting relationships and ongoing referrals. Desiree Grosman is a customer experience specialist for the skilled trades. With a focus on content marketing and copywriting, she helps businesses attract customers and create loyalty. From crafting handbooks, training outlines and meeting materials to writing advertisements, emails and website content, she transforms customer care from the inside out. As an unbiased consultant and idea-generator, Grosman can spot holes in your marketing and training strategy and provide expert advice on how to improve. Visit www.capitalcopywriter.com to breathe life into your customer experience.

Explore how switching from time and materials to flat rate affects your bottom line. We will talk about operations changes and leadership concepts critical to a successful transition, as well as the secret to getting your employees excited about flat rate. Anja Smith has owned and operated a service company, All Clear Plumbing, in Greenville, South Carolina, with her parents since 2012. She is also a writer, speaker, coach and consultant under the brand Tradebiz Toolbox. Smith is a regular contributor to Plumber, Cleaner and Pumper magazines and has presented at multiple conferences and trade shows, including the Water & Wastewater Equipment, Treatment & Transport (WWETT) Show.

Don't be paralyzed by COVID-19; instead, be motivated. Use the time assets you have now to create a more stable future. Start perfecting your standard operating procedures. We will discuss in detail five standard procedures plumbers, drain cleaners and relining professionals should have in their SOP toolboxes. Attendees will learn current best practices that will help them now and into the future as COVID-19 becomes just a bad memory. At the end of the presentation, we will be sure to take time for questions. I'm passionate about this topic, and I'm grateful to share it with Cleaner's readers. As the founding senior vice president of Zip Solutions, Russ Duker realized that plumbing and other service companies needed a way to empower technicians to grow sales without being smooth salesmen. The answer was field service management software, Zip Solutions. With a quickly evolving economy, Duker is passionate about helping business owners and managers grow their revenues and discover greater peace of mind, and he often worries that plumbing companies that don't adopt modern solutions will cease to function. Duker knows firsthand that businesses with inefficient processes tend to own their owners. With four decades of experience in the field service industry, including three decades as an owner and manager of multiple companies, Duker is determined to help plumbing, HVAC, electrical and other service businesses thrive today and into the future.

The COVID-19 pandemic has raised many questions about the short- and long-term impact of the virus on businesses. We will explore how the coronavirus will cause your current insurance policies to react to various issues, including current and future loss of business income, workers’ compensation, liability and insurance pricing. Learn actions you can take now to protect your business from getting sued and to communicate effectively with your employees, keeping them happy and working. Tap into the creativity of the larger business community by hearing what others have done to generate new business opportunities and implement precautions and protections. Mark Herring has been a commercial insurance broker for 34 years. He has had a national program for 28 years that specializes in providing insurance coverage to septage businesses. He currently insures more than 200 liquid waste removal/haulers. He has many clients that he has provided insurance to for more than 27 years. When it comes to understanding the industry of liquid waste, Herring has been the go-to guy for 25 years. Keeping a program of any type this long is almost unheard of. He has spent the last 22 years at Heffernan Insurance Brokers, which is one of the largest insurance brokers in the U.S., where he is a senior vice president. Heffernan Insurance Brokers specializes in program business and has done so for more than 30 years. Herring’s office is in Bend, Oregon. He has lived in Oregon for 54 years.

Are you wasting your marketing and advertising budget on campaigns that don’t generate leads? Learn how you can better measure the effectiveness of your print, radio or digital advertising campaigns. You’ll also see what digital campaigns perform best within the plumbing industry. Plus, we’ll show you how to structure all your marketing so you can easily measure the return on investment. Aimée Deraco, chief operating officer, and Brandon Schmidt, director of digital strategy, are part of the team at YDOP, an award-winning digital marketing company that helps home service companies get more leads online.

In response to the COVID-19 stay-at-home orders, many building plumbing systems are not being used. As they remain unused, water quality can deteriorate. To address this concern, the federal government, state governments, and individual companies or consultants have issued guidance to avoid or remediate health risks resulting from water-quality deterioration. These recommendations span "routine" and "recommissioning" practices and involve a wide variety of scope, length, detail and specific recommendations. This is problematic because some of the guidance contradicts others and not all recommendations are based in scientific data. This presentation will summarize water-quality concerns that may develop due to water stagnation, highlight common aspects of preventive and remedial actions, and provide an evaluation tool to assess the scope and quality of existing guidance documents. Dr. William Rhoads is a research scientist at Virginia Tech. His research explores applied environmental microbiology and chemistry in building drinking water systems, and it is an internationally recognized leader in opportunistic pathogen research. Rhoads earned his Ph.D. in civil and environmental engineering at Virginia Tech, where he was supported by the Charles E. Via Doctoral Fellowship, the American Water Works Association Larson Aquatic Research Support doctoral scholarship and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation’s Microbiology of the Built Environment Program. His research has been recognized with honors, including the 2017 Outstanding Doctoral Student Award in the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech and the international 2017 CH2M/AEESP Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award.

Contractor businesses succeed and fail by how well they manage just three key areas: people, process and profit. In a successful company, each area supports the others, causing an upward growth spiral that can exceed your wildest expectations. On the other hand, when even one of these areas is weak, it can jeopardize everything you’re working for. Join us to discover how a few easy hacks can set you up for huge wins while avoiding common traps and triggers that destroy growth and make running your company harder than it has to be. Presenters Carter Harkins and Taylor Hill are the co-founders of Spark Marketer, a Nashville, Tennessee-based digital marketing company that works primarily with service businesses. They are also co-creators of the award-winning app Closing Commander, which helps contractors close more estimates effortlessly, and are co-authors of the book, Blue Collar Proud: 10 Principles for Building a Kickass Business You Love. Both regularly speak at service industry trade shows and conferences across the nation.

The ever-changing reality of COVID-19 has had a significant impact on plumbers and home service contractors. How do you stay in business when things are not business as usual? Learn how you can keep your crews busy, revenue coming in and serving your community in the midst of these uncertain times. Also hear how creative companies view this time as an opportunity to modify services and attract new business. Aimée Deraco, chief operating officer, and Brandon Schmidt, director of digital strategy, are part of the team at YDOP, an award-winning digital marketing company that helps home service companies get more leads online.

Hydro Products' TJ Suiter will present valuable information on topics such as mission and history of the vanguard pathogen defense system, life on the front line as a wastewater maintenance worker, current and emerging threats in wastewater, new safety equipment for today’s challenges, peace of mind for wastewater workers, pathogen reduction test results and sanitizing solutions. Also speaking will be Dan Story, general sales manager for KEG Technologies, and Kenneth R. Billingham, international product specialist with KEG GMBH.