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PHCC Arkansas Lunch & Learn Event
We had a fantastic time at our recent Lunch & Learn event in Little Rock, generously sponsored by Southern Pipe & Supply! It was a pleasure to enjoy great food, meaningful conversations, and valuable connections with fellow members.
A special thank you to Southern Pipe for hosting us in their brand-new training facility, conveniently located next to their new Little Rock location on Shackleford Road. We appreciate their hospitality and support.
We're already looking forward to our next event—hope to see you there!
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Sign Up For PHCC AR'S
Academy Today!
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PHCC Arkansas is pleased to offer PHCC Educational Foundation Academy courses!
Employee success and retention are key—PHCC Educational Foundation offers a suite of online training products that provide a scalable, cost-effective workforce education pipeline for technicians.
Built for contractors by contractors.
These courses are listed on our website under "Academy".
- Courses are available for both Plumbing and HVACR
- Open Enrollment - enroll at any time no waiting period | Self-Paced - work at your pace and schedule nights or weekends | Convenience - work from home or office.
- ***NOW Available- EPA 608 Certification and Low Refrigerant (A2L) Safety. Sign up for them here!
- ***PHCC Members can register for Academy courses at a discounted rate.
- To learn more about these offerings please visit our website or email [email protected]
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Sign up for PHCC AR Academy Courses today! |
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It's time to enroll for next semester!
It is now time to enroll if your apprentices wish to begin classes in August. Submit the apprenticeship application through our website.
Access Forms & Applications
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Have You Heard?
PHCC AR is offering new workforce readiness programs to help you build a skilled and qualified team! Whether a new employee, or an employee seeking to further their expertise in plumbing or HVAC, we have partnered with PHCC Academy to offer eLearning solutions that work for you. Click on the buttons below to learn more about the available programs!
Workforce Solutions
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PHCC AR Members- Federated Insurance at the Lunch and Learn Event
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Stay Informed!
The Arkansas plumbing inspectors are starting to check for 4th year apprentice cards.
According to Arkansas Code 17-38-409 (b)(5)(C), the local committee / program sponsor is required to provide this to their 4th year apprentices.
A person can only have a 4th year card 1 time. It is to expire a year from the date it was provided. A person can only receive this card when they have hit 6,000 OJT and have completed 480 RTI hours.
If you have a 4th year apprentice enrolled in our PHCC Academy Apprenticeship Program, we have provided these cards to you. However, if you are enrolled in a separate program or with a local committee, we advise you to reach out to them regarding a card if you have not yet received one.
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PHCC Legislative Conference 2025
in Washington D.C.
This year's Legislative Conference was a resounding success—just ask PHCC AR President Brent McDiarmid and Vice President Chris West, who were on the ground representing our industry! They took full advantage of the opportunity to engage with federal lawmakers, highlighting the critical issues that are at the forefront of our economy and community:
- Reducing Tax Burdens: We pressed policymakers to ease tax pressures on small businesses, helping investment, create jobs, and foster sustainable economic growth.
- Strengthening Workforce Development: We championed expanded training programs and apprenticeship incentives to ensure a steady pipeline of skilled plumbing-HVAC professionals.
- Advancing Natual Gas Adoption: We outlined how modernizing the natural gas infrastructure can deliver cleaner, more efficient energy solutions for families and businesses alike.
Thanks to these high-level conversations, we're building momentum on the Hill and at the Statehouse—and making sure our voice is heard every step of the way. Stay tuned for updates as these initiatives move forward!
Pictured is Chris West (PHCC AR Vice President), Brent McDiarmid (PHCC AR President), and Patrick Cunningham (PHCC Member- Federated Insurance)
Brent and Chris with United States Senator, Tom Cotton.
United States Senator, John Boozman
United States Representative for 1st District of Arkansas, Rick Crawford.
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PHCC Super Foremen Workshop
Empowers Leaders of Tomorrow
Twenty-seven participants gathered in Broomfield, Colorado, for an intensive PHCC Super Foremen Workshop focused on mastering the essential pillars of leadership: planning, communication, and data-driven management.
A highlight of the event was a forward-thinking exploration of how foremen can leverage artificial intelligence in the field. The group collaborated to develop a step-by-step roadmap for transforming a brand-new hire into a high-performing foreman.
Over the course of the session, attendees crafted an eight-year career development plan, outlining the technical and soft skills a new hire should acquire each month—spanning their apprenticeship, journeyman, and crew lead phases. In live demonstrations with ChatGPT, the group created customized evaluation tools to track skill progression, then used the AI to translate the entire plan into Spanish.
To cap off the session, attendees engaged in an open Q&A with the AI, asking it to respond to questions an 18-year-old might have about career growth. The responses were clear, practical, and insightful—providing a useful tool for mentorship and recruitment.
The final product was a ready-to-use, scalable development plan for training the next generation of foremen—freeing up today’s leaders to move into higher-level management roles.
PHCC Arkansas contractor member Glenn Mechanical had 4 foremen attend the workshop to improve their skills and benefit them as they build their career within the industry.
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Rheem Announces Temporary Increase in R-454B Unit Pre-Charge Levels
Rheem Manufacturing Company (“Rheem”) will temporarily increase the factory pre-charge of R-454B refrigerant in all 13.4 and 14.3 SEER2 air conditioners and 14.3 SEER2 heat pumps across all brands. Importantly, there will be no price increase for units with the increased refrigerant charge.
As a temporary measure in response to the current shortage of R-454B cylinders in the marketplace, we are increasing the factory charge to minimize the need for our customers to acquire additional refrigerant for installation.
With the increased factory charge, the system now supports matches with a 30-foot line set and a 3/8-inch liquid line, up from the previous 15-foot standard.
To minimize disruption:
- No price increase for units with the increased refrigerant charge.
- No change in ordering requirements or to existing orders.
- No exchanges of existing equipment will be accepted.
- No changes to model numbers.
- Initial shipments to distribution may include units with and without the increased charge.
- Units with the added refrigerant will be marked with a green sticker.
A first production date and detailed product matrix with impacted SKUs will be provided to you in the coming days.
Rheem is committed to supporting you through this industry transition and ensuring our products continue to meet the highest standards of safety, performance, and compliance.
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Southern Pipe & Supply!
We’re thrilled to shine the spotlight on Southern Pipe & Supply, an outstanding associate member of PHCC Arkansas! With 14 locations across the state and over 130 nationwide, Southern Pipe & Supply is a true powerhouse in the HVAC, plumbing, and industrial supply industries.
Founded in 1938, this family-owned company has grown to serve customers across Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia, Arkansas, Florida, and Tennessee. They proudly distribute top-tier products from the world’s most respected vendors, including Kohler, Delta, Elkay, Pfister, Rheem, Watts, Zurn, Lennox, and Ridgid.
Their support and presence here in Arkansas make a tremendous impact, and we honestly don’t know what we’d do without them. We’re grateful to have Southern Pipe & Supply as a valued partner within the PHCC Arkansas community!
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