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o matter where we travel, we always here the same lament about the labor shortage. Chad Peterman, president of Peterman Brothers, a diversified home services business based in Greenwood, Indiana, is having none of it. "The one thing I always tell people who say they can't find techs is that they're never going to find them fishing in the same pond as everybody else. Everyone who owns a plumbing and heating business has to actively pull people into the industry. It's just not enough anymore to cross our fingers and wish that the next generation will somehow discover that the trades is a great career. Or that an experienced tech's resume will magically find its way into your mailbox. We've got to show them the way. And part of that is also looking in the mirror and saying, are we the place that someone would want to work?" Chad along with brother, Tyler Peterman, vice president of installation services, is the next generation to run the business their father, "Pete" Peterman started up in 1986. The company runs out an impressive 23,000-square-foot headquarters that was built just a couple of years ago. The company has been growing so much that it's already running out of room. Last October, the company broke ground on an expansive new addition. The company currently employs just under 300 people, including about 120 HVAC and 80 plumbing techs operating out of additional locations in Indianapolis, Lafayette, Columbus, Muncie and Bloomington. To keep up with growth, Peterman Brothers purposefully pulls new people into the trades with its newly opened Peterman Top Tech Academy and also employs three full-time employees who actively recruit experienced techs to join the ranks. Along the way, the company provides training for newbies and seasoned pros alike to help keep the company on the right path. "We really pride ourselves on being the best place to work," Chad adds. "And we've got to hold up our end of the bargain if we want to truly attract people to our company." Let's take a look at a few ways Peterman Brothers is doing just that.
Top Tech Academy
One big reason that got us to
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phc January 2022 www.phcppros.com
Chad and Tyler Peterman build on their dad's business with more than just a new look.
NextGen Prepares NextGen for the Trades
BY STEVE SMITH
Chad and Tyler Peterman.
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