Leadership, teamwork and training are crucial to a business’s success, said motivational speaker and Bronze Star for Valor recipient Keni Thomas, speaking to members of the Union-Affiliated Contractors at the group’s Feb. 3-5 meeting in Palm Harbor, Fla. 

Thomas’s message of “Train as You Fight — Fight as You Train” emphasizes continued improvement and training as vital steps to success in battle and in life. The highly successful book and movie “Blackhawk Down” is based on his Army company’s mission in Mogadishu, Somalia.

The Unity Meeting also featured two business management seminars presented by Brad Dawson, LTV Dynamics Inc.: one on how to identify unseen business opportunities and another on how to implement “Warrior Management” business tips. A session on solar thermal technology led by Adam Stier with Jomar Group also was featured. 

Mike Arndt, United Association’s director of training, was recognized as the UAC’s “Industry Person of the Year” for his dedication to the industry and his leadership in the United Association Training Department.           

A tour of the Tampa Bay Water Desalinization plant concluded the meeting. The tour demonstrated how this facility uses seawater to provide a sustainable, environmentally friendly, drought-proof supply of drinking water for its customers. 

The UAC is an enhanced service group of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors—National Association, focusing on continued development of strong working relationships with local and international leaders of the United Association. The 2011 UAC Unity Conference is tentatively planned for May in Orland Park, Ill., near Chicago. For more information, call 888/997-0535, go to the Web at www.phccweb.org or e-mail jones@naphcc.org.