Fred Smith Plumbing & Heating upgraded its overall IT system recently and went live with Jonas Construction Software on November 1, 2011.  Phil Kraus, President, shares, “I am very proud of our office team who participated every step of the way in our migration to the Jonas Software platform.”  The new system allows the Fred Smith office team to respond more quickly and accurately to the customers who may inquire about work performed in their buildings and to the mechanics in the field who may request support from the office. The fully integrated system places information at the fingertips of the office team.  Kraus goes on to say, “Each person assumed the responsibility for developing a proficiency in the aspect of the Jonas System that effects his/her daily work.  Fred Smith provided the leadership and the training, and each person worked very hard to master the skills required. “ The Fred Smith team was so prepared by the “go-live” date, Bernie Powers , Vice President of Operations at Jonas, presented the Fred Smith team with a plaque that says, “In recognition of the most operationally prepared new client having created over 10,000 practice work orders prior to go live.”   Kraus says, “With dedication and discipline, we accomplished our goal of providing a seamless experience for the customers, as we made this monumental move in our internal operations. There was absolutely no disruption in service to our customers. We now operate on a new platform that will allow us to continue to improve the customer’s experience with our services.”

Fred Smith Plumbing & Heating didn’t become NYC’s leading steam heating trouble-shooting expert by accident.  Years and years of hands-on, in-the-field experience of solving difficult problems in real-time for the residential and cooperative buildings is the primary source of Fred Smith’s knowledge.  This kind of knowledge is not acquired over night; it accumulates with experience and sits in reserve waiting for use during those cold winter months when a building’s heating system suddenly goes down and a fast, accurate solution is required.  Phil Kraus, President, also notes, however, that “it is important to make sure our team benefits from the perspectives and knowledge of others.” To that end, Fred Smith invited Dan Holohan of Dan Holohan Associates Inc. DBA HeatingHelp.com to give an all-technical, full day seminar for Fred Smith’s senior supervisors. Phil Kraus says, “Dan’s training seminar helps to keep our team technically current, to refresh our memories on the tried and true essentials of the trade, and to reiterate the whole-system approach to trouble-shooting steam heating systems. We’re definitely ready for whatever heating problem comes our way this winter”.   For additional information on Dan Holohan’s heating system consulting services, you can visit his website at www.HeatingHelp.com.

It is generally accepted that, if you have city water, you don’t need in-home water filtration.  But is it true?  In our  newly published video, Phil Kraus, President of Fred Smith Plumbing & Heating and CEO of Culligan of New York City (Fred Smith’s affiliate),  explains that NYC water makes its way down from upstate reservoirs, through NYC’s aging infrastructure, and into a roof tank (water tank) before it is delivered to your faucet by gravity.  Along the way, the water may pick up unwanted substances before it reaches your kitchen faucet.  Culligan of New York City recommends the Culligan Aqua-Cleer® Advanced Drinking Water System as the final barrier of water quality protection at your kitchen faucet.

Click for information on the Culligan Aqua-Cleer Advanced Drinking Water System

US Builders Review features Fred Smith Plumbing & Heating as an outstanding example of a company that “has found its own means of longevity.” As the troubled economic climate continues to plague many businesses in 2012, some companies such as “Fred Smith” hold their own and “provide shining examples of ingenuity and determination.” In this cover article, US Builders Review rightly notes that out of over 100,000 businesses based in Manhattan, less than 500 have been in business for 100 years. And, “Fred Smith” is about to join this elite list. Phil Kraus, President, outlines the values, niche strategy, and competencies that have sustained “Fred Smith” all these years. You can read this article here: Fred Smith Plumbing & Heating Company – Solutions You Can Depend On for Nearly 100 Years, and log into the Winter 2012 Edition I and read about others as well at http://www.usbuildersreview.com