Otter, a member of Local Union 441, was one of only four craftsmen from Kansas selected to attend the contest. He earned the selection after performing well at a local competition in Topeka, Kan. on May 8.

The regional contest, which is open to 11 member states, included 34 elite competitors from five disciplines – welding, plumbing, pipefitting, sprinkler installation and HVAC. Activities consisted of a written test, troubleshooting, rigging, bending, cutting, leveling, welding and brazing. Otter finished in fifth place.

With this achievement, P1 Group will be able establish long-term governmentwide contracts. 

GSA Schedules provide customers with fast, flexible, cost-effective procurement solutions.

The competition consisted of a written test, sketching projects, a shop project and a blueprint reading test.

“The competition is challenging because those who make it in are the United States’ and Canada’s top apprentices,” said James Shoulders, executive administrator for ITI. “These men and women are dedicated to perfecting their craft.”

With the victory, Burton topped his sixth place finish just a year ago when the event was held in St. Paul, Minn.

More than 15,000 apprentices are registered at training facilities across the United States and Canada.

“P1 Group is proud to earn the EPA’s ENERGY STAR,” said Mike Belcher, President of P1 Group. “With these improvements, we have made our building more environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy to work in.”

Commercial buildings that earn the ENERGY STAR use an average of 35 percent less energy than typical buildings and also release 35 percent less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. 

“Improving the energy efficiency of our nation’s buildings is critical to protecting our environment, “ said Jean Lupinacci, Chief of the ENERGY STAR Commercial & Industrial Branch. “From the boiler room to the board room, organizations are leading the way by making their buildings more efficient and earning EPA’s ENERGY STAR.”

To earn the ENERGY STAR, P1 Group took the following actions:

• Cleaning crew schedule changed from 6:30-11:30 to 6:30-8:00 reducing lighting operation by 3-1/2 hours
• Implemented a lighting strategy that turned the building’s interior lights on later before work and off quicker after work
• Printer/copy machines were programmed for automatic shutdown
• Broken weather-stripping around exterior door replaced to minimize leakage
• Reprogrammed the temperature control system for tighter temperature control parameters on all thermostats
• Building Management System implemented to control night setback automation and air temperature reset based on outside temperatures  

EPA’s ENERGY STAR energy performance scale helps organizations assess how efficiently their buildings use energy relative to similar buildings nationwide. A building that scores a 75 or higher on EPA’s 1-100 scale is eligible for the ENERGY STAR. Commercial buildings that can earn the ENERGY STAR include offices, bank branches, financial centers, retail stores, courthouses, hospitals, hotels, K-12 schools, medical offices, supermarkets, dormitories, houses of worship, and warehouses.

ENERGY STAR was introduced by EPA in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. Today, the ENERGY STAR label can be found on more than 60 different kinds of products, new homes, and commercial and industrial buildings. Products and buildings that have earned the ENERGY STAR prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the government. Last year alone, Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved nearly $17 billion on their energy bills while reducing the greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 30 million vehicles.

For more information about ENERGY STAR visit www.energystar.gov/buildings.

For more information about P1 Group visit www.p1group.com.

P1 Group associates Rusty Roderick, director of business development; Phil Nehring, vice president; Sharon Haycock, commissioning administrator; and Tony Whited, operations manager, display the ASHRAE Technology Award they accepted on behalf of the company.

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – On April 5, P1 Group, Inc. officially accepted its Technology Award from Region IX of the American Society of Heating and Air-Conditioning Engineers during the organization’s April meeting at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites in Overland Pak, Kan.

P1 Group won the award for its cost-saving solutions for the Bass Pro Shops World Headquarters in Springfield, Mo. Guided by the company’s in-depth study, P1 Group designed and installed an energy-efficient hybrid heating and cooling system to improve the 1960’s-era plant. The owner has since benefited from energy savings as large as $80,000 per month, a $1 million EPACT tax credit and the ability to reallocate full-time employees.

Rusty Roderick explains the fundamentals of retro-commissioning to fellow ASHRAE members.

Following the awards presentation, P1 Group Director of Business Development Rusty Roderick delivered an informative presentation on the retro-commissioning process and its benefits to an audience of more than 100 industry professionals. Roderick described how to take a “holistic approach” to retro-commissioning and noted the industry’s need for high-performance buildings, sustainability and lower operating costs.

Wood’s performance in the construction industry is impressive. Following graduation from Colorado State University, Wood quickly gained invaluable experience working on Las Vegas’ 280,000-square-foot MountainView Hospital and UNLV’s $54 million, 184,000-square-foot Student Recreation and Wellness Center. Before long, Wood served as executive construction manager on the $8.5 billion CityCenter project.

Today, the 35-year-old star performer is overseeing a $6.97 million clinic modernization at Vandenberg Air Force Base in Lompoc, Calif., as well as a host of other projects throughout Southern Nevada.

“P1 Group is very proud to have Dax on our team, and this recognition is well-deserved,” P1 Group Operations Manager Nick Kasik said. “He’s an exemplary professional with a lot of passion, and he has a bright future ahead of him.”

P1 Group is an electrical, mechanical and service contractor with offices in Las Vegas as well as Kansas City, Lawrence, Topeka and Wichita, Kan.

To read more about Dax and his award, CLICK HERE.

P1 Group earned first place among subcontractors with more than one million work hours. This marks the third time in as many years that P1 Group has been named the best in its class.

According to Rob Langrell, Special Publications Editor, this annual publication “recognizes and honors companies that have an atmosphere, policies and compensation plans in place that employees are pleased with and speak highly about.”

P1 Group's Las Vegas office offers a fun place to work and grow your career.

In Business Las Vegas partnered with Quantam Workplace, a third-party research firm that has managed similar awards in more than 40 other cities. Selections were based solely on anonymous surveys administered to company employees.

With 147 companies and organizations nominated, P1 Group’s fourth place finish is a testament to the company as a whole and the active investments it makes in its associates.

Additional information about P1 Group for prospective associates may be found on P1 Group’s Careers page.

In Business Las Vegas is published by the Las Vegas Sun.

P1 Group received the honor for its work at the Bass Pro Shops World Headquarters in Springfield, Mo. The company took first place in the Existing Commercial Facilities division. With the win, P1 Group is now eligible to compete for the national prize in this division.

“P1 Group is proud to be known as a leader in the industry and trusted partner of Bass Pro Shops,” P1 Group Vice President Phil Nehring said. “Ultimately, this award illustrates our commitment to doing what’s best for our customers. That is what’s most rewarding for us – being able to solve problems for people and to have them benefit greatly from the work we do.”

Guided by an in-depth study, P1 Group designed and installed an energy-efficient hybrid heating and cooling system for Bass Pro Shops, whose 1960’s-era plant had originally been designed to house electronics production for former tenant Zenith.  The new system leveraged modern technology and supplies, while automating the process.

With the changes, Bass Pro Shops has benefited from as much as $64,000 utility savings in a single month.

The ASHRAE Technology Awards recognize outstanding achievements by members who have successfully applied innovative building designs that incorporate ASHRAE standards for effective energy management and indoor air quality. 

Congratulations to those involved with this award-winning project:

• Phil Nehring, Vice President
• Rusty Roderick, Director of Business Development
• Tony Whited, Commissioning and Startup Operations Manager
• Casey Rohaus, Job Site Supervisor
• Mike Haycock, Commissioning Supervisor
• Kevin Woods, Commissioning Technician
• Scott Weinandt, Controls Project Manager and Technician

For more about this project, click here.

Based on 2008 revenue, P1 Group moved up six spots from last year thanks to 33 percent growth. Last year, the company’s revenue hit a company record of $200 million. In 2007, P1 Group reported $151 million in revenue.

P1 Group has roots that date back to 1919 when it began as a family-owned piping contractor in Kansas City. Since then, P1 Group has grown into a full-service national organization of mechanical, electrical and plumbing experts. The company provides superior solutions for large commercial, educational, government, healthcare, industrial, life sciences, municipal and retail projects.