@adamknutz.bsky.social
As the year winds down, I’m thinking less about goals and more about foundations. This is the time to check the basics. Are people supported? Are tools ready? Are expectations clear? The quiet work we do now sets up the year ahead.
January 22, 2026 at 11:03 PM
As the year winds down, I’m thinking less about goals and more about foundations. This is the time to check the basics. Are people supported? Are tools ready? Are expectations clear? The quiet work we do now sets up the year ahead.
Technical skill matters. Everyone knows that.
What gets missed is how much the job depends on communication, how a tech explains an issue (& listens) when things get complex. That's why I feel training must include soft skills. When work happens face to face, professionalism is part of the craft.
What gets missed is how much the job depends on communication, how a tech explains an issue (& listens) when things get complex. That's why I feel training must include soft skills. When work happens face to face, professionalism is part of the craft.
January 21, 2026 at 11:01 PM
Technical skill matters. Everyone knows that.
What gets missed is how much the job depends on communication, how a tech explains an issue (& listens) when things get complex. That's why I feel training must include soft skills. When work happens face to face, professionalism is part of the craft.
What gets missed is how much the job depends on communication, how a tech explains an issue (& listens) when things get complex. That's why I feel training must include soft skills. When work happens face to face, professionalism is part of the craft.
Scaling requires a guiding principle. For me, it's "provide what we do on the East Coast the same exact way we provide it in the West Coast with a regional touch." It respects the local crew doing the work while staying consistent.
Trust gets built when teams feel supported, not overwritten.
Trust gets built when teams feel supported, not overwritten.
January 21, 2026 at 7:38 PM
Scaling requires a guiding principle. For me, it's "provide what we do on the East Coast the same exact way we provide it in the West Coast with a regional touch." It respects the local crew doing the work while staying consistent.
Trust gets built when teams feel supported, not overwritten.
Trust gets built when teams feel supported, not overwritten.
New formats, tighter margins, more automation, higher expectations from customers. All of that adds pressure behind the scenes. Training. Repetition. People who take pride in doing quiet work the right way. As the industry keeps changing, that part stays constant.
8 grocery industry trends to watch in 2026
Experts say shifting food consumption by GLP-1 users, multicultural cuisine and a selective approach to innovation will drive retailers’ decisions this year.
www.grocerydive.com
January 20, 2026 at 5:52 PM
New formats, tighter margins, more automation, higher expectations from customers. All of that adds pressure behind the scenes. Training. Repetition. People who take pride in doing quiet work the right way. As the industry keeps changing, that part stays constant.
What keeps me invested after years in this industry? Easy. It's the people.
Example: When I visited Chicago last Fall, the best part of the trip was catching up with the Midwest Refrigeration team over slices of “Poperoni” pizza.
Work runs on relationships. And the occasional slice of pizza. 😉
Example: When I visited Chicago last Fall, the best part of the trip was catching up with the Midwest Refrigeration team over slices of “Poperoni” pizza.
Work runs on relationships. And the occasional slice of pizza. 😉
January 19, 2026 at 4:11 PM
What keeps me invested after years in this industry? Easy. It's the people.
Example: When I visited Chicago last Fall, the best part of the trip was catching up with the Midwest Refrigeration team over slices of “Poperoni” pizza.
Work runs on relationships. And the occasional slice of pizza. 😉
Example: When I visited Chicago last Fall, the best part of the trip was catching up with the Midwest Refrigeration team over slices of “Poperoni” pizza.
Work runs on relationships. And the occasional slice of pizza. 😉
Talent & new technology need each other. New tools are essential for speed & safety, but only when people know how to use them. That's why the best learning happens when contractors share what they know. Those exchanges build an industry that’s stronger & more prepared for whatever comes next.
January 15, 2026 at 11:01 PM
Talent & new technology need each other. New tools are essential for speed & safety, but only when people know how to use them. That's why the best learning happens when contractors share what they know. Those exchanges build an industry that’s stronger & more prepared for whatever comes next.
Homemade sourdough has taken over our house. The process looks simple, but it requires a lot of patience & care.
Craft shows up in different places. For me, it’s refrigeration. At home, it’s baking & learning by feel. Craft is whatever you commit to & take pride in getting better at over time.
Craft shows up in different places. For me, it’s refrigeration. At home, it’s baking & learning by feel. Craft is whatever you commit to & take pride in getting better at over time.
January 14, 2026 at 4:11 PM
Homemade sourdough has taken over our house. The process looks simple, but it requires a lot of patience & care.
Craft shows up in different places. For me, it’s refrigeration. At home, it’s baking & learning by feel. Craft is whatever you commit to & take pride in getting better at over time.
Craft shows up in different places. For me, it’s refrigeration. At home, it’s baking & learning by feel. Craft is whatever you commit to & take pride in getting better at over time.
As I read this article about the future of heat pumps, I had the same thought I often do: who’s going to install & support it?
We have a workforce shortage, but there's a wave of new technology that'll need technicians who understand it. New tech only works when people are ready for it.
We have a workforce shortage, but there's a wave of new technology that'll need technicians who understand it. New tech only works when people are ready for it.
Heat pumps have bright future, expert says
Installation training remains a challenge — alongside pushback from the fossil fuel industry and old worries about cold-weather operation — but the future favors the technology, a professor says.
www.facilitiesdive.com
January 12, 2026 at 5:10 PM
As I read this article about the future of heat pumps, I had the same thought I often do: who’s going to install & support it?
We have a workforce shortage, but there's a wave of new technology that'll need technicians who understand it. New tech only works when people are ready for it.
We have a workforce shortage, but there's a wave of new technology that'll need technicians who understand it. New tech only works when people are ready for it.
I found myself nodding as I read this. More young people are rethinking desk jobs & looking for something tangible. Trades offer that. You learn by doing & solve real problems.
I think our role is to meet that interest with mentorship. When people show up ready to learn, don't take it for granted.
I think our role is to meet that interest with mentorship. When people show up ready to learn, don't take it for granted.
AI is coming for young people’s office jobs. That’s good news for the construction industry | Gene Marks
More young people are following the money and going into trades like construction where AI can’t easily replace them
www.theguardian.com
January 7, 2026 at 5:13 PM
I found myself nodding as I read this. More young people are rethinking desk jobs & looking for something tangible. Trades offer that. You learn by doing & solve real problems.
I think our role is to meet that interest with mentorship. When people show up ready to learn, don't take it for granted.
I think our role is to meet that interest with mentorship. When people show up ready to learn, don't take it for granted.
People stay when they can see a future. Clear training, leaders who take time to teach, & crews that treat learning as part of the job. Early experiences stick. When someone feels supported & trusted, they tend to stay. Building the trade starts on day one & continues as people find their footing.
More Than a Job: Making HVAC a Career Destination
The secret to retaining HVAC technicians isn’t just pay — it’s purpose
www.achrnews.com
January 5, 2026 at 7:36 PM
People stay when they can see a future. Clear training, leaders who take time to teach, & crews that treat learning as part of the job. Early experiences stick. When someone feels supported & trusted, they tend to stay. Building the trade starts on day one & continues as people find their footing.
Wishing everyone a happy holiday season. Hope you get some time to slow down, be with family, and reset before the year turns. Grateful for the family, friends, and co-workers who made this year what it was.
December 26, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Wishing everyone a happy holiday season. Hope you get some time to slow down, be with family, and reset before the year turns. Grateful for the family, friends, and co-workers who made this year what it was.
Procrastination has a way of piling up. I've mentioned this previously, but lately, I’ve been trying to face the hard things head-on. Some mornings it’s a tough conversation I don’t want to have. Other days it’s paperwork. But every time I handle it early, the next step gets lighter.
December 18, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Procrastination has a way of piling up. I've mentioned this previously, but lately, I’ve been trying to face the hard things head-on. Some mornings it’s a tough conversation I don’t want to have. Other days it’s paperwork. But every time I handle it early, the next step gets lighter.
Had an amazing bowl of pho the other night (a Fall must!). Warm broth, slow pace, quiet end to a long day. It reminded me how much time and intention go into something that looks simple. It reminded me that quality takes time, intention, and a little patience. (A little hoisin sauce helps too.)
December 17, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Had an amazing bowl of pho the other night (a Fall must!). Warm broth, slow pace, quiet end to a long day. It reminded me how much time and intention go into something that looks simple. It reminded me that quality takes time, intention, and a little patience. (A little hoisin sauce helps too.)
Generational knowledge has been on my mind. Early on, I worked with folks who’d been in the trade longer than I’d been alive & learned to value the insight they provided. It’s still true. Younger techs bring energy & questions. Seasoned pros bring steady judgment. Good crews have both.
December 10, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Generational knowledge has been on my mind. Early on, I worked with folks who’d been in the trade longer than I’d been alive & learned to value the insight they provided. It’s still true. Younger techs bring energy & questions. Seasoned pros bring steady judgment. Good crews have both.
2025 has been a lot of doing the things I don’t want to do: early alarms, tough conversations, catching up on what’s been sitting too long. It’s not exciting, but it adds up.
Discipline > comfort. Growth comes from the small, uncomfortable choices you make every day.
Discipline > comfort. Growth comes from the small, uncomfortable choices you make every day.
December 1, 2025 at 5:55 PM
2025 has been a lot of doing the things I don’t want to do: early alarms, tough conversations, catching up on what’s been sitting too long. It’s not exciting, but it adds up.
Discipline > comfort. Growth comes from the small, uncomfortable choices you make every day.
Discipline > comfort. Growth comes from the small, uncomfortable choices you make every day.
I have a lot to be thankful for this year: quiet starts to the day with my wife, time with my girls (see the drawing my daughter made during one of our No Screen Sundays), & my team at Arcticom. It's all added up to a better year than I could hope for.
Wishing everyone a happy & safe Thanksgiving.
Wishing everyone a happy & safe Thanksgiving.
November 26, 2025 at 5:10 PM
I have a lot to be thankful for this year: quiet starts to the day with my wife, time with my girls (see the drawing my daughter made during one of our No Screen Sundays), & my team at Arcticom. It's all added up to a better year than I could hope for.
Wishing everyone a happy & safe Thanksgiving.
Wishing everyone a happy & safe Thanksgiving.
My goal lately has been to slow down and be more present.
That means putting the phone down, really listening, and giving people your full attention. It’s easy to rush through conversations, but presence is what builds trust. And that’s what makes leadership work.
That means putting the phone down, really listening, and giving people your full attention. It’s easy to rush through conversations, but presence is what builds trust. And that’s what makes leadership work.
November 20, 2025 at 7:06 PM
My goal lately has been to slow down and be more present.
That means putting the phone down, really listening, and giving people your full attention. It’s easy to rush through conversations, but presence is what builds trust. And that’s what makes leadership work.
That means putting the phone down, really listening, and giving people your full attention. It’s easy to rush through conversations, but presence is what builds trust. And that’s what makes leadership work.
I liked this WSJ piece on what makes a great boss.
Great leadership comes down to knowing your crew, understanding their strengths, and giving them room to do what they do best.
When people feel trusted and supported, they take ownership. And that’s when the work really starts to mean something.
Great leadership comes down to knowing your crew, understanding their strengths, and giving them room to do what they do best.
When people feel trusted and supported, they take ownership. And that’s when the work really starts to mean something.
The One Trait That Defines a Great Boss
Plus, federal workers turn to side hustles and why AI could widen the gap between superstars and everyone else, in this edition of the Careers & Leadership newsletter
www.wsj.com
November 11, 2025 at 11:01 PM
I liked this WSJ piece on what makes a great boss.
Great leadership comes down to knowing your crew, understanding their strengths, and giving them room to do what they do best.
When people feel trusted and supported, they take ownership. And that’s when the work really starts to mean something.
Great leadership comes down to knowing your crew, understanding their strengths, and giving them room to do what they do best.
When people feel trusted and supported, they take ownership. And that’s when the work really starts to mean something.
Capstone’s new HVAC report shows data center energy use has tripled since 2014 and could hit 580 terawatt-hours by 2028. That's good news for techs: it puts more demand on the systems we build and maintain (and more value on the skilled hands keeping them running steady when it matters most).
HVAC Equipment Market | Capstone Partners
Capstone's latest HVAC Equipment Market Update is reporting that the market has undergone a significant transformation as...
www.capstonepartners.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Capstone’s new HVAC report shows data center energy use has tripled since 2014 and could hit 580 terawatt-hours by 2028. That's good news for techs: it puts more demand on the systems we build and maintain (and more value on the skilled hands keeping them running steady when it matters most).
In the trades, you don’t really TEACH skills as much as you build them side by side. Watching, trying, messing up, and trying again. Learning happens shoulder to shoulder, with people who take the time to share what they know and let you learn by doing. That’s how skills are learned.
Skills aren’t taught. They’re caught. Drills beat lectures. Practice builds mastery. How do you see this play out in your work?
#Leadership #Growth #Success
#Leadership #Growth #Success
November 3, 2025 at 7:08 PM
In the trades, you don’t really TEACH skills as much as you build them side by side. Watching, trying, messing up, and trying again. Learning happens shoulder to shoulder, with people who take the time to share what they know and let you learn by doing. That’s how skills are learned.
One week it’s “no one wants to work with their hands.” The next, it’s “young people are flooding into the trades.”
Both can be true. When the trades are visible, supported, and respected, people see a future in them. That’s why mentorship and pride matter.
#SkilledTrades #TheArcticomGroup
Both can be true. When the trades are visible, supported, and respected, people see a future in them. That’s why mentorship and pride matter.
#SkilledTrades #TheArcticomGroup
As AI threatens white-collar work, more young Americans choose blue-collar careers
"I am very happy doing what I am doing," says one young electrician who pursued a skilled trade as AI disrupts the job market for college grads.
www.cbsnews.com
October 29, 2025 at 3:35 PM
One week it’s “no one wants to work with their hands.” The next, it’s “young people are flooding into the trades.”
Both can be true. When the trades are visible, supported, and respected, people see a future in them. That’s why mentorship and pride matter.
#SkilledTrades #TheArcticomGroup
Both can be true. When the trades are visible, supported, and respected, people see a future in them. That’s why mentorship and pride matter.
#SkilledTrades #TheArcticomGroup
In the trades, every decision leaves a mark. Quick fixes can keep things running, but they often lead to higher costs and bigger footprints later.
Doing the work the right way is what pays off in the long run. Quality work protects both the system and the people behind it.
Doing the work the right way is what pays off in the long run. Quality work protects both the system and the people behind it.
October 22, 2025 at 3:47 PM
In the trades, every decision leaves a mark. Quick fixes can keep things running, but they often lead to higher costs and bigger footprints later.
Doing the work the right way is what pays off in the long run. Quality work protects both the system and the people behind it.
Doing the work the right way is what pays off in the long run. Quality work protects both the system and the people behind it.
Rural towns feel the workforce gap most. New, greener tech is rolling out fast, but trained techs are hard to find.
That’s why I believe mentorship networks have to reach beyond company lines and create pathways for young techs no matter where they live.
That’s why I believe mentorship networks have to reach beyond company lines and create pathways for young techs no matter where they live.
October 16, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Rural towns feel the workforce gap most. New, greener tech is rolling out fast, but trained techs are hard to find.
That’s why I believe mentorship networks have to reach beyond company lines and create pathways for young techs no matter where they live.
That’s why I believe mentorship networks have to reach beyond company lines and create pathways for young techs no matter where they live.
Bringing more women into the trades can only help our industry.
With the workforce shortage growing, we need more people, which means opening doors for women who want to build a career in the skilled trades.
Really great conversation on that here.
With the workforce shortage growing, we need more people, which means opening doors for women who want to build a career in the skilled trades.
Really great conversation on that here.
Watch this Episode of The Lost Art of the Skilled Trades with my awesome sister Shanen, talking about how to encourage girls and women to get into welding. www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIsP...
Why Women in Welding Are the Future of the Skilled Trades
YouTube video by Skilled Trades with Andrew Brown
www.youtube.com
October 15, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Bringing more women into the trades can only help our industry.
With the workforce shortage growing, we need more people, which means opening doors for women who want to build a career in the skilled trades.
Really great conversation on that here.
With the workforce shortage growing, we need more people, which means opening doors for women who want to build a career in the skilled trades.
Really great conversation on that here.
The small choices add up.
How you handle a call, a tough day, or back your crew when things go sideways -- it all ripples out. Those snap decisions shape trust and culture more than any policy ever could. Strong teams start with the next small choice you make.
How you handle a call, a tough day, or back your crew when things go sideways -- it all ripples out. Those snap decisions shape trust and culture more than any policy ever could. Strong teams start with the next small choice you make.
October 14, 2025 at 6:11 PM
The small choices add up.
How you handle a call, a tough day, or back your crew when things go sideways -- it all ripples out. Those snap decisions shape trust and culture more than any policy ever could. Strong teams start with the next small choice you make.
How you handle a call, a tough day, or back your crew when things go sideways -- it all ripples out. Those snap decisions shape trust and culture more than any policy ever could. Strong teams start with the next small choice you make.