The ACCA Management Information Exchange (MIX) Group® Program provides members with a unique and invaluable contractor-to-contractor networking opportunity aimed at helping their businesses succeed. Members in non-competing markets can connect and form a supportive group that shares ideas, best practices, and recommendations.
Benefits of MIX Groups®
The benefits of MIX Group® are innumerable . . . and often surprising. From improving the profitability and efficiency of members’ companies to lasting friendships, these groups positively impact and transform members’ professional and personal lives.
Kurt Hudson, secretary/treasurer of ACCA, joined his MIX group® at ACCA 2020. A passionate proponent of these invaluable resources, he says, “MIX Groups® are still one of the best-kept secrets ACCA has. And they’re one of the reasons why I contribute and am on the Board of Directors for ACCA. It’s the best thing we’ve done for our business. I think ACCA does a lot of good things, but connecting contractors and allowing them to learn from each other is the best one.”
ACCA Chair Martin Hoover, who first joined his MIX group® at an ACCA conference in the 1980s, likens the role of his group to that of an informal board of advisors who are deeply invested in the success of each other’s businesses and their well-being. His group is not only an invaluable resource for his business, but the members have also become close friends. Regarding participation in his MIX group®, he says, “It is by far one of the best things I’ve ever done to help myself in business. It’s a group of people who know your struggles and daily battles and can help you avoid some pitfalls. You get some very specific advice about overcoming your specific issues.” Members unanimously agree that there is tremendous value in visiting someone else’s shop and seeing how they run their business.
The non-competing nature of the groups offers businesses owners a space to be candid and transparent in ways that local and competing groups cannot. Jonathan Evancik, owner of ACCA Silver Member company REE Mechanical, Inc., is also involved in a local CEO group comprised of owners of businesses in different industries and has discovered firsthand the benefits of being in a group where all members can speak freely in the same HVACR contractor language. Brian Stack, president of ACCA Gold Member company Stack Heating, Cooling & Electric notes, “We can openly show our businesses and help each other grow them. We’re not competitors. We’re all looking out for each other and actively working to ensure we all succeed in business. So, just having that sounding board—that outside advisor group to help me grow my business—has been huge for my company.”
Getting an inside look into companies similar in their focus is also tremendously beneficial. Evancik finds that being able to benchmark his company against other HVACR companies similar to his provides the “apples-to-apples” comparison that he doesn’t get from statistics generated by other professionals outside the HVACR industry.
For Evancik, the educational component is one of the most significant benefits of joining a group. He explains, “I’m always furthering my education, and what better way to do so than to learn from others in this industry? I saw getting involved in a MIX Group® as a good option to make myself a better, smarter businessperson. I’ve had business coaches and attended different seminars in different industries, but it’s powerful to have someone in my trade.”
Meeting frequency and style can vary between MIX Groups®, however many choose to meet twice a year, at one member company’s location. Visiting members perform a full and detailed S.W.O.T. (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis of the host company’s operations, staff, sales, advertising, facilities, and business strategy. The owner assists the process by providing their own assessment of the most pressing issues they’re facing and the goals they wish to achieve. Then, the group presents the hosting company with a comprehensive report and proposed solutions. Owners gain personalized insights that help them grow their businesses.
Another key benefit of being involved in a MIX Group® is accountability. For Evancik, appreciating the investment of time and money his fellow group members make into promoting the success of his business—from the biannual on-site meetings and monthly Zoom calls to visits when significant challenges arise—makes him feel a sense of responsibility to follow through. “Being a business owner, no one holds you accountable. But you don’t want to look bad in front of the other guys, so you do whatever you can to uphold your word to apply the feedback given and address the concerns raised, especially after an on-site visit.” Group members challenge one another to become better business owners.
MIX Group® membership can also help running a business feel less isolating. During the COVID-19 pandemic, connecting with others over Zoom became a lifeline. When Evancik had to furlough several employees, it was helpful to gain insights into what others were doing to manage the economic challenges and reassuring to know he wasn’t alone, especially as he rebuilt his company.
MIX Group® members overwhelmingly find the investment of time and money to be well worth it, even for smaller companies, because the insights they gain help them become more efficient and innovative and ultimately more successful.
Considering joining a MIX Group®? “Just do it!”
When asked for their best advice for those considering joining a MIX Group®, ACCA members resoundingly said, “Just do it!”
Hudson believes every ACCA member should join a MIX Group®, regardless of the size or stage of their business. “Find the right group, join it, go in 100%, contribute, help other people with your suggestions, and learn from other people’s mistakes and victories.” He shares a story of a friend who joined a group but was concerned that his shop wasn’t large or impressive enough. He didn’t know what he had to offer. But Hudson reminds members that “everybody’s got something to offer.” A MIX Group® is a great place to connect with others in the industry, learn, and grow. Hudson notes that he’s less concerned about the size or the type of business. “I’m more interested in the people and what their story is than what their companies look like. I’ve learned things from guys whose businesses are much smaller than mine—ideas I would never think of.”
Stack understands that contractors may be hesitant to join a MIX Group® because they don’t believe they’re ready for a group like this. His advice? “Don’t be afraid to get into a group.” Even though their businesses may be at different stages of growth, there is tremendous value in joining at any time. “You may just be starting out and don’t have all the tools you need, or you aren’t where you think you should be. Maybe you feel like you don’t have all the skills you need to run the business the right way. But that’s really what the group is for: to help you grow and learn more about business.”
Although owners may be nervous about showing their financials and exposing their struggles to other business owners, this kind of vulnerability and transparency is what helps members learn and grow.
Some businesses, especially smaller ones, may have concerns about the costs of participating in the MIX Group® Program and wonder whether they can justify the expenses associated with travel and lodging for the biannual meetings. However, as Hudson emphasizes, it’s imperative that owners invest in their businesses, and “that investment is going to come back to them tenfold due to the insights gained,” which will lead to more efficient and cost-effective operations. Stack believes “it’s a very cheap investment for the education you get throughout the year. You’re not just spending that money for 2-3 days twice a year; you’re spending it for 365 days a year. Those people are always there for you.”
When looking for a group, members advise beginning by talking to others at the ACCA conference. These conversations don’t necessarily need to start at the MIXer Event, but that’s always a good opportunity to find others who might be interested. Contractors should look for companies like theirs in size and type but may also want to connect with larger ones to help them grow. Although it may be challenging at first to find or form the perfect group, a little persistence will pay off. Hoover assures ACCA members that joining a MIX Group® will be “a life-changing experience for you and your business.”
Memorable moments
When a group spends time supporting each other in their businesses and building deep bonds, memorable moments follow.
Stack recalls a time when one of the members of his MIX Group® was having troubles with price structure and was struggling to compete. He and one of the other owners flew across the country and spent two days with the member going over the financials and helping him come up with a pricing structure. “He was tremendously grateful. You build those friendships over time, and you’re just willing to help each other out. It was a pretty cool moment. We’re not just sticking strictly to the routine of visiting each other twice a year. We’re looking out for each other and helping each other whenever we need to.”
Evancik experienced a similar moment with a fourth-generation owner. After his parents passed, this group member was struggling and ready to give up. But an on-site visit helped him gain clarity and confidence. “He told us that if it hadn’t been for us, he would have closed the business and moved on to something else. It was an awesome feeling to be a part of that.”
MIX Group® members help each other accomplish goals and overcome obstacles, both business and personal. Hoover’s most memorable moment involved helping a third-generation owner retire his uncle, a salesperson in the company who was no longer meeting sales goals. The group members crunched the numbers to show the owner that it was not only possible to retire his uncle earlier than planned but that he could also put a new person in that sales position and be more profitable without creating a difficult family situation.
MIX Groups® are not just about the bottom line: they’re about people. The activities of these groups support a holistic approach to business that acknowledges that group members’ well-being impacts the well-being of their businesses and vice versa. Hudson notes that he has seen members experience personal situations, including health struggles and divorces, that have affected their businesses. “It’s really more about the person at that point. It’s about having each other’s backs.”
Getting connected and involved
There are several ways to get plugged into a MIX Group®, including through referrals and at other events throughout the year, but the MIXer Event at the ACCA national conference is the most common. During this speed networking event, participants will meet with potential MIX Group® matches and find a group that works for them. At the upcoming ACCA 2025 Conference and Expo [https://www.accaconference.com/] in Greater Austin, Texas, from March 24-27, members looking to join a MIX Group® will have an opportunity to participate in the MIXer event and attend a panel session at 1:45 PM on March 25 during which MIX Group® participants will speak about their experiences.
Owners are not the only ACCA members who can participate in MIX groups®, either. Some companies, like Evancik’s, also have some of their employees participating in MIX groups® of their own. His service manager participates in a service managers group, while his accountant is a member of an accounting group. Owners find that investing in their employees in this way allows them to flourish on their own and come up with new ideas while running their service departments more effectively.
To learn more about the MIX Group® Program and how you can join: https://www.acca.org/members/mix
Read this article and more in the latest edition of ACCA Now Magazine, now a quarterly, members-only benefit.
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