Every Synergy meeting ends the same way.Before heading home, members write down one thing they’re committed to doing differently. Sometimes it’s a small adjustment. Sometimes it’s a bigger leadership change. Either way, the goal is to leave with one idea that’s worth putting into practice.

At the 2026 Field Supervisors Forum in Philadelphia, conversations centered on topics like communication, delegation, recognition, developing future leaders, and balancing the demands of the job with the responsibility of leading people.

A few months later, we checked back in with several attendees to see what happened after they got home.

Anthony Hutchison: Fewer Questions, Better Results

During Gregory Tall’s workshop, one idea came up repeatedly: people do better work when expectations are clear from the beginning.

Anthony Hutchison of Archer Mechanical decided that would become his focus. He made a point to slow down and explain things more clearly instead of assuming his team understood what he expected.

The change showed up almost immediately. “I have been utilizing this with my guys and it has been going well,” said Anthony. “I’ve noticed fewer questions, and the work quality is meeting my expectations much better.”

It’s a simple adjustment, but one many field supervisors recognized during the meeting. Better communication often saves time because fewer mistakes have to be corrected later.

Paul Zima: Spending More Time With the Crew

Paul Zima of Atomatic wanted to spend more time with his team.

On his action plan he wrote that he wanted to get back into the field more often, celebrate wins, and eventually take the crew out for lunch instead of rushing to the next job.

A few months later, Paul says he’s been spending more time alongside his crews, recognizing good work, and getting deeper into project drawings to better support the team.

Chris Comito: Making Recognition Part of the Job

Another conversations during the forum centered on recognition. Several members admitted that when technicians consistently do good work, it’s easy to stop talking about it. The problems get attention, but the techs quietly doing great work often don’t.

Chris Comito from Baker Group left Philadelphia determined to change that. His action plan was straightforward: tell his team why they matter. Since returning home, he’s made a point to check in with technicians more often and celebrate both team and individual successes.

“We will continue to get to spotlight our technicians success and bring attention to them,” said Chris. “There is always progress to be made!”

Nathan Witzl: Creating More Opportunities for His Team

During the meeting Mike Barnard of Cox Engineering shared how his company’s Apprentice Team Lead program gives employees more opportunities to grow while helping leaders delegate responsibility.

That discussion resonated with Nathan Witzl from Vital Mechanical Service.

Nathan wanted to give his teams more autonomy while finding a better way to manage manpower.

“We’ve started to try and share manpower between our plumbing service team and our plumbing project team to avoid manpower changes and also to get people exposed to different aspects of their respective trades,” said Nathan.

Nathan even spent several months working alongside the service team himself, helping bridge communication and better understand where support was needed. The result has been more than better staffing.His team has been able to avoid layoffs on the plumbing side throughout 2026 while exposing employees to different types of work and creating more flexibility across the organization.

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These four stories are proof that the conversations didn’t end when everyone left Philadelphia. They continued back at the office, on job sites, and in conversations with their teams. That’s what makes Synergy different. Our members don’t just attend meetings. They leave with practical ideas, a network of peers they can call, and the confidence to lead more effectively. If you’re interested in learning more about Synergy Solution Group, we’d love to hear from you.  Learn more about Synergy membership or contact us to see if your company is a fit.