Speakers

Our Keynote Speaker for 2019 will  Nicholas Webert

   Nicholas will be sharing his most recent experience of volunteering with the Peace Corps.  He has just returned after two living two years in rural Cambodia. 

 

 

 

 

Presenters and Instructors

Jim Campbell

Jim’s career began with Sears, Roebuck & Co. in Houston, TX in 1974 as a home appliance servicer. From there, He has worked for major manufacturers such as Maytag and Whirlpool Corporations as a Senior Field Servicer. He also has combined 15 years as an A/C and Heating professional along with appliance skills. Jim has been part of  PSA for 10 years  and He currently leads the Training & Education Committee, which produces training classes for all levels of appliance diagnostics and repairs. 

Carmine D’Alessandro

 
Carmine D’Alessandro graduated a 2 year Refrigeration/HVAC Training in 1971 and in 1974 attended Advanced Commercial Diagnostics and Technical training presented by Kramer/Trenton Corp. Also, from 1972 through 1979, attended the GM training center for advanced specialized training and diagnostic skills for servicing Frigidaire Brand major appliances and air conditioners of which he received a Master Accreditation.  He attended the NASD School of Service Management in 1991. Started his business, Dale’s Appliance Service in 1981. In 2003, received a Management and Organization certificate from Rockhurst University. His company is an accredited member of the Better Business Bureau. He received the Presidents award in 1998 and 2005 from PSA and also has his M-CAP , CSM , and EPA certifications and in 2013 became a certified PSA trainer teaching basic electricity, refrigeration, and advanced technologies/diagnostics used in all major appliances. He currently serves on a number of committees.  Is chair of the PSA’s IT Committee and head up web development. He has held numerous positions on and off the PSA board of directors including past President and is currently Vice President
 
 

Anthony Attanasio

As a young man of 22, I started my business, Appliance Doctor, in 1980. Now, over 37 years later, my company is one of the largest independent Appliance repair firms in NYC with over 30 employees. While we all take pride in being skilled technicians, marketing is at the forefront of continued success.

The Appliance Doctor has developed marketing strategies that have sustained the test of time, and for more than three decades I have shared these strategies with PSA members nationwide.

Phil Whitehead

Phil  started in the appliance service business in 1973 as an Appliance Service Technician for Montgomery Ward. His career with Montgomery Ward span from 1973 to 1985 when he left there and started teaching in a Private Trade School for 5 years.
During his time with Wards, Phil completed the Major Appliance Technology
class at Pikes Peak Community College and received a teaching credentials
with the State of Colorado. After teaching for 5 years at the trade school,
he left and started to work for People’s Natural Gas in Monument Colorado as
a technician then became part of the Technical Training Team with the Gas
Company. Phil just recently retired from the Gas Company with 26 years in
the Appliance Technical Training field.

Randy Carney

Randy  joined Amana Customer Services in November of 1979  and worked in a variety of positions at Amana for the next 22 years. He helped initiate Amana’s move into national account sales in 1986 by developing service programs for customer such as Sears, Wal-Mart, Circuit City and Montgomery Ward. As the years rolled on, he accepted responsibilities for Commercial Products service, International Service, OEM support, Technical Services and Tech Line, Training and Publications.

In the fall of 2001, Maytag purchased Amana, and Carney assisted with the development of Maytag Services, accepting a leadership position as Manager, Technical Communications. After Maytag was purchased by Whirlpool in 2006, Carney joined Samsung Electronics  and helped develop and refine Samsung’s home appliance field service support through the spring of 2010.  In 2014, He  became the  Executive Director of the Professional Service Association.

Ralph Wolff

Ralph Wolff served in the US Navy from 1968 to 1972 and was stationed with the fighter squadron VF33 aboard the USS Independence.  Ralph has been in the major appliance / HVAC sales and service since 1975.  He has two retail stores and employs over 24 technicians, CSR’s, sales men and delivery personal.  Ralph holds current industry certifications as Certified Master Technician, NATE Heating, Cooling and Air Flow, Certified Service Center and Certified Service Manager, New Jersey State Certified Master HVAC Technician and holds a Certificate of Entrepreneurship from the Goldman Sacks 10KSB program graduating from the Community College of Philadelphia.   Ralph is the past President of the Professional Service Association (PSA) and currently holds the position of Industry Relations Chairman and Director of Finance for PSA.

Linda Knudsen

Being in the service industry for many years, I’ve learned it constantly changes. My focus has been learning the diverse parts of our industry. I’ve worked for 2 manufacturers as a field service manager, with parts distributors, and 2 different servicing dealers as a technician. Another large dealer, I managed a large service dept with 13 techs, plus support staff. I’m currently a field service manger for Asurion. It all started when I married a technician, who wanted to start his own business. We co-owned a small service company in the early 80’s, for many years in a remote market, which we started from nothing. There are always challenges in our industry and opportunities to either learn, change or grow from those situations. Attending tech school, and other training over the years provided me the with a solid background. I’ve learned from many over the years, fellow associates, further training and experiences. I’m most proud of my role as a technician, since the earlier years we’re very tough as a female in the industry. Making everyone comfortable with my ability, showing confidence, and the difference between aggressive and assertive. A key focus I have, is always being professional, which has earned me top ratings with customers and regard in the industry. I’m blessed to share my expertise, as I realize there’s more than one way to achieve something, dedication and hard work, and keeping our priority to care about the customer. I’m always excited to share my knowledge and keep my ear to the rest of you that share as well, the other exciting thing is learning from our peers. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone at the PSA convention.

Mark Maupin

Mark Maupin Lives in Michigan with his wife Karen. Mark has an extensive roster of long-term service-related customers.He only focuses on service-related businesses that deal directly with the consumer. He’s an expert on obtaining maximum lead results for these businesses.
Some of service industries he specializes in are: appliance repair, dumpster rental, roofing, siding, home windows, window cleaning, and towing.
Mark makes sure that his customers maintain good reputations online (with professional reputation management & branding services).
He has taught internet marketing at two colleges and hosted numerous workshops for small to mid-sized business owners.

 

Lester Good

Lester Good is a recent addition to the PSA Certification Committee and is involved in helping to revise the test.  Ten years ago he was a young man from the Midwest, recently arrived in Pennsylvania, starting a brand new job in the appliance repair industry with no experience to draw on. His good people skills and great sense of humor served him well as he learned the industry from the ground up.  His first six years were spent as a technician on the road before transitioning to the position of Service Manager for the past four years with Martin Appliance, a sales and service company with six locations and twenty-seven techs.  He lives in the Blue Mountain region of south eastern Pennsylvania with his wife and three daughters.

 

Chase Cycak

 

Field Service Manager – Asurion . Chase Manages the service network in the state of TX.

Glade Ross

President, CEO and Chief Programmer at Rossware Computing, Inc. Glade is a former service company owner himself (Aardvark Appliance Service, San Juan Capistrano, CA).  It was in his former business that Glade first began developing ServiceDesk.  It proved an excellent environment in which to hone the particular set of features and methods that meet the needs — not to mention convenience — of genuine service operations. 

Carolina Bellino

Carolina is the founder of ServiceMax Appliance Repair in Georgia.  Her introduction to the appliance industry began eight years ago when she came to America as an intern and served as a billing specialist at an appliance service company in the Atlanta area. Immersing herself in the American culture and learning about the appliance industry was invaluable for beginning her own appliance company.  For the past four years, Carolina has run her appliance repair business in the outskirts of Atlanta.  She gives a lot of credit to the support she found in PSA.  For the past year Carolina has served as a Board Member for PSA, and is a dynamic part of their instructors team.