The Mid-Coast Energy Systems Podcast

On this episode of The MidCoast Energy Systems Podcast, Eric and James turn interviewer into interviewee. What starts as a simple question about a mustache turns into a conversation about work, identity, and sticking with it for the long haul. Bill shares how the mustache came to be, from admiring old-school baseball catchers as a kid to carrying the same look onto every job site for decades. Alon...

Imagine a Tuesday- it can be any old Tuesday- and ask yourself what you do during that day. Where do you go? What do you see? How many people do you meet? Eric and Bill sit down with a guest from MidCoast Energy Systems to talk about a day in the life of Service Manager James Hovance, how many calls he might get, how he gets there, how he handles them, and even how he gets back. They talk about ho...

When a customer loses heat in the middle of a Maine winter, the work starts long before a technician pulls into the driveway. Eric and Bill talk with James Hovance, Service Manager at MidCoast Energy Systems, about what really happens behind the scenes of a service department. They discuss how dispatching, parts sourcing, and office decision-making keep jobs moving, customers safe, and crews suppo...

We return to the Mid-Coast Energy Systems Podcast, joined again by James Hovance.   James has a large family, and a not-so-small farm— and still he travels for over an hour to get to work, and back from work, every day. It keeps him busy, and it keeps him healthy, and it keeps him supported. It keeps his family happy, too, with Mid-Coast helping pay for travels to theme parks and baseball games, a...

On today's episode, we're talking to Mid-Coast's own James Hovance, service manager, U.S. Marine veteran, and family man.   James enlisted at just 18 years old, stepping into the Marines with the discipline and resolve that would shape the rest of his life. After completing his service, he carried those values back home to Maine, where he joined the team at Mid-Coast Energy Systems and found a new...

Eric and Bill are back, joined once again by technician Joseph Giberson of Mid-Coast Energy Systems. Together, they dive into the past, present, and future of the HVAC trade, and what it means to grow a career in the trades from the ground up, both then and now. Joseph also turns the tables, asking Bill about what's ahead for Mid-Coast Energy, including the company's vision for the next decade. If...

Eric and Bill sit down with HVAC technician Joseph, who started with the company at just 16 years old. What started as a high school elective turned into an eight-year journey through the company's apprenticeship program. Eight years later, he's installing complex heating and cooling systems all over Maine, from troubleshooting pool heaters in Boothbay to managing full-scale installs on Islesboro....

What would you do if you had all this money to burn? In this episode, Eric, Bill, and HVAC technician Joseph talk about how they would outfit their house's heating if they had all the money they could ever want. With their inside-and-out knowledge of the business, our hosts are more than qualified to share their heating dreams. Hear the professionals at Mid-Coast Energy Systems talk about their dr...

HVAC work isn't always about furnaces and heat pumps. Sometimes, it's about dodging a runaway sheep, coaxing a curious cat, or meeting a little dog with a big attitude. In this episode, Eric, Bill, and technician Joseph swap stories from the road — the animal encounters that come with the job, and the bigger challenge that's always there: communication. From scratchy phone calls to satellite conne...

What does it take to keep homes warm across Maine during the long winter? In this episode, Eric, Bill, and HVAC technician Joseph share how they handle emergency heating repair calls, cover hundreds of miles, and improve systems to keep families safe. You'll hear how the team manages the winter rush, the systems they've improved over the years, and why ignoring a "cold home" report can be dangerou...

What's changed in the field? And what still works? A lot. In this episode, Eric, Bill, and HVAC technician Joseph talk about how the work has evolved—and what today's techs need to keep up and stay ahead. From brazing to ZoomLock, analog gauges to digital, and the rise of heat pumps, the tools, systems, and know-how on site look a lot different than they did even a decade ago. Hear what's making i...

What does it take to lead the next generation in the trades? In this episode, Eric, Bill, and HVAC technician Joseph talk about leadership on the job, mentorship in the field, and what it really means to train the next wave of skilled workers. With an average employee age under 30, Mid-Coast is seeing a big shift—new energy, fresh talent, and the responsibility to pass down hard-earned experience....

What's the average age of a Mid-Coast Energy Systems employee? You might be surprised. In this episode, Eric, Bill, and HVAC technician Joseph talk about the generational shift happening across the trades and what it takes to train, mentor, and retain the next generation of skilled workers. 

Bill Morgner's first day at Midcoast Energy was in 1983—three weeks before his wedding—and it started with a hammer, a chisel, and three layers of brick. Hear how Mid-Coast Energy Systems grew from three employees with gear crammed into station wagons to a multi-discipline team with vans, licenses, and year-round projects. From hard lessons in the field to building a life around real work, they ge...

After nearly five decades in the business, you start to see your own work come full circle. In this episode, Eric & Bill Morgner reflect on what it's like returning to job sites where they installed systems 20, 30, even 40 years ago, and now they're the ones replacing them. From early radiant slab experiments in the 1990s to chasing down oversized boiler systems sold by suppliers, they unpack how...

 Bob Hardina wasn't just the founder —he was a mentor, a visionary, and a force of personality. In this episode, Bill shares what it was like working with Bob: his strengths, his blind spots, and the principles that still guide the company today. From his early days as a professor to building a business that's lasted over 50 years, Bob's legacy is felt in every decision, every team member, and eve...

This one's got it all—tech gone wrong, a carpeted disaster, and a surprise plot twist 15 years later. Bill Morgner breaks down what went wrong, how the team responded, and why owning the outcome—even when it wasn't entirely their fault—was the right call. From homeowner tension to lessons in system design, this one covers the kind of real-world troubleshooting every tradesperson can relate to.

When Mid-Coast Energy Systems landed a spot on a national home makeover show, the crew stepped into the spotlight—only to find that reality TV isn't exactly real. Bill and Eric unpack the logistics, compromises, and lasting takeaways from a fast-paced job with high visibility and low margin for error. Along the way, they discuss what customers really value (hint: it's not what makes good TV), and...

How Tradespeople Become Leaders: From the Field to the Front Office In this episode, Bill Morgner reflects on what it took to go from working in the field to Owning Mid-Coast Energy Systems. He and Eric Morgner talk through the tough moments—economic downturns, leadership transitions, and decisions that don't always come easy. You'll hear how a career in the trades can evolve, what it means to bui...