The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) is proud to share the success of the ACCA 2022 Conference & Expo. From navigating workforce shortages to shaping key political initiatives, this year’s ACCA Conference & Expo featured more than 30 hours of dynamic programming focused on the most pressing issues facing HVACR Contractors today.
“After nearly three years, it was great to see so many members of the ACCA family gathering together again at ACCA 2022 to discuss the challenges and opportunities affecting America’s leading HVACR contractors,” said Barton James, ACCA president and CEO. “We are especially grateful for the leadership of ACCA’s Board of Directors, who have been led by Brian Stack, president of Stack Heating, Cooling, and Electric, whose dedication to our organization and the industry helped ensure this even was a success. We look forward to the leadership of our new Chairman, Keith Paton, vice president of service at Ivey Mechanical, LLC., as the 2022-2023 Board of Directors take over.”
After an inspiring opening general session with keynote speaker Gerry O’brion of What Big Brands Know, attendees began the three-day event, which included over 30 educational sessions. ACCA 2022 also allowed attendees to explore St. Louis through tours and excursions. Besides the educational sessions, ACCA hosted the Manufacturer Leadership Forum, the Contractor Forum Live, an ACCA Town Hall, and a panel on the Refrigerant Cylinder Ban.
The ACCA Town Hall – Contractors Lead the Way general session allowed members to share their thoughts and insights on ACCA’s advocacy activities, helping to shape key initiatives and future priorities.
At the Manufacturer Leadership Forum, top manufacturing industry leaders took the stage, allowing for an open conversation about issues affecting the HVACR industry. Representatives from Carrier Corporation, Emerson Climate Technologies, Goodman Manufacturing Company, Johnson Controls, and Rheem Manufacturing Company joined together to support attendees and answer their questions.
Contractor Forum Live: Ask the Experts brought ACCA’s popular online Contractor Forum to the stage, where a panel of ACCA members shared their unique perspectives on the surge of private equity investments sweeping the industry. Panelists included Lee Rosenberg, Rosenberg Indoor Comfort, Ken Goodrich, Goettl Air Conditioning & Plumbing, Chris Hoffmann, Hoffmann Brothers, Ryan Kletz, Classic Air’s One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning, and Brian Bovio, Bovio Rubino Service. The forum was moderated by Chris Yano, RYNO Strategic Solutions CEO.
Attendees enjoyed a hot breakfast during the Refrigerant Cylinder Ban Implications on Your Business panel discussion, focused on how the EPA’s cylinder ban will affect costs, time, safety, and product availability, along with what contractors can do to stop it.
Social events for attendees included The ACCA MIX Group® Speed Networking and Reception, sponsored by Scorpion, which allowed current and prospective MIX Group members to network with each other fast and efficiently, and the Emerson Celebration, which celebrated 100 years of Copeland’s industry leadership and honored the dynamic 10-year ACCA/Emerson partnership.
Throughout the conference, ACCA honored the 2021 award winners for the Residential and Commercial Contractors of the Year, the Federated Insurance-ACCA Super S.T.A.R. Award, the ACCA Distinguished Service Award, the ACCA Spirit of Independence Award, the ACCA Community Leadership Award, and the ACCA Marketing Masters Awards.
The closing general session, Lessons in Leadership, featured the current and outgoing Board Chairs and taught attendees to take what they learned over the past three days, and to break it down into workable tasks, and put it to work for their businesses.
ACCA’s 2022-2023 Board of Directors were announced during the event: Keith Paton, Ivey Mechanical LLC., Kosciusko, MS, board chair; Brian Stack, Stack Heating & Cooling, Avon, OH, immediate past chair; Stephen Pape, Pape Service Co., Desoto, TX, senior vice chair; Martin Hoover, Empire Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc., Decatur, GA, secretary/treasurer; Eddie McFarlane, HomeX, Lititz, PA, vice chair; Tim Cropp, CroppMetcalfe Services, Fairfax, VA, vice chair; and Directors: Craig Elliot, Nice Home Services, Springfield, VA; Vince Gillette, Gillette Air Conditioning Company, Inc., San Antonio, TX; Kurt Hudson, LC Anderson, LLC., Boston, MA; Ryan Kletz, Classic Air’s One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning, Virginia Beach, VA; Matt Marsiglio, Flame Furnace, Warren, MI; Cody Novini, SoCal Airflow Pros, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA; and Jennifer Pierce, Clay’s Climate Control, Linwood, NJ.
“ACCA 2022 was a great success, and we are honored that so many industry members came out to join us in St. Louis,” said Kimya Cajchun, ACCA director of events and benchmarking. “This conference was a long time coming, but was well worth the wait. We look forward to seeing contractors and our industry partners again this fall at The Solar Forum in Phoenix, AZ, at ACCA’s 2022 Fall Meetings in Baltimore, MD, and at ACCA's 2023 Conference & Expo in New Orleans, LA.”
