Daryl Andrews (right) goes through a ShuBee catalogue with a contractor (left) at the 2007 Indoor Air Expo. ACCA will be hosting the 2008 expo at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colo. (Feature photos courtesy of ACCA.)
Association officials believe they have filled that request with Steve Farber, who will be the main speaker at the opening general session of the 40th annual event, dubbed “ACCA XL.” The conference, along with the annual Indoor Air Expo, is being held Feb. 5-7 at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colo.
“Over the past six years, the ACCA conference has continued to grow, not just in numbers, but in impact,” boasted ACCA President and CEO Paul Stalknecht.
“The ACCA conference has become the go-to gathering place for the leaders in the industry. That’s why you find all of the other sectors of the industry here at The Broadmoor as well, from manufacturing CEOs to elected leaders from other HVACR associations. But ultimately, it remains what it was born to be - a chance for contractors to transform themselves by learning from each other.”
Along with Farber and a host of interesting and knowledgeable speakers, this year’s “extra large” conference sports over 25 breakout workshops (see related story, “Workshops to Help Contractors Improve,” in this issue). An interesting note: Ray Isaac of Isaac Heating and Air Conditioning, Rochester, N.Y., will take over as the association’s chairman. His father was a chairman in 1990, which means Ray Isaac is to become the first second-generation chairman ACCA has ever had.
“It’s a different world from 40 years ago, and one could say a very different ACCA - but we remain strong because of our tradition of service to contractors,” said Stalknecht. “We come together to celebrate 40 great years, but even more importantly, to continue looking to the future. The most important thing about ACCA is that we keep changing because our members keep changing.”
OPENING AND CLOSING
Farber, who for six years was the right-hand man to renowned management thinker Tom Peters, will set the conference pace early. Farber is the president of Extreme Leadership, Inc., an organization devoted to the cultivation and development of “extreme leaders” in the business community.He is also the co-founding director of The Center for Social Profit Leadership, a nonprofit organization formed to serve the leadership development needs of social entrepreneurs. Farber also sits on the board of directors of the world-renowned program, Up With People, a global leadership program for students from 18 to 29 years old.
Not only is Farber an executive coach and speaker, he is also an author. His bestselling book,The Radical Leap: A Personal Lesson in Extreme Leadership, won the Reader’s Choice Award fromFast Companymagazine.
His second book,The Radical Edge: Stoke Your Business, Amp Your Life, and Change the World, was hailed as “a playbook for harnessing the power of the human spirit.” He is a contributor to the anthology,Leading Authorities on Business: Winning Strategies From the Greatest Minds in Business Today, and is the author of the audio series,Extreme Leadership: In Pursuit of the O.S.M.
Part strategist, part social commentator, part comedian, and - as ACCA described - “all energy,” Farber is going to kick off ACCA XL in a way “that the HVACR industry has never seen before,” boasted the association.
“We’re excited to have him,” said Kevin Holland, vice president of ACCA’s Business Operations and Memberships Division.
Steve Uzzell, a renowned ad-vertising and corporate photographer, will provide the closing keynote speech. His introduction to the photo industry began when he was an assistant to the editor ofNational Geographicand a member of its photographic staff. He has published two books of his own photography, his editorials have been featured in more than 80 publications, includingNewsweek,Time,Smithsonian, andU.S. News and World Report, and his cinematography has aired on ABC, CBS, NBC, and PBS.
Uzzell spends six months of the year traveling the world for his clients; the remainder is spent teaching and delivering his presentation, “Open Roads Open Minds: An Exploration of Creative Problem Solving.”
Uzzell said he believes the open road never fails to open a person’s mind; and once a person’s mind is opened, the boundless power of imagination is unlocked.
ACCA said Uzzell’s work teaches the public to put perspective to work everyday - in problem solving, in the creative process, and in enriching one’s life. Using his photographs as metaphoric illustrations of possibility and creativity, Uzzell asks audiences to take advantage of his experience and vision “to make any venture an adventure.”
Uzzell said his approach to his photographic work serves as a universal blueprint for problem solving. His audiences not only learn to be open to solutions that are unexpected, but that preparation lays the groundwork for magic to happen. “Our eyes will only ever see what our mind is prepared to comprehend,” said Uzzell.
At last year’s ACCA Convention, attendees had some fun trying to put in a putt or two at Carrier’s booth. Once again, Carrier Corp. will be among the exhibitors at the Indoor Air Expo, part of the 2008 ACCA Convention.
OTHER TOP ATTRACTIONS
Other scheduled top-notch presentations and events at ACCA’s conference include:• “Secrets of the Contractor Millionaires,” hosted by Adams Hudson, president of Hudson, Ink.In this seminar, attendees will see several million-dollar ads, the hottest marketing strategies, and media tips. Someone in the crowd is also going to win a complete marketing makeover gift. The selected person will get a team of marketing experts working for the winner, designing and implementing the winner’s plan and promotions, all designed within the winner’s budget.
• CEO/Contractor Forum.Once again,The NEWSwill sponsor this signature event, which brings together the CEOs of the leading HVACR manufacturers to discuss topics suggested by contractor members. Emceeing the event will beNEWSeditor-in-chief Mike Murphy.
• “I’ve Got a BIG Idea!”Those in attendance have the opportunity to share ideas submitted by contractors, plus have the time to discuss these ideas, and vote on the ideas. Prize money will be offered.
• Chairman’s reception and banquet.At this gala affair, ACCA’s top award winners and industry champions will be honored accordingly. (See list of contenders, page 22.)
• Town hall meeting.At this scheduled stop, contractors will have the opportunity to get with contractors from all over the nation to discuss important issues and help set the agenda for the association on matters vital to one’s business and the industry.
• “Extra large” Indoor Air Expo.Here attendees get the chance to talk one-on-one with some of the world’s leading HVACR suppliers and manufacturers.
For more information, call 703-824-8840, or visit www.acca.org.
Vendors have the opportunity to explain their products to members of the Air Conditioning Contractors of America at ACCA’s annual convention. More than 100 vendors will be on hand at this year’s event.
Sidebar: The Winners
The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) will be presenting winners in three categories at the 2008 Awards for Excellence program, part of the association’s annual convention. The finalists in the three categories are:AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN RESIDENTIAL CONTRACTING
• Selvey Heating & Cooling (Rossville, Ind.)
• Air Conditioning by Jay (Scottsdale, Ariz.)
• Hobaica Services (Phoenix, Ariz.)
AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN COMMERCIAL CONTRACTING
• Mallory & Evans (Scottsdale, Ga.)
• IC Refrigeration (Ceres, Calif.)
• Tri-City Mechanical (Chandler, Ariz.)
AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN TRAINING
• Halco Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning (Phelps, N.Y.)
• Jack Rise HVAC Technical Training (Tampa, Fla.)
• Energy Auditors (Mount Pleasant, S.C.)
“Each of these companies are to be commended for their commitment to professionalism and excellence,” said Paul T. Stalknecht, ACCA president and CEO. “Just making it this far is proof that they are examples to us all, and their work raises the standard for our entire industry.”
Sidebar: List of Expo Participants
Here are the manufacturers scheduled to exhibit at the 2008 Indoor Air Expo, which is part of the 2008 ACCA Conference: A.O. Smith Electrical Products Co.; Adtek Software Co.; Air Advice, Inc.; Aire Serv Heating & Air Conditioning Inc.; AirTime 500; American FINCO; American General Financial Services; American Standard; Appion Inc.; Aprilaire; Arzel Zoning Technology Inc.; Aspen Manufacturing; Atco Rubber Products Inc.; Automated Integration Inc.; Bacharach Inc.; Basement Systems Inc.; Bora Air Conditioning Inc.; Brainerd Compressor Inc.; Broan-Nutone; Carmel Financial; Carrier Corp.; Century Business Solutions; CertifiedBackground.com; Collier Consulting Group Inc.; Colorado Springs Dodge; Comfort Institute; Controlled Air Systems Inc.; Cooper-Atkins Corp.; CPS Products Inc.; Creditors Specialty Service, Inc.; Davis Business Solutions Inc.; Demilec (USA) LLC; Discrete Wireless; DuraTite Duct Systems; Dwyer Instruments Inc.; Dynamic Air Quality Solutions; Eco Water Systems LLC; Elite Software Development Inc.; Emerson Climate Technologies; Enertech Inc.; Enterprise Fleet Management; Equiguard Inc.; EWC Controls Inc.; Expresscopy.com; EZ Trap Inc.; Famhost; Filtration Manufacturing, Inc.; FleetBoss GPS; Fujitsu General America, Inc.; GE Consumer Finance; GE ECM by Regal-Beloit; GE Money; GE Security; General Filters, Inc.; General Plastics, Inc.; Goodman Manufacturing Co., LP; GPS-Buddy; HARDI; Honeywell; Hudson, Ink; HVACR-Tools.com; IAPMO; International Code Council; International Comfort Products; International Service Leadership, Inc.; Jackson Systems, LLC; Jerry Kelly Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc.; Jonas Software Ltd.; K. D. Engineering; Kickstart /OEM Products Inc.; Lennox Industries Inc.; Lexin Energy Systems, Inc.; LG Electronics USA; Lux Products Corp.; M A R S Workwear; Marley Engineered Products; Mason Wholesale; McQuay International; Mycometer, Inc.; NATE; National Compressor Exchange; Nordyne Inc.; NOVA Information Systems; Nu-Calgon Wholesaler Inc.; One Hour Air Conditioning Franchise; Online-Access, Inc.; Orlando Dodge (C/O Promotion Services); Parker Hannifin; Quietflex Manufacturing Co.; Quietside / Samsung; R E Michel Co Inc.; Reflectix Inc.; RGF Environmental; Rheem Air Conditioning Division - Rheem Manufacturing Co.; Rocky Research; Service Automation Inc.; Speed Clean; Stargate International, Inc.; Therma-Stor Products Division; To Your Success, Inc.; Trimble Mobile Solutions; Turbo Air Inc.; Ultimate Technical Academy; Warm Thoughts Communications; Wrightsoft Corp.; York International; and Zonefirst.Publication Date:02/04/2008
