ARLINGTON, Va. — Eight HVACR and water heating industry associations spanning the United States and Canada have announced the formation of the HVACR Workforce Development Foundation. The Foundation will work to raise awareness of the industry, attract new members to the workforce, and enhance the quality of the available workforce in the industry.

Foundation members include the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA); Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI); Air Movement and Control Association International (AMCA); American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE); Heating, Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI); Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI); Plumbing, Heating, Cooling Contractors Association (PHCC); and Refrigeration Service Engineers Society (RSES).

“This foundation is representative of the industry’s effort to promote education, projects, and partnerships that will attract committed and skilled employees to the industry,” said Stephen Yurek, president and CEO of AHRI. “The HVACR and water heating industry offers a great career path, and we want more people to be a part of it.”

“The benefits of this foundation will quickly be felt throughout our industry,” said Paul Stalknecht, ACCA president and CEO. “It only makes sense to pool our efforts and leverage our resources to improve awareness of our industry and its benefits and attract future employees.”

Warren Heeley, president of HRAI, sees good things from cross-border cooperation. “Our industries are inextricably linked, so it is to our mutual benefit to partner on these key industry initiatives,” he said.

The foundation will market to the industry, as well as federal and state education and labor departments, and career and technical education programs. It will also educate secondary school principals, counselors, and teachers of the career prospects in the HVACR industry.

Publication date: 6/25/2012