Pictured left to right: Bud Nardello, vice president of sales, Mitsubishi Electric; Hugh Drumm III, senior vice president, HVAC sales, ABCO; John Matson, Northeast business unit manager, Mitsubishi Electric; Michael Senter, CEO, ABCO; and Paul Rebelo, COO, ABCO.

“The theme of this year’s conference was ‘ho’oholomua,’ a Hawaiian word that roughly translates to ‘progress,’” said Bud Nardello, vice president of sales, Mitsubishi Electric US Cooling & Heating Division. “The strength and continued growth of our relationships with our distributors and manufacturer’s representatives is essential to Mitsubishi Electric’s success. They are the foundation to our progress as we move forward.”

Throughout the three-day conference, attendees participated in discussion groups, strategy sessions, and shared knowledge on how best to support the Mitsubishi Electric brand. Sessions focused on commercial and residential product marketing strategies and how to use new media to meet goals and ultimately achieve progress.

Featured speakers included, Sully Sullenberger, a retired U.S. Airways pilot; Dr. Jeffrey Dietrich, an economics speaker; Jamie Whitmore, an Xterra triathlon champion; Norberto Lara, a U.S. Army veteran; and Katsua Takimiya, president and CEO of Mitsubishi Electric US Group Cos.

ABCO HVACR Supply + Solutions, Long Island City, N.Y., was named the 2012 Distributor of the Year, while Roy C. Martin Co. Inc., Birmingham, Ala., was named the Manufacturer’s Representative of the Year.

“The commitment of our distributors and manufacturer’s representatives is integral to our past success and future progress,” said Nardello. “This important annual gathering allows us to acknowledge the significant contributions of our partners toward our common business goals.”

Publication date: 4/8/2013