COLUMBUS, Ohio — Heating, Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) has announced the industry leaders who will serve as mentors at the 2016 Emerging Leaders Summer Conference, July 17-19, in Chicago.
 
These respected leaders will draw on years of valuable industry experience to share their insights with the ambitious up and comers. Each mentor will focus on a different topic related to his or her particular area of expertise. Attendees frequently cite the mentor-led roundtables as the most beneficial portion of the event.
 
“Growing up in the industry, I was fortunate to have plenty of people to look up to who guided me on my journey,” said Michael Meier, president of HARDI, who will serve as one of the event’s 12 mentors. “It’s a rewarding feeling to give back in the same way and I encourage other leaders in the industry to do the same whether it’s through formal mentorship opportunities like this or simply taking a young employee under his or her wing.”
 
In addition to Meier, other 2016 Emerging Leaders mentors include Pete Varga, Allied Air; Lance Rantala, Bluehawk; Tom Roberts, cfm Distributors Inc.; Mark Lammert, Crescent Parts & Equipment Co. Inc.; Scott Larson, Gustave A. Larson Company; Talbot Gee, HARDI; Dave McIlwaine, HVAC Distributors Inc.; Karen Madonia, ILLCO Inc.; Richard Cook, Johnson Supply; Aaron Radke, Johnstone Supply; and Bud Mingledorff, Mingledorff’s Inc.
 
Any HARDI members interested in participating in the Emerging Leaders program can contact HARDI’s manager of professional development Nick Benton at nbenton@hardinet.org for more information.