ARLINGTON, Va. — ACCA honored Phil Forner of Allendale Heating Co. in Allendale, Michigan, with the ACCA Spirit of Independence Award during the 2019 Annual Conference and Expo that was held March 4-6 in San Antonio.

“[Forner] has made significant contributions that will have a lasting impact on professionalism in the industry,” said Barton James, ACCA president and CEO. “Phil is certainly dedicated and passionate about our industry, and he joins a select group of others who have received ACCA’s most treasured award.”

Forner served on ACCA’s board of directors, rising to chairman of the board in 2007. He is an active participant in several ACCA committees and served as chairman of the Technical Services Committee, the Codes Committee, and the Standards Task Team. Most recently, he was selected to serve as the vice president of the Michigan Air Conditioning Contractors Association, an ACCA affiliated contracting organization.

Forner led efforts to ensure ACCA was recognized by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) as a standards development organization. He was the driving force behind ACCA involvement in the International Code Council and International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, where ACCA supports contractor priorities in the national building code processes. Specifically, ACCA’s Manuals J, D, S, and SPS, are recognized and cited in code due, in part, to Forner’s involvement.

Forner has also been involved with ACCA’s government relations activities and, in 2004, helped secure the introduction of the earliest version of the HVAC Expensing and Technology (HEAT) Act by former-Congressman Pete Hoekstra, signed into law as part of the 2017 Tax Reform Package.  

Publication date: 4/4/2019