ACCA Fall Meeting Returns With a Dynamic Line-up of Speakers

ACCA is holding two back-to-back fall meetings this year

Martin Hoover of Empire Heating and Air Conditioning Inc. in Decatur, Georgia, is the chairman of the 2024-2025 ACCA board of directors.

Image courtesy of ACCA

ACCA has not held an in-person event in 23 months, but that streak will be broken in November.

ACCA is holding two back-to-back fall meetings, bringing together hundreds of contracting professionals for educational programs and networking events from November 1-3, 2021, at the New Orleans Marriott in New Orleans, Louisiana.

ACCA Office and Operations Managers Forum (November 1-2) addresses the challenges and opportunities of running a service business. ACCA’s Service Managers Forum (November 2-3) features educational programs that help contractors and business leaders.

“We are ready to get back to in-person events and so are our contractors,” ACCA director of events Kimya Cajchun said. “We have heard from a lot of people who are excited and motivated about this event.”

The keynote speaker will be Jacob Schick of One Tribe Foundation. It is an organization that has created a community that raises awareness and combats suicide by empowering veterans, first responders, and their families through traditional and non-traditional therapies. Schick knows this issue from experience, having a triple-stacked tank mine detonate below his vehicle in Al Anbar Province, Iraq in 2004. He suffered compound fractures in his left leg and left arm; multiple skin, ligament and bone losses; varying burns; partial loss of his left hand and arm; amputation below the knee of his right leg, traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

This is a big tie-in for ACCA as HVAC contractor workforce development includes a lot of military veterans. It is not just hiring this individuals, but knowing how to manage them when they are on the team.

“When people come out of the military – especially if they have seen combat – the question is how are we giving back?” Cajchun said. “They certainly have skills that are far beyond what most people have coming out of high school. It will be a great resource for our contractors.”

In addition to the keynote speakers, industry professionals presenting include Renee Lucas, LCS Heating and Cooling, LLC.; Matt Marsiglio, Flame Furnace; and Matt Akins and Melissa Broadus, Air Conditioning Contractors of America, among others.

Also, Michael Barone of Encon Mechanical will be recognized as Service Manager of the Year. Barone showed extraordinary leadership skills during the entire pandemic. During all the uncertainty, he kept his entire team informed and ready to perform.

Those interested still have time to register at www.accafallmeetings.com.

“The 2021 ACCA Fall Meetings are a must attend event for our industry,” said Bart James, ACCA president and CEO. “ACCA has been working hard to bring in-person events back to our industry because we know the value found in our events for our members. The face-to-face interactions coupled with educational material is something our members and corporate partners have been itching for since the beginning of the pandemic, and ACCA is ready to deliver.”

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Kyle Gargaro is Editorial Director & Associate Publisher of The ACHR NEWS. He can be reached at 248-244-1720 or kylegargaro@achrnews.com. Gargaro has been with The ACHR NEWS since 2004, first as Legislation Editor, then Managing Editor, and now as Editorial Director & Associate Publisher. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism.