The Heating, Airconditioning and Refrigeration Distributors International Foundation will hold its second annual Texas A&M-organized research workshop in September.

“Optimizing Distributor Growth and Market Share” will take place Sept. 12-13 at the Hilton Chicago O’Hare Airport.

The workshop is the result of a yearlong study of the best practices for distributor growth by the university’s industrial distribution program. Three HARDI member companies have been selected to take part in this year’s event at no charge: Century A/C Supply in Houston, G.W. Berkheimer Co. of Indianapolis and Standard Supply in Dallas.

“The interest, participation and feedback we received from our distributor members exceeded our expectations,” said HARDI Chairman Don Frendberg. “We believe the outcomes of the School of Industrial Distributions Research initiatives provide invaluable resources to those who participate.”

Talbot Gee, HARDI’s executive vice president, echoed Frendberg’s comments.

“As a supporting member of these various Texas A&M research consortia, the HARDI Foundation is able to produce HVACR-specific outcomes focused on best practices most applicable to the two-step, contractor-focused sales channel making HARDI Foundation- produced workshops and other consortia deliverables unique and unmatched in value for HVACR distributors and their manufacturer partners,” Gee said.