HVAC put on a suit ― or a gown ― and went to prom Sunday night before AHR Expo. At the Adler Planetarium in downtown Chicago, a sold-out crowd of about 300 HVAC contractors, manufacturers, “influencers,” and friends mingled over cocktails, struck a pose on the red carpet, and celebrated the community builders boosting the HVAC industry through social media.
The event’s theme is “Blue Collar Goes Black Tie,” and while black tie may not be the usual attire for HVAC contractors, Ben Poole, event host and founder of HVAC Tactical, said it’s important to dress up now and then because “when you feel your best, you do your best.”
“I hope people come out of this thinking, ‘Man, what a great community we’ve built,’” said Poole in an interview before the awards ceremony. “When we’re all pushing in the right direction, the same direction, we can get a whole lot of momentum, and I think at tonight’s event, and last year’s event in Atlanta, you’re seeing that momentum happening. The passion in the industry’s reigniting. We’re getting to a point now where we’re attracting people into the trades, not recruiting people into the trades. And that’s the whole point.”
The 2024 HVAC Tactical Award winners were:
- Lady of the Trade Award: Jennifer Manzo, @hvachicksjennifer
- Hidden Gem Award: Mike Frass, @superiorgasinstallations
- Behind the Scenes Award: Brandon Price, AC Service Tech
- Lifeline Tech Award: Dylan Roper, @hvacdyl
- Best Social Content: Adrian Garcia, @reliablehvacr
- Picture Perfect Install: Tyler Dynes, @dyneshvac
- Mentor of the Year Award: Brett Wetzel, @advancedrefrigerationpodcast
- Podcast of the Year Award: Service Business Mastery Podcast, @servicebusinessmasterypodcast
- Influencer of the Year Award: Ty Branaman, @love2hvac
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Eugene Silverstein
As befits a celebration of HVAC in social media, the event was livestreamed on HVAC Tactical’s YouTube page.
Poole closed the event with some advice to the up-and-comers of HVAC.
“To the young guns coming up into the trade, you don't know what you don't know. So set your ego aside, and don't underestimate what the old heads have to offer you,” he said. “Yes, some are stuck in their ways, but be patient with them. They are cut from a completely different cloth than you. But they still have an incredible amount of knowledge and experience that you can soak in.
“You're gonna make mistakes,” he continued. “That part is pretty much guaranteed. It's what you do with those mistakes that matters. Mastering your craft is not a destination. You don't just magically arrive one day. It's a never-ending process. Decide who you want to be ― then find your lane and run the distance.”
