The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) has appointed Joe Trauger as the association's senior vice president of policy and government relations. Trauger will join the AHRI team December 1.

Trauger is currently vice president of government relations at the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) where he is the senior lobbyist before Congress and the Administration. He will direct AHRI's federal, state, and global lobbying efforts, and will also be a key part of AHRI's efforts in the regulatory arena.

"Joe brings a wealth of association, lobbying, and legislative experience to AHRI,” said AHRI president and CEO Stephen Yurek.  "Our member companies are involved in a variety of issues on Capitol Hill and in several federal agencies. We are looking forward to having someone with Joe's breadth of experience leading our government relations efforts as we welcome a new Congress and a new administration to Washington."

Trauger has more than 10 years of experience on Capitol Hill, both as a staff member for a U.S. senator and several representatives and also in the House leadership as the senior policy adviser in the offices of the majority leader and majority whip. He also worked with the House Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and Education and the Workforce Committees; and with the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and the Senate Finance Committee.