HVAC Excellence has granted accreditation to the following schools: South Central Louisiana Technical College (Reserve, La.); and Altamaha Technical College’s four HVACR programs (Jesup, Brunswick, Kingsland, FCI).

Comfort Supply, a wholesale distributor of Ruud HVAC products, announced the opening of a sixth location in Chattanooga.

Direct Expansion Solutions (Houston) announced that it will be the exclusive supplier of Reflok® air conditioning connection components in Texas.

HTS Texas (Houston) celebrated its 10th anniversary.

Modern Supply Co. (Knoxville, Tenn.) has been selected as the overall winner for WIT& Co.’s WHAM (WIT Honors Achievements in Marketing) award for 2010 innovative marketing initiatives. Modern Supply submitted entries in six categories including advertising & brand awareness for the creation of their fictional spokesperson Modern’s Millie.

Aireco Supply Inc. (Laurel, Md.) and M&M Controls (Timonium, Md.) have been named Belimo Americas Platinum Distributors for 2012.

Johnson Controls (Waynesboro, Pa.) announced a 2 percent price increase on all Frick brand evaporative condensers sold in North America.

“Work hard. Play hard. That is the kind of schedule we have provided for you this year,” said Talbot Gee, executive vice president and COO of Heating, Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) as he opened the 2011 Annual Conference at the Grand Wailea Resort in the island paradise. Nearly 1,000 members traveled to Maui for the annual conference.

Ken Perotta of Crescent Parts & Equipment Co. in St. Louis, views the HARDI conference in Maui as an opportunity “to continue to form good, long-lasting relationships with other wholesalers and vendors, sharing ideas and concerns, and looking for opportunities within our industry.”

Karen Madonia of Illco Inc., said of HARDI’s Maui conference, “Like all HARDI events, this year’s conference will undoubtedly provide us with an opportunity to hear what’s going on in the industry; to discover new ways to approach the challenges we face in growing our businesses; to network with friends and colleagues throughout the country; and to learn how the HARDI staff is continually working to promote our industry and improve our companies - all while in another beautiful resort.”