At the beginning of the year, AHRI chairman Ed Purvis established his 2015 Chairman’s Challenge, calling for AHRI member companies to visit schools with HVACR programs to promote careers in the industry and the Rees Scholarship Program, which provides financial assistance to qualified HVACR students.

The Merit Shop Scorecard grades states on project labor agreement (PLA), prevailing wage, and right-to-work policies, as well as their construction job growth rate, commitment to developing a well-trained workforce, level of flexibility in career and technical education curricula, and use of public-private partnerships (P3s).

The CCI is calculated based on a survey of the association’s contractor members, who are asked how positive they feel about new business prospects, existing business activity, and expected staffing decisions in the short-term future. 

The awards celebrate the outstanding individuals and organizations at the forefront of sustainability in the built environment.

At www.achrnews.com, The NEWS’ Extra Edition page is home to hundreds of online-exclusive service and maintenance, technical, and business management articles. Here are some of the best.

Wallner Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning president Patrick Wallner is named to PHCC's Educational Foundation Board of Governors.

Air Systems Inc. president Art Williams receives 2015 Distinguished Citizen Award; more HVAC commercial contractor news briefs.

Knipex Tools LP’s Hose Clamp Pliers earns award; Lux Products Corp. names new director of product management; more HVAC manufacturer news briefs.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce welcomes AHRI president and CEO Stephen Yurek as one of four new Association Committee of 100 executives; more HVAC organization news briefs.

On Controls added Powerline Control Systems Inc. to its Partners in Control cooperative program; more HVAC software news briefs.