The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) held back-to-back fall meetings, the Office & Operations Managers Forum, November 1-2, and the Service Managers Forum, Nov. 2-3, in New Orleans. These events brought together contracting professionals for industry-led educational programs and networking for the first time since 2019.

“ACCA’s 2021 Fall Meetings was a great way to invest in ourselves and our team,” said Renee Lucas, LCS Heating and Cooling, LLC owner and event attendee. “We always learn something new to implement into our business from the breakout sessions, but most of all, we find so much value in networking with other contractors. It felt so good to be back in-person at this event.”

Both events featured Jacob Schick, One Tribe Foundation CEO, as the keynote speaker. Schick, a USMC Veteran, shared valuable insight on maximizing the potential in people from all backgrounds, and his experience dealing with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

“It was truly my honor to speak at ACCA’s Fall Meetings this year,” Schick said. “I look forward to supporting this amazing group of Patriots and the essential work they do in the future."

Additional sessions included the following:

• Shining a Positive Light on HVAC as a Career with Shelly Matter of HB McClure.
• Workforce Development: From Homelessness to Hope with Ishan Heru of Community Connections.
• Renee’s Top 10 for Building Strong Teams Through Communication with Renee Lucas of LCS Heating and Cooling, LLC.
• Trust Sucks with Nick Espinosa of Security Fanatics & BSSi2 LLC.

ACCA also presented its Service Manager of the Year Award, sponsored by XOi Technologies, to Michael Barone of Encon Mechanical in Ocean Township, New Jersey.

“We had a wonderful turnout for our first in-person industry event in two years,” said Barton James, ACCA president and CEO. “The insights shared by speakers during both forums will help shape the future of our industry, and the camaraderie shown by those who attended made this one of our best events yet.”

ACCA’s Fall Meetings were sponsored by; Adrian Steel, AIG, Arkema, Inc., Aspen Refrigerants, Carrier, Chemours, CompanyCam, Daikin, Data-Basics, Inc., Dell Technologies, Emerson Climate Technologies, Federated Insurance, FieldEdge, FTL Finance, Fujitsu, Goodman, High Level Marketing, Home & Local Services, Honeywell, Inside the Blueprint, Interplay Learning, Jackson Systems, JCI/York, Mitek-Wrightsoft, Mitsubishi, Nexa, Nortek, Online Access, Owens Corning, Pearl Certification, Resideo, Rheem, Rival Digital, RUUD, RYNO Strategic Solutions, Sawin Service Automation, Schedule Engine, Scorpion, Service Factor, ServiceTitan, To The Point Home Services Podcast, Trane, Weave, Women in HVACR, and XOi.

ACCA’s next contractor events are The Solar Forum 2022, in partnership with Pearl Certification, January 24-25 at the Crowne Plaza in Phoenix, AZ, and ACCA’s 2022 Annual Conference & Expo, March 28-30 at the St. Louis Station in St. Louis, MO.

To register for The Solar Forum 2022, click here. To register for ACCA's 2022 Annual Conference & Expo, click here.

To view pictures from ACCA 2021 Fall Meetings, click here.

For more information about ACCA, please contact Natalie D'Apolito, ACCA communications coordinator, at natalie.dapolito@acca.org or 703-824-8873.