Heating, Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International(HARDI) concluded 2024 with its largest annual conference to date. Held Dec. 7–10 in Atlanta, the event welcomed over 2,030 attendees, including more than 550 wholesaler representatives from 181 companies, 65 Solution Center providers, 45 unique member sponsors, and a sold-out Booth Program featuring 230 suppliers and manufacturers.

“Atlanta capped off a historic year for HARDI, with record attendance reflecting our growth in distributor and total membership,” said Talbot Gee, HARDI CEO. “This success stems from the unwavering focus of our Board, volunteers, and team on our mission. Our industry thrives when competitors come together, united in delivering greater value to their customers and expanding distribution’s share of HVACR sales.

“Manufacturers are in for another challenging year of transition, so HARDI distributors must prepare for anything and everything 2025 might throw at them. The energy and engagement in Atlanta makes me think we’re on the right track. The strong commitment we’ve already seen to the 2025 Congressional Fly-In and our professional certifications underscores the proactive mindset our members are bringing into the year ahead.”

The conference opened with a keynote from Ross Bernstein, award-winning speaker and best-selling author of nearly 50 sports books. Bernstein’s presentation set the tone for the event by emphasizing leadership and relationship building. Dr. Anirban Basu delivered his signature witty, quick-fire perspective on complex economic topics, while Pamela Burnum closed the event with an empowering session on effective communication techniques for leadership success.

“Each year, we refine our programming to address critical industry changes, from regulatory shifts to emerging trends and business innovations,” said Allison Greene, HARDI marketing director. “With input from our member-driven HARDI Councils, we design a program that focuses on what matters most to HVACR professionals. Our keynote speakers were handpicked to energize and spark the kind of curiosity that drives personal and organizational breakthroughs. The result was a lineup of sessions and discussions that left attendees buzzing with ideas and armed with actionable takeaways.”

The conference featured 29 breakout sessions, including presentations from HARDI’s Market Intelligence team on data-driven strategies for business development and benchmarking. Four Regional Forecast sessions offered in-depth analyses of economic and regulatory trends unique to each region.

Awards and Recognitions

At the conference, HARDI honored individuals and member organizations whose unique achievements exemplify the association’s mission and make exceptional contributions to the HVACR wholesale industry:

• Voice of Distributor Award: Jeff Underwood, RectorSeal
• Market Intelligence Pillar Award: CFM Equipment
• Talent Pillar Award: Rheem Air Distribution
• Advocacy Pillar Awards: 
1. Christian Baca, Rheem Northeast Distribution
2. Michael Meier, Meier Supply
• LATAM Distributor Award: APR Supply Co.
• LATAM Strategic Sponsor Awards: NAVAC, Inc. and DiversiTech Corporation

Celebrating Emerging Leaders

Fifteen participants graduated from HARDI’s Emerging Leaders program, a three-year initiative equipping future HVACR executives with essential leadership skills.

“The Talent Development team was honored to celebrate our Emerging Leaders graduates,” said Stella Gary-Keane, vice president of talent development. “These individuals demonstrated exceptional determination, innovation, and growth in leadership. We can’t wait to see the impact they will continue to make in the industry.”

Looking Ahead

The 2025 Annual Conference will be held Dec. 8–11 at the Wynn Las Vegas in Las Vegas. The new Monday through Thursday format reflects feedback from HARDI members and demonstrates the association’s commitment to continually improving the conference experience.