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Heather Marshman
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Mechanical Engineers Expect Notable Benefits from Networking,
Trend-Related Innovations at the 2016 AHR Expo in Orlando
WESTPORT, Conn., November 3, 2015 – Co-sponsored by the American Society of
Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc. (ASHRAE), the
International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition (AHR Expo) draws
wide-reaching attendance by mechanical engineering professionals each year.
From veteran attendees who’ve realized consecutive job wins through relationship
building at the Show, to new professionals serious about advancing in their careers,
the mechanical engineer audience represents a key focus of the 2016 AHR Expo’s
exhibitions and programming.
Engineers planning to attend next January 25 to 27 in Orlando anticipate value in
the ability to view and discuss the industry’s newest game-changing technologies,
from VRF/VRV to geothermal heat pumps, and controls to building management
software. Likewise, they have communicated the importance of being able to
evaluate the ongoing innovations in tried-and-true system categories like chillers,
cooling towers and air handling units.
Across the mechanical engineering community, past attendees of AHR Expo echo the
sentiment that, despite the challenges of managing a demanding workload, it has
been valuable to make time to be at the Show.
“I think we can all understand that losing three consecutive days of billable hours
and general work progress in the office can be tough,” said Jeff Bernagozzi, director
of engineering at GMK Engineering in Columbia, S.C. “We’re a smaller firm, but AHR
Expo is still something we’ve managed to actively attend over the years.”
Bernagozzi expressed interest in seeing exhibitors featuring new dehumidification
and cooling solutions at the 2016 Show in Orlando, particularly due to next year’s
exhibition in the Southeast, where this type of equipment addresses climate
challenges specific to the region.
“I’ve attended every Show since 2010 and, despite ebbs and flows in my business,
have made a point of attending because of the benefit in seeing people and their
products in person,” said Warren “Trey” Austin III, owner of Littleton, Colo.-based
Geo-Energy Services, LLC. “I’ve written new business from attending AHR Expo in
the past, and it’s one of the most important events I participate in all year.”
Austin, a voting member of ASHRAE Technical Committee TC 6.8 (Geothermal Heat
Pump and Energy Utilization), plans to attend both the 2016 AHR Expo and ASHRAE
Winter Conference in Orlando.
“It’s great to also be able to wrap Southeast region client meetings into next year’s
event, as it’s a cross-country trip for me but my business is international in scope,”
Austin explained. “Making the most out of travel is important when you own a
growing company.”
Sarah Medepalli, formerly with AHRI and now a mechanical engineer at ICF
International in Fairfax, Va. where, among other functions, she consults to the EPA
on establishing ENERGY STAR ratings, has been a loyal attendee of AHR Expo since
2003.
“I’d missed a few years of the Show because of a job transition, but returned in 2012
in a new role supporting the ENERGY STAR program,” Medepalli said. “EPA sees the
value in attending and conducting meetings with manufacturers and industry
stakeholders, and ever since that time AHR Expo has become an expected part of
EPA’s business plan.”
According to Medepalli, face-to-face meetings with manufacturers are the most
valuable part of her participation in AHR Expo.
“Working with the EPA in support of the ENERGY STAR program, I aim each year to
see as much as I can in the way of new and innovative energy-efficient products on
display,” she said. “It helps to develop personal relationships with those who
represent the products I’m working with for the remainder of the year, especially
because when you pick up the phone you know who’s on the other end, and vice
versa. Meeting someone face-to-face, especially if most of your interaction moving
forward isn’t going to be in person, is really key, and AHR Expo is the one place
where I can make these introductions most efficiently.”
Jordan Lee, a mechanical engineer at DLR Group in Seattle, denotes the importance
of attending AHR Expo as a young professional in the HVACR industry.
“I was fortunate enough to be invited by a manufacturer to the 2015 Show in
Chicago, and was literally shocked by its scale and size, and the number of
exhibitors,” Lee shared. “I’d never been to an event that large before.”
According to Lee, seeing as much of the exhibition floor as possible consumed the
majority of his time at the 2015 Show, however he found additional value in being
able to meet with out-of-town colleagues.
“DLR Group has 21 locations across the country, and it was great to be able to meet
with colleagues I’d spoken and emailed with, but never met in person before, while
we were all together in the same place,” said Lee.
Lee expressed further benefit from attending a variety of AHR Expo-related
hospitality events in Chicago.
“I was surprised by how many people I was able to meet, and the more casual and
relaxing nature of the events made it easier for me to strike up conversation,” he
shared.
Past mechanical engineer attendees have echoed a resounding sentiment that,
without fail, AHR Expo provides a unique, valuable and not-to-be-missed experience
each year.
“The Show has helped me grow in my professional development by just being able
to see where the industry is headed, and notice trends through the significant
variety of products on display from one year to the next,” said Medepalli. “It’s so
important to have a good handle on what is coming down the pipeline.”
“A majority of my business comes from networking connections, so I know that the
exchanges I have at AHR Expo are going to directly affect the company’s bottom
line,” Austin said. “Nothing has helped my business grow like referrals have, and the
majority of leads have come from attending this Show. I also take the opportunity
every year to look for new products in areas I don’t know as much about, and there’s
just no other opportunity for me to do this at a similar scope and size.”
“I’ve got a pretty specific agenda for the Show in Orlando, including seeing what’s
out there for healthcare applications with water-cooled chillers,” said Bernagozzi.
“It’ll be interesting to kick the tires and see what’s new.”
For additional information or to register for 2016 AHR Expo in Orlando, visit
www.ahrexpo.com.
About AHR Expo
The International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition (AHR Expo),
which began more than 85 years ago as a heating and ventilation show, has now
grown into one of the world’s largest HVACR events. The Exposition is held annually
in key markets and major cities across the U.S., hosting close to 2,000 exhibitors and
bringing in crowds of 60,000 industry professionals. The Show provides a unique
forum for the HVACR community to come together and share new products,
technologies, and ideas. The event is co-sponsored by ASHRAE and AHRI, and is held
in conjunction with ASHRAE’s Winter Conference.
About International Exposition Company, Inc. (IEC)
International Exposition Company (IEC) is a Westport, Conn.-based trade show
management company. For more than 100 years, the company has built its
reputation on a track record of honesty, respect and fairness for exhibiting
companies and show attendees. IEC owns and manages three major trade show
events; the annual AHR Expo (International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating
Exposition), the biennial AHR Expo-Mexico, and the biennial Chem Show.
Attendance across the three events totals in excess of 70,000.
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