| Contracting Business

The HVACR industry is all about people: contractors at work to keep homes and buildings comfortable and safe, and others who have dedicated their lives to training in vocational schools and as independent consultants. Once I started here, I was soon talking with and meeting many of the “greats” of HVACR, either by phone, during contractor visits, and during national events, including our Comfortech Show, which Dominick Guarino and Jeff Forker started in 1996 and which ran for 19 years.

Who to thank? I have a long memory, and until the Lord takes it away, I will never forget you:

Mike Weil, Kate Kelly, Ron Rajecki, Pete Grasso, Valerie Stakes, Steve Palmison, Connie Conklin, Andrea Begany-Garsed, Marge Dietrich, Denise Walde, Mike Eby, Steve Spaulding, Rob McManamy, Scott Arnold, Charlie Greer, Dominick Guarino, Charlie Greer, Tom Casey, Jr., Drew Cameron, Steve Miles, Chris Peel, Randy Roberts John Schwartz, Mark Klein, John and Dan Vastyan, Wesley Schmidt, Holt, David Richardson, Don Gillis, Vince and Laura DiFilippo, Drew Barbosa, Louis Hobaica, Matt Michel, Chris Peel, Mike Smith, Lori Quillen-Bell, Eddie McFarlane, Barton James and the team at ACCA, also Service Nation, Business Development Resources, EGIA, RSES, PHCC, RSES, MCAA, MSCA, SMACNA and The Unified Group, all of which provide excellent contractor support and host excellent events; Bill Almquist, Larry Taylor, Steve Saunders, Dewey Jenkins, Martin Hoover, Stan Johnson, Steve Howard, Brian Stack, Gary Upton, Mitch Cropp, Lee, Betsy and Michael Rosenberg, Josh Kahn, Ken Goodrich, Dick Starr, the fantastic Vicki and John LaPlant, John Owens, and some favorite people who have passed away: Bob Mader, Rob “Doc” Falke, Ron Smith, Pat Rucker, Joe Fristik, and Steve Wright. Much thanks, and good luck to our current sales team: Randy Jeter, Bill Boyadjis, Brian Sack, Elllyn Fishman, Jay Thompson, Steve Suarez and David Sevin. Connie Conklin, Susan Lakin and JJulie Whitty provided graphic design support at various times, Julie most recently, with some pinch-hitting by Meg Fuschetti.

I called some people. One was Bill Almquist, past owner and president of Almcoe Refrigeration in Dallas, which is now owned by Smart Care. Bill is among my favorite industry people. He was one of the contractors we brought together for our series of Refrigeration Roundable summits in the mid- to late-2000s. Not to be self-serving, but Bill said, “You’re living the dream, in large measure due to the kindness you showed to us and to everybody you came in contact with. That is more valuable than any fortune.”  

As I told Bill, the people in this industry are real. I’ve never met anyone who wasn’t anything but welcoming and helpful. You who remain should take that as a compliment and testament to your own value systems.

I especially want to thank my wife, Terrie, for her love and support all the way through.

Additional changes for 2025: Our 2025 class of contractor “Influencers” will be Vince DiFilippo, Michael Rosenberg, Tucker Yarbrough, Andy Hobaica, Tersh Blisseett and Joshua Crouch. We had 12 Influencers in 2024, but that was too many to juggle. Thanks to our 2024 Influencers for their contributions.

Alyssa Rogers, VP of Rogers Heating & Cooling, Boston, Mass., will now appear every other month in the space previously occupied so well for 30 years by Dominick Guarino, CEO of National Comfort Institute. This change was made so we can provide more regular commentary from an HVAC contractor.

I won’t miss planes and airports, but I will miss the shows, and most of all, you, people of HVACR. Contractors, please support our new editor. We want letters, observations from the field and volunteers for business management and project articles and even contractor podcasts. I know everyone is busy but please try to help in any way you can.

Best wishes to all.

Terry