For immediate release
April 11, 2006
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The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) is pleased to announce that Richard Dean was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors at the 2006 Annual Conference and Indoor Air Expo in San Jose March 28-30. ACCA is the nationwide trade association representing heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) contracting businesses.

Dean is a principal at Environmental Systems Associates, Columbia, MD. He worked his way up through the ranks, starting as a helper 34 years ago. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Systems Management from the University of Maryland. Dean said he joined ACCA because he wanted to learn more about the industry … and running a business. “You can be the best technician in the world,” he said, “but if you’re not a good businessperson, you won’t survive, and if you don’t survive you can’t serve your customers.” He added that ACCA training and his MIX Group® have shown him different business models and marketing strategies, such as flat-rate pricing and service agreements, that are the cornerstones of his success today.

In addition, he said, “Through ACCA we can influence what happens to us, rather than just let it happen to us. I’m excited about taking the Chairman’s reins because we’re on an upswing. We have more confidence in our ability to influence events and policies. I want to help capitalize on what we’ve gained.”

It’s also an opportunity to give back to the industry. “The board is a collaborative, cooperative body,” he explained. “We all want to serve members better. But, frankly, serving on the Board is one the best investments of my time. I learn so much from working with some of the best people in the industry.”

Dean and his wife, Carol, have five children. Two of them are developmentally disabled, and this has led to many opportunities for community service on behalf of children like his. He is a Past President of the Board of the Association for Retarded Citizens (ARC) of Howard County and currently serves as Treasurer of the Board for the Benedictine School for Exceptional Children, a school for developmentally disabled youngsters.

Dean is a past president of the ACCA National Capital Chapter and remains an active member of the chapter.

The association’s members also elected a new Executive Committee. The committee members are:

Phil Forner, Senior Vice Chair. Forner is with Allendale Heating Company Inc., Allendale, Mich. He is a Past President of the ACCA Michigan Chapter. A graduate of Ferris State University, Forner is on the Steering Committee for the Michigan Alliance for Fair Competition and has been on dealer advisory committees for Lennox, Rheem, and Honeywell.

Stan Johnson, Treasurer. Johnson has been with Stan’s Heating and Air Conditioning Inc. in Austin, Tex. since 1972. He was a founding member of the ACCA Austin and ACCA Texas chapters, serving as president of both. Under his leadership, ACCA Texas was instrumental in passing HVAC licensing laws in the state.

Ray Isaac, Secretary. Isaac’s grandfather started Isaac Heating and Air Conditioning Inc., Rochester, N. Y. 60 years ago. His father was Chairman of ACCA in 1990. Ray Isaac started working at Isaac Heating and Air Conditioning when he was 14. He credits ACCA with much of the company’s success over the years.

Chris Colditz, Vice Chair. Colditz and her husband, Gordon, founded Laco Mechanical, Elk Grove Village, Ill. 25 years ago. Colditz was elected to the board in 2004. She is currently Chair of the Government Relations Committee and the newly created Program Advisory Committee. She also serves on the Membership Committee.

Larry Cook, Vice Chair. Cook is President of TD Industries, Dallas and has been an ACCA Board member since 2003. He also serves as Chairman of the Air Conditioning Advisory Council for Texas State Technical College. Cook has been Chairman of the ACCA North Texas Chapter and active in the Better Business Bureau of Central East Texas.

Richard Foard, Vice Chair. Foard owns Blue Dot Services of Maryland in Forest Hill. He joined Ridge Sheet Metal Company in 1978; in 1990 he bought the company. He sold it to Blue Dot in 1998, but bought it back five years later. His experience with ACCA includes past presidency of the ACCA Baltimore Chapter and previous service as an ACCA National Board member.

Greg Leisgang, Immediate Past Chair. Leisgang, owner of JonLe Heating – Cooling in Cincinnati, was ACCA’s 2005 Chairman of the Board. He graduated cum laude from the University of Cincinnati with a degree in mechanical engineering. His company was honored as the ACCA Quality Contractor of the Year in 1993 and the Carrier Distinguished Dealer in 1996.

Skip Snyder, Chair, Advisory Council. Snyder Company is located in Upper Darby, Penna. After graduating from Temple University in 1970 and serving as an ROTC Second Lieutenant in the Infantry, he returned to work full time for M.A. Snyder Co., which his father founded. Snyder Company specializes in hydronics and combustion.

Other members of the Board are: Jeff Beyer, Beyer Mechanical, Ltd., San Antonio, Tex.; William C. Boehm, Entek Corporation, Longview, Wash.; Thomas C. Castellano, Castellano’s Air Conditioning & Heating, Inc., Tampa, Fla.; Steve Davies, Davies Air Design, Inc., Mobile, Ala.; Laura DiFilippo, DiFilippo’s Service Company Inc., Paoli, Penna.; Bob Elolf, Environmental Air Systems, Inc., Houston, Tex.; Tom Hackshaw, Dynatemp Inc., Silver Spring, Md.; David S. Hutchins, Bay Area Air Conditioning & Heating, Crystal River, Fla.; Sue. K. Meacham, Mark E. Meacham Inc., Charlton, Mass.; Jeffrey A. Miller, Al-Don Service, Inc., St. Louis, Mo.; William L. Moss, M & H Heating & Air Conditioning Inc., Memphis, Tenn.; Joe Nichter, Tri-City Mechanical, Chandler, Ariz.; Charles Rauch, Valley Heating & Air Conditioning, McMurray, Penna.; Robert C. Ring, Meyer & Depew Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N. J.; Larry Sambrook, Albemarle Heating & Air Inc., Charlottesville, Va.; John D. Sedine, Engineered Heating & Cooling, Grand Rapids, Mich.; Bruce M. Silverman, Airite Air Conditioning Inc., Tampa, Fla.; and, Eric Woerner, Airtron Heating & Air Conditioning, Indianapolis, Ind.

For more than forty years, the Air Conditioning Contractors of America has served the educational, policy and technical interests of the small businesses that design, install, and maintain indoor environmental systems. ACCA is a non-profit organization with members in all 50 states and over 20 countries. Learn more at www.acca.org.

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