2009 ASHRAE Annual Conference Testimonials from Past Conference Attendees

Read what past attendees have to say about the value of attending ASHRAE conferences. From networking to career building to learning about the latest technology, attendees say there are numerous reasons for you to take part.

• For the last 15 years, every job I’ve gotten has been a direct contact of a relationship I built through ASHRAE,” says Gary Debes, a design engineer from Philadelphia. In addition, Debes said many of the projects he has worked on through his years in the industry came through contacts made at ASHRAE conferences.  “The potential of ASHRAE meetings to help build your business is tremendous.
• Making your existing buildings and/or designing new buildings with energy efficient measures is imperative,” said Ira Poston, a customer relations manager from Burlington, N.C.  “The ASHRAE Conference provides you with the information you need to achieve that efficiency. With impending climate change legislation, energy costs could jump up 20-50 percent, depending on your location in the U.S.
• During a recent National Capital Chapter breakfast, I was speaking with one of our active member’s boss,” said Dan Pettway,  a sales engineer from Chesapeak, Va.” I asked him when the last time was he attended an ASHRAE Conference to take advantage of the seminars, symposiums, and forums. His response was it had been a very long time. I asked him how he could not attend a meeting where the latest technology in our business would be presented and discussed – how he felt about not possessing the information to make him the most capable and knowledgeable competitor in an economy where only the best might survive. After a few minutes, the executive re- approached me and responded that in past years he thought that these sessions were for the young and less experienced engineers, but after thinking about our conversation he thought it might be a very good idea for him to come to Louisville. ASHRAE is the premier source for not only the basics, but for the latest and best technology in the HVAC&R industry.
• Today’s crisis economy means the ASHRAE Conference is more important than ever because of the opportunity to hone your skills on building energy and indoor environment and refrigeration systems issues through formal training session, the technical program, technical committee activities, and most importantly, networking with your peers from around the world,” said Sheila Hayter, senior research supervisor from Golden, Colo. “ASHRAE is on the cutting edge of leading the buildings industry address the challenges facing the industry today with a primary focus to reduce energy consumption, which in turn cut costs and reduce emissions.  The ASHRAE Conference is an ideal forum to share ideas, learn new strategies, and stay on top of the latest developments in this area, making you more competitive in your own work.