M. Dennis Knight, P.E., BEMP, Fellow Life Member
2024-25 ASHRAE President
Farewell Message
June 21, 2025 | Phoenix, Arizona
Good afternoon, everyone.
As I stand here today in Phoenix, I am filled with a mix of emotions – gratitude, pride, and a sense of accomplishment. It has been an honor to serve as your president for the 2024–25 Society Year.
A year ago in Indianapolis, I issued a call to action: to tell our stories – your stories – about how ASHRAE and this industry foster mentors, role models and collaborators. I encouraged us to articulate our “why”: Why HVAC&R is a great career, why it matters and why it is essential to the future of our planet.
Over the past year, my wife Shirl and I had the privilege of traveling extensively to serve our members and champion our collective mission. Along the way, we met with chapters across Regions 9, 10,and 11, engaged with sheet metal unions in several states and sat down with leaders from two of the largest design firms in the U.S. I also met with staff from both of my U.S. senators in Washington, D.C., advocating for policies that elevate our profession.
Internationally, we expanded ASHRAE’s global footprint by chartering new chapters in the Nordic Countries, Ghana and Egypt, as well as establishing a student branch at Accra Technical University in Ghana, where we also helped launch the first-ever chapter-sponsored HVAC&R Technician Apprenticeship Program. We also chartered student branches at nine institutions in the UK and Europe. We inaugurated the first UK technician training center, BETA (Built Environment Training Academy) at Loughborough University, entirely funded by industry partners.
In France, Italy, and Switzerland, I made the first-ever presidential visits to our French, Italian, and Swiss Sections and student branches. The French section is located at one of the world’s oldest technical universities in the world, CNAM (The National Conservatory of Arts and Crafts) where Marie Curie once studied. The Swiss branch is situated at ETHZ, the school where Einstein taught early in his career. That French Section is translating ASHRAE Standard 62.1 into French for proposed adoption as France’s national indoor air quality standard. I also made first-time presidential visits to Brussels and Zurich, meeting with European Parliament members in Brussels, global HVAC&R manufacturers in Switzerland, and participating in the CLIMA conference and the first Associate Society Alliance meeting held outside North America in Milan, where we anticipate a new chapter emerging in the next society year.
I visited students at University College Dublin, engaging in meaningful conversations about workforce development, mentorship, and the value of membership in ASHRAE and their national engineering societies. In Glasgow, I toured a 5-megawatt ammonia-based district heating - heat pump plant, witnessing innovation that aligns with our mission for sustainable solutions.
I also delivered my presidential address on workforce development and gave Distinguished Lecturer presentations on commissioning, energy modeling, BIM, building decarbonization, and health and wellness in the built environment to more than 100 chapters, student branches, and allied organizations globally.
One particularly impactful experience was attending the 17th annual ASHRAE–UNEP Working Group meeting, where we reviewed our 2024–25 work plan and laid the groundwork for an AI-driven tool based on our RAC Guide to serve HVAC&R technicians in the Global South.
All of these moments speak to ASHRAE’s growing global relevance, our focus on education and workforce development and our commitment to diversity and inclusion. They also represent the power of storytelling, partnership and showing up to do the necessary work.
As I conclude this presidency, I reflect on my own beginnings 51 years ago, and the mentors who shaped my journey – people like Fred Howard, who believed in me and offered me my first job as a Power Plant Piping Systems Designer. I also want to thank my wife, Shirl, for her unwavering support throughout my career. Celebrating our 51st anniversary this year, at this meeting has reminded me of the importance of commitment and partnership, both in personal and professional life.
I would like to take a moment to recognize a few people who have been role models, mentors and collaborators throughout my journey. First, I thank the members of the Region 4, Charleston, SC Chapter of ASHRAE, including Randy Jones, Ron Runyon, Charles Hipp, Jr., Charles Hipp III, Al Hitchcock, Melvin Knight, Mark Uyak, and Barret Williams. The list could go on for days. They welcomed me into this magnificent organization and have been my best friends and supporters.
I also want to acknowledge the past presidents of ASHRAE, who have been mentors and collaborators. Each of them, many of whom are here with us today, has given me confidence in my ability to advance ASHRAE's mission and vision. I am humbled to join their ranks of committed professionals.
I extend my heartfelt thanks to the members of my Treasurer’s Advisory Committee (TRAC) and President-Elect Advisory Committee (PEAC), including Karine Leblanc, Dunstan MacCauley, Susan Collins, Sheila Hayter, Julia Keen, Andres Sepulveda, Tim Wentz, Don Brandt, Luke Leung, Trent Hunt, Blake Ellis, Bill Klock, Art Geisler, and Megan Tosh. Their honest feedback and guidance have been invaluable as we worked on initiatives focused on workforce development.
I am also grateful to the dedicated and capable members of our ASHRAE staff, including Jeff Littleton, Candace Denton, Chandrias Jolly, Vanita Gupta, Craig Wright, Karen Washington, Anne Wilson, Rhiannon Masterson, Stephanie Reiniche, Steve Hammerling, Tony Giometti, Lizzy Seymor, Tracey Keller, Tammy Catchings, and many others who work tirelessly behind the scenes to support me, our members and leadership.
As we look ahead, the demand for skilled HVAC&R professionals remains urgent and technology will continue to reshape our field. But within these challenges lie great opportunities. By embracing AI, fostering innovation and staying focused on sustainability, we can build a more resilient and efficient future.
We must think in terms of “Flow,” as Presidential Member Chuck Gulledge described – eliminating waste and optimizing processes. And as Presidential Member Sheila Hayter reminded us, we must be present, inspire and provide vision to lead our industry forward.
As I conclude my term, I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together. I hope this presidency has inspired a new generation to lead with passion and purpose. Remember: every story matters, and every conversation can spark change. Our success – organizationally and personally – happens one conversation at a time.
Let’s keep showing up, doing the work and striving for a more inclusive, equitable and innovative industry. Let’s take pride in our accomplishments. Let’s stay true to ASHRAE’s core values for the next 131 years and build on the legacy we share.
To our future members and leaders – and to Bill, Sarah and the boards of directors they will lead – I wish you the courage to act on what we can change, the wisdom to accept what we cannot and the clarity and wisdom to know the difference. May we continue working toward a world where all buildings are safe, healthy, resilient, sustainable and carbon neutral.
Thank you for your hospitality and support during this remarkable presidential year. Let’s give ourselves a round of applause for choosing careers in HVAC&R and for our membership in ASHRAE, which we are passionate about and where we find meaning and purpose every day.
As we move forward, let’s blend future technologies with human creativity to elevate the built environment, our industry, ASHRAE, and the world.
Be kind to yourself, to each other and to the planet.
Thank you!