The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) presented awards to deserving individuals both within and outside of the association and announced new association leadership, including its new Chairman, Ajita Rajendra, President & COO of A.O. Smith, during its 2011 Annual Meeting, held November 12-15, 2011, in Bonita Springs, Fla

Presented with Richard C. Schulze Awards for distinguished service to AHRI and the industry's goals and objectives were:

• Charles Adams, Director of Government Affairs, A.O. Smith Water Products Co.
• Keith Coursin, President, Desert-Aire, Inc.
• Ruth Ann Davis, Vice President of Sales, Williams Furnace Co.
• Kyle Gilley, Vice President of Government Affairs, Lennox International

Presented the AHRI Public Service Award for significant contributions to the HVACR and water heating industry:

• Steven Nadel, Executive Director, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy

Presented the AHRI Distinguished Service Award, AHRI's highest award, for those who are leaders in the industry and who have made significant contributions to the industry throughout their careers:

• Richard J. "Dick" Schul, Group Vice President, Emerson Climate Technologies

Chairman Rajendra addressed the membership, emphasizing the need for AHRI to work with industry partners to pass key legislation on Capitol Hill, including two consensus agreements establishing new federal minimum efficiency standards for small duct, high velocity air conditioners and heat pump pool heaters, and requiring DOE to develop a new test procedure for water heaters. 

He also called on members to work together to make AHRI's certification program even more credible in the United States and across the globe. 

Other key leadership members announced include:

Morrison Carter, President and CEO of Beckett Gas, Inc., will serve as Immediate Past Chairman. Harry Holmes, President of Morrison Products, was named Vice Chairman; and Chris Drew, Vice President, Burnham Holdings, Inc., was named Treasurer.

Directors-At-Large serving on the Executive Committee include:

Dan Ellis, President, Climate Master

Nicholas Guiffre, President, Bradford White

Tom Healy, Group President, Parker Hannifin

Bill Johnson, President, Hill PHOENIX

David LaGrand, President & CEO, NORDYNE

Robert McDonough, President,  Carrier Residential and Light Commercial

John Murphy, Vice President and GM, Systems Johnson Controls

Earle Pfefferkorn, President, Cleaver-Brooks

Ed Purvis, Executive Vice President, Emerson Climate Technologies        

David Swift, President & CEO, Goodman Manufacturing 

Doug Young, President & CEO, Residential, Lennox International

The following individuals were elected to serve as Directors-at-Large with terms expiring in 2013:

James J Connor, President & CEO, Tecumseh

David Diggs, Global Business Dir. Refrigerants, Honeywell

Dan Ellis, President, ClimateMaster

John Gaylen, President, North America, Danfoss

Ron Hanlon, COO, McQuay

Shawn Intagliata, President, Unico

Bill Johnson, President, Hill Phoenix

JR Jones, CEO, Rheem Manufacturing

Dennis Laughlin, President & CEO, Arzel Zoning

David LaGrand, President & CEO, Nordyne

Mark MacCracken, CEO, Calmac

Robert McDonough, President, RLCS, Carrier

Earle Pfefferkorn, President, Cleaver-Brooks

Ed Purvis, EVP, Emerson

Roger Richmond-Smith, Chairman, Smardt

Didier Teirlinck, SVP & President, Climate Technologies, Ingersoll Rand

John White, Jr., President, TACO

Doug Young, President & CEO, Residential, Lennox

The following individuals were elected to serve as Directors-at-Large to fill open positions with terms expiring in 2012:

Gary Michel, President Residential Solutions, Ingersoll Rand

Ronald Passaforo, President & CEO, ECR International

Yogi Uemura, Executive Officer, Daikin Industries