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Â鶹Èë¿Ú held its 81st Annual Convention in Palm Desert, California, one of the most attended conventions in recent memory. Carol Duncan, Â鶹Èë¿Ú President, CEO, and owner of General Sheet Metal in Clackamas, Oregon, kicked off the event by welcoming attendees to what she described as "not just a group but a family." The gathering emphasized Â鶹Èë¿Ú's commitment to growth, diversity, and collaboration in the industry.

"Â鶹Èë¿Ú is about more than just business," Duncan says. "It's about creating purpose and a sense of belonging." She highlighted the association's role in fostering innovation, stating that Â鶹Èë¿Ú is closely tracking over 269 megaprojects across North America, underscoring the need for contractor collaboration on a larger scale than ever before.

Sessions focused on innovation, emerging best practices, government relations, and other hot topics available to attendees. In addition, members had the opportunity to listen to two dynamic speakers throughout the event. Best-selling author and success strategist Alex Banayan urges HVAC and sheet metal contractors to harness mindset, resilience, and unconventional strategies to thrive in a rapidly changing industry.

Later, Peter Zeihan, a renowned geopolitical strategist, delivered a powerful address for sheet metal and HVAC contractors, illuminating global dynamics shifts. Zeihan, a leading thinker on how geography, demography, energy, and trade shape economies and industries, underscored the urgent need for HVAC contractors to prepare for a changing landscape marked by the end of globalization and the onset of a local industrial renaissance.

The Labor Forum punctuated the final day, during which SMART General President Michael Coleman engaged with the Â鶹Èë¿Ú membership on critical topics. 

New individuals were inducted into the Â鶹Èë¿Ú College of Fellows; they were: 

• Shasta Erickson, President of Miller Bonded in Albuquerque, New Mexico, entered the industry as an accounting clerk in 1999 and has since shown an unwavering dedication to strengthening Â鶹Èë¿Ú's market presence.
• Dan Monahan, President of J.E. Monahan Metals in Queensbury, New York, began his career as an apprentice and worked his way up. He contributed to Â鶹Èë¿Ú at the national level as a committed advocate for the industry.
• Deborah Wyandt, Chapter Executive of the Capital District and Florida Â鶹Èë¿Ú Chapters, has worked with Â鶹Èë¿Ú for over three decades. Wyandt's efforts in labor relations have contributed significantly to advancing labor-management relationships.

The afternoon's highlight was the ceremonial transfer of Â鶹Èë¿Ú leadership to incoming President Tom Martin. As Duncan passed the gavel to Martin, she praised his dedication and leadership, saying, "I know that Â鶹Èë¿Ú will continue to thrive under Tom's guidance." 
Martin, a second-generation contractor and President of T.H. Martin, Inc., spoke of his father's influence on his career and how Â鶹Èë¿Ú has been an invaluable resource throughout his journey in the industry.

Martin introduced the newly elected board members, each of whom brings valuable expertise and passion to Â鶹Èë¿Ú:

• Dominic Bonitatis from Prime Sheet Metal in Warminster, Pennsylvania
• Matthew Cole of Wing's Testing and Balancing in Brantford, Connecticut
• Paul Klaus of Icon Mechanical in Granite City, Illinois
• Joseph Passannante from Cleats Manufacturing in Chicago, Illinois

Additionally, Martin announced the new Â鶹Èë¿Ú officers: 

• President-Elect Todd Hill
• Secretary-Treasurer Scott Vidimos
• Vice President Joe Samia
• Immediate Past President Carol Duncan

With the gavel in Martin's hands, Â鶹Èë¿Ú enters a new chapter fueled by a commitment to collaboration, innovation, and community impact. Martin closed his remarks by inviting contractors to actively shape Â鶹Èë¿Ú's future: "The investment of time, energy, and resources into Â鶹Èë¿Ú is the best investment you can make for your career, your business, and our industry."

As attendees prepared for evening festivities, Martin echoed in the room: "Â鶹Èë¿Ú's future is bright, and every member has a role to play in its success."