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Keynote Speakers
Ross Bernstein
The best-selling author of nearly fifty sports books, Ross Bernstein, is an award-winning peak performance business speaker who’s keynoted conferences on all seven continents for audiences as small as 10 and as large as 10,000. Ross and his books have been featured on thousands of television and radio programs over the years, including CNN, ESPN, Fox News, and “CBS This Morning,” as well as in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and USA Today.
Dr. Anirban Basu
Anirban Basu is Chairman & CEO of Sage Policy Group, Inc., a Baltimore-based economic and policy consultancy he founded in 2004. He serves the Chief Economist function for many organizations, including the Maryland Bankers Association and Associated Builders and Contractors. The Baltimore Business Journal named him one of the region’s 20 most powerful business leaders in 2010. In 2022, he entered the Daily Record newspaper’s Circle of Influence. He is the Distinguished Economist in Residence at Goucher College, where he teaches History of Economic Thought. He holds four graduate degrees, including a J.D. and a Ph.D.
Josh Linkner
New York Times bestselling author Josh Linkner is a rare blend of business, art, and science. Over the last 30 years, he’s been the founder and CEO of five tech companies — which created over 10,000 jobs and sold for a combined value of over $200 million — and has helped over 100 startups launch and scale, creating over $1 billion in investor returns. Today, as the co-founder and chairman of Platypus Labs, a global research, training, and consulting firm, he’s on a mission to help leaders “find a way” through creative problem-solving, inventive thinking, and ingenuity.
Mary Kelly
Mary is a graduate of the US Naval Academy, and she served 21 years on active duty as an intelligence and a logistics officer, mostly in Asia. She earned a PhD in economics, and she taught at the Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy, and in the graduate school for Colorado State University. Mary is also the author of 15 business and leadership books.
Pamela Barnum
Imagine living with a different name, identity, and background, building trust and detecting deception among dangerous people. That's what Pamela Barnum did as an undercover officer in the Drug Enforcement Section. After law school, she became a federal prosecutor and later, a corporate negotiation expert. Pamela now teaches communication skills to build trust in corporations, associations, and law enforcement. With decades of experience, she shares practical strategies through engaging stories, humor, and energy. Pamela is a sought-after expert in media and has spoken to audiences up to 12,000.
Government Affairs Fireside Chat
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Kyle Gilley
Leader of Government Relations Team, Carrier Global
Kyle Gilley has over two decades of corporate experience in government relations, communications, and media engagement. In April 2020, Kyle joined Carrier Global to lead the government relations team. Carrier is the market leader for energy and climate solutions. Kyle recently assumed responsibility for the environment, sustainability, and governance team. The expanded Carrier Global Government Relations team consists of team members in Palm Beach Gardens, FL, Washington, DC, Brussels, London, Shanghai, and New Delhi. Prior to Carrier, Kyle led the government relations, communications and media engagement team for POET, LLC. Early in his career, Kyle held several executive level government relations and business development positions at Lennox International. Kyle has served as a Board member for the Palm Beach County Economic Development Board and the Palm Beach County Economic Council. Kyle is a native Texan and holds a BBA from Baylor University. He resides in the Washington, DC area.
Chris Forth
Vice President of Regulatory, Codes and Environmental Affairs, Johnson Controls Ducted Systems
Chris M Forth is a 30+ year HVAC industry veteran who has worked in engineering, product management and most recently in the regulatory and codes space as the Vice President of Regulatory, Codes and Environmental Affairs for Johnson Controls Ducted Systems Business. Chris is heavily involved in regulation and industry codes and standards development which impact the HVACR industry. Chris also engages with elected officials and regulators in the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency and others in the development and interpretation of those regulations. Examples of recent efforts include the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act. Chris currently serves on multiple committees and boards including the Air-conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), the Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy (ARAP) and the State Chamber of Oklahoma where he is based and home to Johnson Controls Global Rooftop Center of Excellence.
Karen Meyers
Vice President, Government Affairs, Rheem Manufacturing
Karen Meyers is a highly accomplished professional with over 35 years of invaluable experience the HVAC and Water Heating industry. As the Global Vice President of Government Affairs for Rheem Manufacturing, on the world’s leading heating, cooling, and water heating product manufacturers, Karen has played a pivotal role in shaping the industry’s landscape and navigating policy initiatives. She works closely with committees and board members of prominent organizations and associations such as the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), the Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy (The Alliance) where she serves as Board Chair, the Department of Energy (DOE), the American Council for Energy Efficiency Economy (ACEEE), the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), and the advisory board for the Building Decarbonization Coalition (BDC). Throughout her career, Karen Meyers has been instrumental in influencing critical decisions that impact the HVAC and WH sector’s future, ensuring its continuous growth and adaptation to changing regulations and market dynamics. Her commitment to finding solutions that strike balance between business interest and environmental stewardship has earned her widespread recognition and respect in both industry and government circles.
Stephen Yurek
President and CEO, AHRI
Stephen R. Yurek currently serves as President and CEO of the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI). The association was formed as a result of the merger in 2007 of the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute and the Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association. As President and CEO, Mr. Yurek manages over 100 staff and oversees all operations of the association, which has more than 320 manufacturing members representing some $40 billion in annual sales volume.
Nathan Walker
Senior Vice President of Environmental Business Development and Program Management Office, Daikin Comfort Technologies
Education: • Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Tennessee Technological University (Cookeville, TN) • Master of Business Administration, University of Texas (Austin, TX)
Breakout
Speakers
Tara Ashcraft
Communications Leader, Trane Technologies
Tara Ashcraft serves as Communications Leader at Trane Technologies – a global climate innovator. She’s also held roles in Diversity and Inclusion and Learning and Development. She’s worked at Bank of America and Lowe’s Companies. Tara holds a Masters of Science in Executive Coaching from Queen’s University of Charlotte and a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She lives in Davidson, NC with her husband, daughters, and dogs.
Greg Borr
Previous Present, O'Connor Company
In his over 30 years in the Wholesale Distribution Industry Greg has held a number of positions including Sr. Business Consultant for Epicor Software, Leader of Business Systems for Kaman Corporation and he most recently retired as President of O'Connor Company. Greg is currently on the Board of Advisors for DIstro AI, recently opened a bar/restaurant in Michigan and has his own consulting business.
Alex Ayers
Director of Government Affairs, HARDI
Alex Ayers is the Director of Government Affairs for HARDI the Heating, Air-conditioning, & Refrigeration Distributors International. Alex serves as HARDI’s primary lobbyist and policy expert. Alex has spent nearly a decade lobbying on the federal level and published papers and studies in various policy areas including taxes, energy, agriculture, and economics and has testified on tax policy. His research has been cited by organizations such as the Wall Street Journal, Forbes and the Tax Foundation.
Jennifer Butsch
Director of Regulatory Affairs, COPELAND
Jennifer has been involved in regulatory affairs across multiple industries for more than 20 years. In her current role, she is responsible for managing activities related to policies, regulations, codes and standards as they apply to the air conditioning and refrigeration markets. She is involved in several industry organizations, including AHRI, the Alliance and ASHRAE. Jennifer earned her bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering from Wright State University and has an M.B.A. from the University of Phoenix.
Mike Armstrong
President and Managing Director,
A-Gas
Mike Armstrong is the President and Managing Director of A-Gas in the Americas. In this role, Mike is responsible for strategy development, business execution, and technology deployment in the rapidly growing Americas marketplace. Mike joined the Americas team in 2016 as its first Chief Operating Officer and assumed leadership responsibilities as the President of A-Gas in the Americas in 2017. Prior to that, Mike served for over 15 years in a variety of Engineering, Commercial, and Operational leadership roles with Linde, a global leader in the industrial gas market. Mike holds a Master of Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, a Bachelor of Science from the United States Military Academy at West Point, and served 6 years as an active-duty Army Officer in Europe and the United States.
Benjamin Cohen
CEO & Founder, Proton
Benj Cohen is the CEO and founder of Proton, an AI-powered CRM built to address the unique needs of wholesale distributors. Benj’s journey into distribution began at his family's business, Benco Dental, where he gained firsthand experience with the challenges distributors face. Benj launched Proton at the Harvard iLab, driven by a vision to use AI to empower distributors in new ways. Since then, Proton has raised a $20 million Series A led by Felicis Ventures. Benj was named to Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2023—the first in distribution to earn this recognition—and is frequently invited to speak on AI and sales innovation in distribution.
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Tom Cannizzo
Vice President of Sales, KDL Logistics
As Vice President of Sales at KDL Logistics, Tom Cannizzo is responsible for driving revenue growth, leading a high-performing sales team, and developing innovative strategies to expand market share. With over 40 years of experience in transportation business development and leadership, he has a proven track record of hitting targets and fostering long-term client relationships. Tom excels in enhancing customer engagement to deliver exceptional sales results. He has played a pivotal role in KDL Logistics’ growth. Prior to joining KDL Logistics, Tom held leadership roles at Pitt Ohio Express, where he successfully drove revenue increases by winning major accounts. Outside of work, Tom enjoys family, golf and marksmanship, bringing a similar passion to firearms training as he does to achieving sales excellence.
Stella Gary-Keane
Vice President of Talent Development, HARDI
Stella Keane is the Vice President of Talent Development for HARDI the Heating, Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International. Stella's responsible for HARDI's Talent Development team, human resources, organizational development, finance, and operations functions. She brings over thirty years of Human Resources experience to the association and has managed best-in-class strategies and programs for talent readiness, succession planning, leadership development, and cultural engagement.
Quinn Carlson
Managing Director, Uplift Partners
Quinn Carlson is a Managing Director at Uplift Partners, an M&A advisory firm based in Chicago. He has worked extensively with family-owned and entrepreneur-owned businesses across the HVACR and related trade industries for more than a decade. Prior to founding Uplift Partners, Quinn was a senior member of the investment banking departments at Deutsche Bank Securities in New York and Duff & Phelps in Chicago. Quinn began his career at Ernst & Young, has an MBA from the University of Chicago and a Bachelor’s degree from University of Illinois.
Paul Giudice
CEO, CoMetrics
Paul is the CEO of CoMetrics - a technology cooperative serving independent businesses, cooperatives, and nonprofits committed to using data as a strategic tool to improve performance. He has a depth of experience using data to inform decisions that lead to stronger organizations and sustained profit growth. As one of the first hires at Next Street, a merchant bank helping small and medium businesses grow, Paul has experience working closely with owners and executive teams to navigate sources of capital and long-term strategic planning, as well as weathering the day-to-day challenges of running a business. Before joining Next Street, Paul was a Strategy Consultant at Galt & Company, where he had the opportunity to develop growth strategies for Fortune 100 companies such as Coca-Cola and Clorox. Early in his career as an Economic Consultant at NERA, Paul applied rigorous quantitative analysis to support headlining intellectual property disputes. Paul received a dual Bachelor’s Degree from The Colorado College in Mathematical Economics and Physics.
Jayson Council
Founder, Adjaycent Consulting
Jayson has spent over two decades strengthening both the private and public sectors through representation, respect, and opportunity. He recently spearheaded the nationally acclaimed “Spike Lee Fellows” program, a partnership with filmmaker Spike Lee and the Atlanta University Center Consortium, providing professional opportunities to HBCU students. His influence at Gersh extends to creating employee resource groups and fostering philanthropic efforts with organizations like the POSSE Foundation and NY Common Pantry. Jayson also serves as the founding Head of Culture at Gersh and a thought leader at Columbia University. His commitment to equity and social impact marks him as a true force for change.
Susan Gorey
Veteran Labor & Employment Lawyer
As a veteran labor and employment lawyer, Susan pulls from her depth of experience to advise employers on compliance solutions, including day-to-day counseling and litigation avoidance strategies on all types of HR issues. Susan has a niche practice with multistate/multinational employment issues and assists clients of all sizes and in all industries with this ever-changing landscape through proactive handbooks, procedures, HR Audits, and policies. She is a frequent speaker and co-founder of her firm's "Multistate Monday" podcast.
Tim Fisher
Director of Market Intelligence, HARDI
Tim Fisher is the Director of Market Intelligence at HARDI, where he oversees the research and analysis of HVAC/R market trends – particularly those affecting wholesale distribution. The Market Intelligence unit is one of the industry’s few in-house association-based economic research teams, offering HARDI members a suite of products for benchmarking and analysis. Prior to joining HARDI, Tim was the Director of Government and External Affairs at the Council of Development Finance Agencies where he worked on federal policy and legislative issues related to public finance. He earned his B.A. and M.A. at Ohio University, and M.B.A. at The Ohio State University.
Scott Hagar
Vice President of the HVAC Division, Ferguson
Ferguson is a leading value-added distributor in North America providing expertise, solutions, and products from infrastructure, plumbing and appliances to HVAC, fire, fabrication and more. As Vice President of the HVAC Division, Scott is responsible for strategic direction and sales execution. Ferguson’s network of over 1700 locations and 25,000 associates allow us to leverage a world class supply chain and logistics network, delivering national scale while maintaining local relationships.
Rob Hammel
Managing Director, KDL Logistics
As Managing Director at KDL Logistics, Rob Hammel leads with a strategic vision, driving growth and operational excellence across the organization. Having been born into the transportation industry, Rob has years of experience and brings a wealth of knowledge in business development, financial oversight, and team leadership. Rob is known for his ability to foster innovation, optimize performance, and build lasting relationships with clients and partners. Committed to continuous improvement and delivering exceptional results, Rob remains dedicated to positioning KDL Logistics as a leader in the 3rd Party Logistics industry. When not in the office, he enjoys coaching his daughter’s travel hockey club bringing the same passion for coaching as he does to business leadership.
Ryan Martin
Chief Financial Officer, cfm Distributors, Inc.
Ryan Martin is CFO of cfm Distributors, a 100% employee-owned HVACR distributor with headquarters in the West Bottoms of Kansas City, MO. In this role, Ryan is responsible for all aspects of F&A, IT, HR, P&C, credit, and project management. As a dedicated supporter of ESOP initiatives, Ryan is also on the advisory board for the MOCEO. Before joining cfm in 2020, Ryan spent almost a decade as a CPA in public practice followed by extensive experience with M&A transactions as part of a local KC ad agency. In his free time, Ryan tries to keep up with his two kids, two dogs, and wife, Kady.
Jake Miller
Research Analyst, HARDI
Jake graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a degree in Finance and Real Estate and began his career with a leading new construction home builder, specializing in strategy and land development planning while monitoring regional market health. Currently at HARDI, he focuses on tracking and forecasting key economic trends in the HVAC industry. His research spans market analysis on water heaters, regional utility challenges, and distributor-submitted metrics, while regularly surveying contractors and industry leaders to stay informed on emerging trends.
Brian Neustadt
Executive Vice President of Sales, Neuco
As Executive Vice President of Sales, his role is to forge and maintain relationships with key accounts and oversee Neuco’s sales and marketing departments. His start at Neuco began in the warehouse picking, shipping and receiving followed by time in the returns department and 10 years as an inside salesman. Brian attended College of DuPage and completed the mini-MBA program through the University of Loyola. Brian serves as Chairman on the HARDI Controls Council. In 2016, he was selected as Distribution Center Magazine’s Top 40 Under 40.
TJ O'Connor
President, Farmington Consulting Group
TJ has been with the Farmington Consulting Group since 2008 and became President of the Company in 2018. He is nationally recognized as an expert growth strategist in the Electrical, Plumbing & HVAC/R distribution channels. TJ has a wealth of experience conducting & analyzing distribution industry surveys, leading advisory councils, facilitating strategic planning sessions, and working with cross-functional teams on process improvement. TJ is a graduate of the University of Connecticut with a degree in Finance, and currently resides in Sarasota, Florida.
Zachary Perge
Vice President of Distribution Strategies, HARDI
Zachary Perge is the Vice President of Distribution Strategies at HARDI, joining in 2021. Prior to HARDI, Zachary worked for Deloitte Consulting in the Mergers and Acquisitions Division and has over a decade of marketing, sales, and finance experience with global consumer companies. He has an undergraduate degree in Management from Miami University and an MBA from Indiana University.
Nick Pericle
Managing Director, ProfitOptics
Nick Pericle has spent the last decade working with distributors, from branches to boardrooms. A Managing Director at the software consulting firm, ProfitOptics, Nick is best known for architecting bespoke solutions and spearheading large-scale digital transformation projects, which have both saved organizations tens of thousands of efficiency hours, and added millions to their bottom line. With a deep understanding of distribution and manufacturing, combined with extensive experience across diverse tech stacks and ERP platforms, he enjoys working closely with distributors and manufacturers to innovate with technology and AI.
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Charles Renwick
Business and Accounting Best-Selling Author and Advisor
Charles Renwick, CFA, CPA, focuses on individual and business tax strategies and management. He started his accounting career in Atlanta, working for E&Y. Charles graduated from the University of Georgia with degrees in accounting, economics, and political science. He is a member of multiple community organizations and is an active member of the Louisiana Society of CPAs. His best-selling book, “All the Presidents’ Taxes,” explores the intricate relationship between U.S. presidents and their tax policies. It presents a nonpartisan view of how everyone, including Presidents, can benefit from tax planning.
Samantha Slater
Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, AHRI
Samantha Slater is the Senior Vice President of Government Affairs for the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), where she leads the policy team and directs advocacy efforts on state, federal, and international levels. Before joining AHRI in 2019, she served as Vice President of Government Affairs for the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), where she successfully advanced U.S. ethanol policy, including key provisions in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 and the 2008 Farm Bill. Samantha also held a leadership role at the National Corn Growers Association, representing the industry in the Energy Policy Act of 2005.
Todd Titus
Director of State and Public Affairs, HARDI
Todd joined HARDI in February 2024 as the organization's inaugural Director of State and Public Affairs. In this role, he oversees state advocacy initiatives, representing HARDI's members in front of state legislators, regulators, and key stakeholders. Before his tenure at HARDI, Todd directed government affairs for a REALTOR® Association in his home state of Indiana, where he successfully advanced legislative priorities and stakeholder engagement.
Beth Thomas
Global Partner and Leader for Organizational Change and Learning
Beth Thomas is the Global Partner and Leader for Organizational Change and Learning for the ISG advisory firm. Beth also has many years’ experience as an executive in multi-billion dollar organizations and also was the CEO and Founder of Change 4 Growth Consulting firm which she sold to ISG in 2022. Beth is also not only a contributing author to 5 books about Learning and Development, but the sole author of Powered By Happy, about employee engagement and workplace happiness.
Jeff Underwood
Senior Vice President and General Manager, Contractor Solutions
Jeff A. Underwood has served as Senior Vice President and General Manager, Contractor Solutions since April 2024. From May 2021 to March 2024, he served as Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing for the Company’s RectorSeal operating subsidiary within the Contractor Solutions segment, and from September 2018 to April 2021 he served as Vice President of Sales for RectorSeal. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Underwood held roles of increasing responsibility at Goodman Manufacturing, a leading manufacturer of HVAC products and systems and an independent subsidiary of Daikin Group, where he served most recently as Vice President of Marketing. Prior to his time with Goodman Manufacturing, Mr. Underwood was a Manager for Bain & Company, a business consulting firm, serving in the firm’s Industrials practice. Mr. Underwood holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics & Government from the University of Texas in Austin and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago.