It’s amazing how quickly a year(or two) can go by. Our 2022 annual conference, March 6-9 in Savannah, Georgia, is on the horizon already, and while that means we’re approaching the last annual meeting during my term as Chairman, this year’s conference represents something much more important – a return to in-person conferences and the beginning of many exciting developments for IIAR and its members.

In each membership year, the annual conference is the place to kick off new programs and initiatives for the year ahead. In 2020, and 2021 we met several important goals, even as we were
meeting remotely and adjusting to the challenges of an unprecedented in our time global pandemic.

While the pandemic certainly disrupted life as we knew it, it also presented an opportunity for change and a challenge to make that change lasting and positive. 

I believe we met that challenge head-on, and we will now build on those achievements in the months ahead.

As IIAR members, the programs we support are made possible by the hard work of our committees and the volunteer members who run them. IIAR continues to focus on providing our members with the safety standards, regulatory support, industry technology, and other member services that are necessary to operate an ammonia system intoday’s environment. 

While the pandemic certainly disrupted life as we knew it, it also presented an opportunity for change and a challenge to make that change lasting and positive. I believe we met that challenge head-on, and we will now build on those achievements in the months ahead.

Each opportunity for sharing knowledge and information, such as our annual conference, our Academy of Natural Refrigerants program, and the many other IIAR initiatives we advance every day, is a chance for us to build and strengthen the resources we have available for our members.

We are constantly at work, developing the world’s largest and best information resource for our membership and the industry in general. One of the best parts of being IIAR’s Chairman over the
past year has been the opportunity to be part of this work, and now, to showcase it at our upcoming annual conference.

Our 2022 exhibit hall is packed with the best in technology and expertise from across our industry. I hope you’ll make plans now to take advantage of the opportunity to see the best your
colleagues and business partners have to offer in the latest equipment, products, and services available in natural refrigeration.

I’d also like to highlight the IIAR technical program, an essential part of the work we do. It’s the best way to engage in the ongoing conversation about new ways of doing things with other
professional engineers. I hope you’ll make it a priority to read the work of your peers and stop into a live presentation to take part in a technical paper discussion. 

I’ll end this month’s column with a challenge to IIAR members and nonmembers alike. This year, become your industry’s best advocate by taking an active role in your continuing education.

Get involved in the work of the IIAR committees and lend your voice and experience to one of our many member projects. With your help and hard work, IIAR and our industry is poised for unprecedented growth.

Although we are still months away from a long-awaited in-person meeting, I am already looking forward to seeing many of you at the conference. And beyond that, I’m looking forward to seeing where the achievements of the past few years take us as we move towards the future of our industry.