We’re only three months away from the 2018 IIAR conference, and your staff at headquarters is working hard to wrap up annual conference programming for an event that promises to be one of the most exciting IIAR meetings yet.

We’re back at the always popular Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, CO next March (18 – 21), and I’m happy to report that it’s already shaping up to be another record breaking year.

As always, we will be bringing you all the latest information on the newest technologies and trends that are shaping our industry, with a special focus on the new opportunities for ammonia and other natural refrigerants in markets where synthetics have been traditionally dominant.

If you want to stay updated and knowledgeable about the latest advancements in industrial refrigeration, the IIAR annual conference truly is a must-attend event.

We’re expanding our technical program this year to include more Tech Paper sessions, Workshops and Panels designed to address growing opportunities for natural refrigerants in both the industrial and commercial market sectors.

But the most anticipated conference event is our Monday night reception, which will be held at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.

The Monday night gathering is always a great opportunity to socialize and catch up, but this year it’s special because we’ll all have the chance to tour our nation’s Olympic training facility to see firsthand how and where athletes train.

Anyone who attends will also get to watch Olympic athletes giving exhibitions in their sport and get a chance to take a shot on the target shooting range.

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and a first for IIAR. Join us for the networking and fun, and stay for the lessons in preparedness. Your tour of the training center will reveal firsthand the importance of training for your own environment and staying prepared – whether it’s for an emergency event, or just an everyday problem.

That’s a theme we’ll continue back at the Broadmoor, where safety will take a prominent spot in our conference program.

Conference highlights this year include peer-reviewed technical papers, experimental workshops and engaging panels on topics including emergency response in an ammonia refrigeration facility, hot gas defrost, use of water as a refrigerant, and stainless-steel piping in industrial refrigeration.

Exclusive to the 2018 IIAR Conference is the Sunday afternoon Mechanical Integrity for Ammonia Refrigeration Systems Education Program. This education program provides a comprehensive outline of compliance regarding mechanical integrity for ammonia refrigeration systems with information on the basic components of a mechanical integrity program, minimum requirements of inspection, testing and maintenance as well as preventative maintenance, audits, training and quality assurance.

And as always, The IIAR Expo hall will highlight the latest designs in cutting-edge commercial and industrial refrigeration equipment. With more than 150 exhibitors in attendance, the exhibition hall hosts product displays from the industry’s leading manufacturers and service providers.

One of the most important functions of our annual conference is to provide a place for our committees to review their work, set new yearly goals and welcome new IIAR member volunteers. As we close out 2017 and look forward to a new cycle of growth for our organization, I’d like to encourage you to explore our committee work and get involved. The projects our committees complete – from standards creation to safety guidelines to education initiatives are all the basic, vital activities that make a real difference in our regulatory and operating environment.

Whether it’s testing new technology or new practices, increasing communication with regulatory agencies or developing cutting edge resources like standards and safety training, we can’t do any of it without you.

Our committees move our ideas and initiatives from abstract goals into reality. And at the same time, our officers, volunteer and voting members bring so much of their own knowledge and experience to our organization as they direct the goals of the IIAR committees.

If you are an IIAR member and have not yet had a chance to get involved in the work of your industry, I urge you to take a look at how your expertise might help an IIAR committee further its work goals.

I’d also like to extend a special thank you – to our sponsors for their support, and to you, our members, for the incredible engagement and dedication that you bring to this organization. I look forward to seeing you in Colorado Springs in March!