Welcome to Orlando and the 2024 IIAR Industrial Refrigeration Conference & Heavy Equipment Expo!

It’s time to network and catch up with friends at our industry’s largest conference and expo event.

We have many new changes to announce this year, so I would like to take this opportunity to talk about how this event, and especially your membership, is making a significant contribution.

First up is this year’s new Natural Refrigeration Foundation (NRF) Fun Day, held on Sunday, March 24, benefitting the Foundation’s research, education, and scholarship efforts. The NRF Fun Day is a day of pickle ball, cornhole, and our annual William E. Kahlert golf tournament, followed by an awards ceremony, our VIP reception, and the newly announced Diversity in Natural Refrigeration reception.

This is our first-ever Fun Day, and I invite you all to take advantage of the chance to network, relax, and enjoy a stress-free start to the week.

This year, we’ve also reformatted the committee meetings to allow everyone to attend more than one committee and enjoy the NRF Fun Day. Rather than Sunday, committee meetings will now be held on Saturday afternoon from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM and Tuesday morning from 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM.

It’s easier than ever to get involved in the vital work of IIAR committees. Whether you’re a longtime committee member or just joined, I’m looking forward to meeting you at another new event just announced for 2024, our Saturday night welcome dinner for the IIAR Board of Directors and all IIAR committee members. Please join us for a special thank you for honoring the work only our dedicated IIAR members can do.

Also new this year is another special event, our first-ever student day, on Wednesday, March 27 from 7:30 AM to 12:15 PM. The IIAR Student Day will host post-secondary students in every phase of their academic journey to introduce them to a career in natural refrigeration.

After a morning educational program, students will be invited to the IIAR exhibit hall to meet and network with IIAR exhibitors interested in hosting them in their booth. This is a unique opportunity for IIAR exhibitors to connect directly with students to discuss job opportunities and set up interviews to cultivate the next generation of talent in our industry.

Finally, don’t miss out on the Monday night social event, which will be held at Andretti Indoor Karting & Games this year. Bring your competitive spirit to the laser tag arena and go-cart track.

I’m excited about all these changes and the success of this year’s conference, which is already one of the best on record with a first-ever sold-out exhibit hall! Please join me in thanking your hardworking IIAR staff for completing another successful event. And if you’re new here, I hope you enjoy the energy and enthusiasm of your colleagues. Welcome to Orlando and enjoy the conference.

Best Regards,

Mike McGinnis, 2024 Conference Chair