Each year brings change to the industry. Each change usually brings with it more innovation and sometimes a bit of intrigue. As part of a final salute to 2007,The NEWShas selected nine high-profile individuals who have been newsmakers behind the scenes in the HVAC industry in the past year.

There must be something in the water as three contractors and two manufacturer presidents from Texas, a manufacturer president and facilities services president from Connecticut, and two distributors from California caught an industry’s attention with their leadership.

In the ensuing stories you will meet one contractor who said, “In five years we won’t be in the heating and cooling business. We’ll be in the energy business.”

Another said, “Well-capitalized building services and construction contractors are going to be in greater demand because of the complexity of projects in the future. I think there are several underlying trends that are very significant ones and that are here to stay for our foreseeable future.”

No one knows what the future of 2008 will hold, but these nine leaders will no doubt find a way to navigate the waters - regardless of what weather may blow ashore.

Our top newsmakers of 2007 are: Todd Bluedorn, CEO of Lennox International Inc.; Tony Guzzi president and COO of EMCOR; Robert (Bob) McDonough, president of Carrier’s Residential and Light Commercial Systems (RLCS); David Pannier, president of Trane and American Standard Residential Systems; Steve Saunders, CEO of Tempo Mechanical; Larry Taylor, president of Aire-Rite Air Conditioning Co.; John Scarsi, vice president of U.S. Airconditioning Distributors; John Staples, president of U.S. Airconditioning Distributors; and Jo Rae Wagner, president of CTO Inc., and past president of Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors-National Association (PHCC).

For the full story about these newsmakers, see the following feature articles in this issue:

• McDonough Guides Carrier RLCS

• Guzzi Helps EMCOR Continue to Grow

• Duo Takes Contracting to Loftier Heights

• Past-Pres Wagner Keeps Moving Forward

• Pannier Steers Trane, American Standard

• Bluedorn Leads Lennox

• U.S. Airconditioning Changes to York

Publication date:12/24/2007