ARLINGTON, Va. — The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) has announced that registration is now open for the second annual Building Performance Forum. The event is scheduled for Oct. 1-2, 2013, at the Sheraton Austin Hotel at the Capitol in Austin, Texas. The event is being presented by ACCA andThe NEWS.

Building on last year's inaugural event, ACCA said it has developed a new program that focuses on both residential and commercial building performance. The topics will touch every aspect that contractors need to focus on, from marketing to tools and from testing to selling services.

The event kicks off with a special opening session, “The Dinosaur in the Room,” with Allison Bailes III, Ph.D., of Energy Vanguard. Bailes will discuss the need for contractors to change the way they do business, because customers are more educated and so are their competitors. In this still evolving marketplace, if contractors don’t stay on the cutting edge, they can face extinction.

There will also be 12 breakout sessions running concurrently throughout the two days, featuring some of the best contractors and industry experts from across the country, including:

• Steve Saunders of Tempo Mechanical, Irving, Texas

• Adam Gloss of Bel-Red Energy Solutions, Mukilteo, Wash.

• Hal Smith of Halco, Phelps, N.Y.

• Steve Schmidt or Frederick Air, Frederick, Md.

• Jim Crowder of AirAdvice, Portland, Ore.

• Karie Johnson of Carrier Corp., Indianapolis

The two-day event will wrap up with a special closing keynote, “Watch Out for That Tree!” with Ely Jacobsohn of Home Performance with Energy Star. Jacobsohn will highlight the federal government’s Home Performance with Energy Star program and the home energy retrofit market.

“Last year’s event was so successful and proved that there is a need for this kind of quality training in our industry,” said Kevin Holland, ACCA senior vice president of business operations and membership. “This year, we have filled the schedule with topics that contractors told us they need to know about to be successful in building and home performance. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn tried and true methods to grow their business in this thriving market segment from some of the contractors who were early adopters.”

For more information and to register, visit www.buildingperformanceforum.com.

Publication date: 6/24/2013

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