WASHINGTON - Donald Romano, of Heritage Mandell Mechanical Services in Deer Park, N.Y., was recognized with the Distinguished Legislative Service Award at the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA) annual legislative dinner.

Peter Fluetsch, SMACNA legislative committee chairman, commented that this award "recognizes an individual who has provided steady, dedicated leadership for our legislative programs. Don is actively involved not just for personal interests, but is focused upon the role politics plays for the entire membership and industry."

A Congressional Insiders Club member for 15 years, Romano has served on the Sheet Metal Air Conditioning Political Action Committee (SMAC PAC) and the SMACNA Legislative Affairs Committee. He was a member of the SMACNA Board of Directors from 1989 to 1993 and was a member of the Long Range Planning, Director Nominating, and Convention Committees. In 1998, he was elected to SMACNA's College of Fellows and currently serves on its Board of Governors.

He joined SMACNA of Long Island in the late 1970s and was elected president in 1986. As an active chapter member, he served as union funds trustee, officer and promotion funds trustee, and chairman of the negotiating committee.

SMACNA's annual legislative awards dinner is held in conjunction with the National Issues Conference sponsored by SMACNA, the Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA), the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), the Finishing Contractors Association (FCA), and the Association of Union Contractors (NEA) representing the interests of more than 60,000 construction firms that employ union craftspeople.

Publication date: 05/03/2004