"Our decision to support the New Horizons Foundation and its programs is, in our view, a sound business strategy. Estimation is fully committed to strengthening the HVAC and sheet metal contracting industry's future. The Foundation is developing an excellent track record of working with top U.S. educational institutions and researchers," said Alan Mech, president of Estimation. "We are determined to help this industry compete successfully in the future. The knowledge and skills our partner contractors bring to the table are - and will be - critical to this."

Foundation chairman George L. "Butch" Welsch (Welsch Heating & Cooling, St. Louis) called Estimation's lead partnership grant "a significant validation of New Horizon's mandate to create a multi-million dollar endowment to support industry initiatives."

Ron Rodgers, the Foundation's chairman emeritus, added, "This partnership gift emphasizes Estimation's outstanding corporate leadership. Estimation is helping the entire HVAC and sheet metal contracting industry create a permanent asset to use to commission research and create essential educational programming through a single, focused effort - the New Horizons Foundation."

Karl Rajotte, Estimation's executive vice president, commented, "We are very enthusiastic about this new partnership. The combination of our cash commitment to the Foundation and the variety of in-kind services and expertise that Estimation will bring to the table make this a win for the contractors. We intend to become fully engaged in support of the Foundation's work."

As the leading industry partner investor in the new Horizons Foundation, Estimation will join the Foundation's Summit Challenge Council and be recognized as a Charter Guarantor. The Council works with the New Horizons board of directors to select and develop programs and projects. The group meets periodically to examine industry trends and needs and to recommend projects to be commissioned.

For more information, visit www.newhorizonsfoundation.org.

Publication date: 01/31/2005