Following months of discussions and exploration, the Florida Air Conditioning Contractors Association (FACCA) and the Florida chapter of the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) will join together into one statewide voice for the HVACR industry, to be incorporated as the Air Conditioning Contractors of America Florida Inc., and known as the Florida Air Conditioning Contractors of America.

"These are two strong organizations that together represent one big opportunity for contractors in our state," said Tommy Castellano of Castellano's Air Conditioning & Heating in Tampa, the group's first elected chairman. "By combining our forces, we will make it easier for contractors to gain access to top-notch training programs and maintain strong local presence while also accessing the benefits and services of the nation's leading HVACR association."

Joe Strickler of Refrigeration & Electric Service in Winter Haven, the chairman of FACCA and senior vice chairman of the new organization, added, "Both boards have worked diligently on this merger and decided it made good sense. It's in the best interests of contractors for our organizations to work together, and we complement each other well - FACCA, with its powerful stable of training and educational resources, and ACCA, with its ever-growing library of exclusive technical and business resources. This is a win/win for both organizations and the whole industry."

In addition to Castellano and Strickler, officers for the new organization are: