SILVER SPRINGS, Md. - The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) National Capital Chapter, a local affiliate of ACCA, has been recognized by North American Technician Excellence (NATE) as the top NATE testing organization in the ACCA federation.

Rex Boynton, president of NATE, stated, “ACCA has been a true partner - it’s clear they support NATE certification, believe in it, and really understand the value NATE brings in helping to increase professionalism in the HVACR industry. NATE is the culmination of several years worth of work by ACCA and other industry organizations to establish one single, nationwide certification. We certainly wouldn’t be where we are today without ACCA’s on-going support.”

The National Capital Chapter (ACCA-NCC) conducted 184 NATE tests in 2008, more than any other ACCA affiliate. Runners-up for 2008 included the ACCA San Antonio Chapter and the ACCA Kansas City Chapter.

“We are honored and thrilled to receive this award,” said Debbie Risher of Belair Engineering, current president of ACCA-NCC. “At ACCA-NCC we understand the value of NATE certification of all HVACR technicians. Certification increases the image of the heating and cooling industry in the consumer’s eyes. We not only offer NATE certification to the HVACR industry in the Washington, D.C., metro area throughout the year, but we also provide the core certification test to all of our third year apprentices and the heat pump test to our fourth year apprentices. This increases their value to their employers.”

ACCA-NCC operates the largest ACCA-affiliated apprenticeship program in the country. It also serves its members through an active schedule of education, advocacy efforts, and ongoing communications. Pat Lupson, the chapter’s executive director, is a past recipient of the ACCA Spirit of Federation Award.

“We’re proud of the National Capital Chapter and their hard work on behalf of their members and contractors nationwide,” said Paul T. Stalknecht, ACCA president and CEO. “They, along with ACCA San Antonio and ACCA Kansas City and all of our chapters that provide NATE testing, are to be congratulated for their commitment to NATE certification, which is so important to this industry. They are a great example for all of our chapters and we hope to see even more NATE-certified technicians created by ACCA chapters in 2009.”

For more information about the ACCA National Capital Chapter, visit www.acca-ncc.org. For more information about NATE certification, visit www.natex.org or www.acca.org/nate/.

Publication date: 03/23/2009