ARLINGTON, Va. - The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) has announced that AHRI CEO Jack Klimp will be retiring as of June 1, 2009, and that it is restructuring its staff responsibilities to better position the year-old association to accomplish its core missions of standards development, certification, and advocacy. The association said this action was taken to allow it to make the best use of its members’ resources at a time when finances are constrained, but challenges both here and abroad remain great.

Stephen R. Yurek will continue to serve as the association’s president, with the support of the following direct reports: Joe Mattingly continues as general counsel and corporate secretary; Stephanie Murphy will have responsibility for finance, membership, and office operations; Bill Tritsis will have direct responsibility for certification programs; and Henry Hwong will have direct responsibility for standards, product section services, and statistical programs. Francis Dietz will have direct responsibility for public affairs, meetings, and education. David Calabrese will continue to have overall responsibility for government, regulatory, and international affairs, assisted by Karim Amrane with regard to regulatory activities, Don Davis with regard to government affairs, and Jim Walters with regard to international affairs.

The following senior staff positions in the association were eliminated in the restructuring: executive vice president and sr. vice president, public affairs. Five additional positions also were eliminated.

“We have taken these steps to strengthen the ability of our staff to provide quality member services while preparing for the real possibility that we will need to expand our advocacy efforts both at home and abroad in the near future,” said AHRI Chairman Keith Coursin. “Our industry is absolutely vital to the health, comfort, and safety of people all over the world, and I am confident in the ability of our staff to represent us in a proactive, professional manner.”

For more information, visit www.ahrinet.org.

Publication date: 03/02/2009