While it’s true that Tom Kalber officially retired from Sacramento City College (SCC) this past May, he’s the kind of instructor who can’t just walk away. After teaching full time for 32 years, he has now transitioned to a role as an adjunct professor, and he continues to aid the students in his program.

The Mechanical Service Contractors of America (MSCA) held its 26th annual educational conference on Oct. 9-12, and reported its largest attendance ever with more than 600 registrants. More than 90 of the registrants were first-time attendees.

The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) recently announced its new certification program for variable refrigerant flow (VRF) equipment. “It’s the first certification program for this type of equipment in the world,” said Bill Tritsis, AHRI vice president, certification.

When the economy crashed in 2008, many business owners nearing the end of their careers were probably relieved to retire and escape before it got worse. But Ray Grimm, 67, decided not to ride off into the sunset — instead, he chose to retain his leadership role and rebrand his Illinois business.

I just got back from the annual MSCA conference, which provided an overwhelming amount of ideas and info.

Regional standards for HVAC equipment have been a hot topic of discussion in the industry, and the proposed rule for the standards could be finalized next week. Currently, the Department of Energy (DOE) is making the rule available for public comment until today, Oct. 17.

It’s a tough crowd of consumers out there. According to distributors, consumer behavior is leading to a drop-off in the replacement market, as well as a drop-off in the high-end market. Yet despite these worrisome trends, distributors are still seeing areas of growth and employing smart tactics to keep their businesses in good shape.

The annual conference of the Heating, Airconditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) is right around the corner, and that means it’s time for a change in the organization’s leadership.

I am the first to admit I am not a techie, and I am certainly not an early adopter of new technology. But since my slow start, I have become a complete convert to the world of social media.

“You don’t stay in this business for 75 years if you don’t do it right,” said Wayne E. Lanhardt, president and majority owner of the McCrea family of companies. “We call it ‘the McCrea way’ — do it the right way the first time.” Lanhardt’s claim that his family’s business is doing it the right way is borne out by the numbers. Revenues for 2010 were around $30 million.