PHOENIX - Honeywell hosted its first national meeting of contractors and distributors as it announced a number of new products to the market. In addition to the host of new products seen at the event, Pat Williams and John Sweeney were the headline entertainers at the Honeywell Momentum Conference at the Pointe South Mountain Resort in Phoenix, Feb. 4-7.

The conference featured workshops, training opportunities, new product launches, and a trade show. Momentum was touted as “the definitive conference for Honeywell’s commercial HVAC contractor and distributor community,” according to Dave Molin, general manager, Honeywell Building Control Systems.

Molin also said about the keynote speakers, “These two executives bring an enormous breadth of vision and real world leadership experience to Momentum. Having Pat and John in our lineup of speakers helped us set the tone for the kind of dynamic, broad-reaching, and in-depth education we wanted to deliver at Momentum.”

Pat Williams presented his keynote address at the event on Feb. 5. Williams is the senior vice president of the NBA’s Orlando Magic, and one of America’s top motivational, inspirational, and humorous speakers. In 1996, Williams was named as one of the 50 most influential people in NBA history.

John Sweeney is the owner of the oldest satirical comedy theater in the nation, the Brave New Workshop. Sweeney uses the “8 Secrets of the Brave New Workshop” to help Fortune 500 companies address a wide variety of business issues, and has trained leaders and managers from some of the largest companies in the world with his corporate training curriculum based on the philosophies of improvisational theater. His first book, “Innovation at the Speed of Laughter: 8 Secrets to World Class Idea Generation” is now in its fourth printing. Sweeney addressed Momentum attendees on Feb. 6.

FOUND IN THE HALLS

One of the meeting highlights was a panel discussion about the future of controls contractors as smart technologies become more widely used. The three-person panel, moderated by The NEWS editor-in-chief Mike Murphy, was comprised of distributor Brian Turner of Control Co., San Francisco; contractor John Armani of TEC Systems Inc., New York; and Mike Keller, Honeywell national sales director, Building and Combustion Controls.

Honeywell’s contractor and distributor customers enjoyed the conference’s powerful keynote sessions, learned about the latest HVAC technologies, and shared insights into industry trends with the rest of the more than 350 conference attendees.

Many of the attendees at the conference included Authorized Controls Integrators (ACI) and Automation & Control Specialists (ACS). An ACI contractor is a sophisticated building control system integrator expert in engineering, installing, and servicing HVAC controls, products, applications, and systems for large, complex commercial buildings.

An ACS contractor is typically a sophisticated mechanical contractor with a controls division expert in HVAC products, applications, and systems for medium-to large-commercial buildings.

Two levels of Honeywell distributors were also in attendance: Authorized Systems Distributors (ASD) and Commercial Controls Distributors (CCD). The differentiating factor between the two is that Ads offer a wider spectrum of building automation systems, engineering support, and other services for all sizes of buildings. Cads are authorized to sell light commercial building solutions and the Honeywell Web-based Building Management System.

During the meeting Honeywell’s top contractor and distributor were honored. Earning the coveted Distributor of the Year Award was Control Consultants Inc. of Weymouth, Mass. Honeywell Authorized Systems Distributors are considered for this award, which is based upon two-year rolling volume, year-over-year growth, product mix, commitment to training, and more. “Eleven of our distributors earned Honeywell Diamond Distributor status, which is an elite honor in itself,” noted Molin. “Control Consultants rose to the top of that list and we’re proud to name them our Distributor of the Year.”

Aces qualify for awards in two categories, ACI of the Year and ACI Rookie of the Year. The awards are based on purchase volume, major projects won and completed, creative solutions, technical competency, and the commitment to partnering with other Honeywell groups. Southeastern Temperature Controls of Birmingham, Ala., was named ACI of the Year. The ACI Rookie of the Year, the top new contractor in the category, was Enterprise Electrical & Mechanical of Indianapolis.

Also honored at the conference was Burke Engineering Co. of South El Monte, Calif., winner of the Honeywell Award of Distinction. This award is given to the distributor that excelled in year-over-year growth in a particular product area.

“Burke Engineering earned this special award,” said Molin, “because they found a niche market for Honeywell variable-frequency drives and delivered significant growth.”

Two evenings of the conference were dedicated to the Momentum HVAC industry trade show, where key Honeywell partners were able to consult with commercial contractors and distributors.

The popularity of the first-ever Honeywell Momentum Conference may have ensured a second annual gathering. A Honeywell spokesperson said that a second Momentum is scheduled for 2009.

For more information, visit www.honeywell.com.

Sidebar: What's the Difference?

When three people get in a room together, more than three opinions can surface. Put a contractor, distributor, and a manufacturer on a stage together in a room of about 400 people and the opinions can grow exponentially. During the Honeywell Momentum Conference held in Phoenix at the South Pointe Mountain Resort, Feb. 4-7, a panel discussion intended to uncover future trends in smart technologies ventured into other territory as well.

Mike Murphy, editor-in-chief of The NEWS, moderated the panel discussion which featured distributor Brian Turner of Control Co., San Francisco; contractor John Arfman of TEC Systems Inc., New York; and Mike Keller, Honeywell national sales director, Building and Combustion Controls.

As the panelists discussed the application of so-named smart technologies, a single thread permeated the thinking on the dais. Turner said, “It is becoming more difficult to be a controls contractor. A person needs to know more about things such as tying systems to an Ethernet system. Building owners are now expecting the controls contractor to integrate HVAC systems through the Internet.”

All three panelists agreed that being an installer of controls systems is not the future of the controls segment. Arfman said, “We are fast approaching a time when it will no longer be good enough to go install the HVAC system as a stand-alone system. Clients want complete integration of their HVAC and controls with security, lighting, and fire protection. Some even want other aspects of the building to have connectivity.”

For some owners, connectivity and integration means the ability to manage everything in the building environment with one building automation system, including the audio-visual components or operable windows and ventilation, and maybe even the Information Technology (IT) systems.

Murphy asked if open protocol systems were truly making any gains in the market. Arfman replied, “We don’t see any one protocol dominating the market as we were promised years ago.” However, Arfman noted that it is easier to enable systems to work with each other than perhaps it was in past years.

“I think it is an evolution, and once you get to the point of thinking at the IT level in a business, it is an opportunity to truly integrate systems,” said Turner.

Honeywell’s Keller said, “The end user is demanding interoperability in all building systems. The ability of a controls contractor to be an integrator is going to be critical to their future success.”

Other smart technology trends discussed included wireless applications. All panelists expected to see less hard-wiring in the future as wireless technologies reach more attractive price points. As John Arfman said, “We are still in the early stages of wireless, there are plenty of changes that we are going to see in our controls businesses.”

Publication date: 03/26/2007