Hello HARDI members. It feels great to reconnect with all of you once again, particularly now that the polar vortex days of winter are behind us and we can finally start enjoying the beautiful spring weather. Spring symbolizes renewal and awakening, so I sincerely hope I can successfully motivate all of our members to get excited about the numerous initiatives HARDI has planned ahead!

Right around the corner holds another important HARDI initiative that I urge all members to attend. On May 20-21, HARDI members will meet on Capitol Hill to bring attention to legislation that directly affects the HVAC industry and how members handle business dealings in the future. With issues such as proposals to repeal LIFO from the House, Senate, and President Obama, as well as the President‘s proposal to reduce the estate tax exemption and raise the rate, ongoing challenges with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, and more, it is crucial that members make their voices heard. I’m confident all that attend will engage in meaningful dialogue and make a lasting impression on Congress.I would first like to acknowledge all of the members that have attended one or both of the past two HARDI Focus Conferences; the Operations & Logistics Optimization Conference in March, and the Strategic Leadership Conference that took place in April. Personally, I had an incredible time at both events, and was very impressed with the knowledgeable speakers and informative content put forth. I would like to commend the HARDI staff for being incredibly diligent and thorough in preparing for the 2014 Focus Conferences, as their efforts have most definitely paid off. As usual, it was a pleasure to have the opportunity to connect with so many of you again, listen to the many advancements taking place at your respective companies, and gather feedback about your particular interest and concerns within the industry. I find this feedback to be invaluable, as it allows HARDI to be an instrumental component in better serving your needs as HARDI members. I look forward to seeing even more of you at the next two Focus Conferences; the Marketing & Sales Optimization Conference taking place in Delavan, Wis., June 22-24, and the Purchasing Optimization Conference in Newport, R.I., Sept. 14-16. These conferences will continue the high standard of quality the Focus Conferences have displayed this year, and will surely provide worthwhile insight into how your business can maximize profit moving ahead.