Obituary: Barry Burnett

Barry Burnett, co-founder of Business Development Resources (BDR), a premier business training and coaching company for home services contractors, died Nov. 9 at age 67.

“It is with extremely heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Barry Burnett,” said Bruce Wiseman, BDR co-founder and president. “Barry touched the lives of so many in our industry and beyond. He was a success as a father, friend, mentor and business owner. His knowledge and experiences were the bedrock on which BDR was built.”

Burnett and Wiseman started working together nearly 30 years ago. The two immediately found common ground in a passion for creating exceptional teams and coaching them to exceed what they felt was possible. In 1998, they formed BDR with the goal to empower HVAC businesses with their industry experience and information to give them the knowledge and skills they need to drive profit and growth in their business.

“Barry possessed a unique persona and was full of life with vision, passion and inspiration that is rare in today’s world,” Wiseman said. “Barry and I often talked about the depth and strength of our team and how fortunate we are to be in the presence of such an amazing group of people who demonstrate heart felt caring each day for our clients. I feel very fortunate to have known Barry and to have had him in my life as a mentor, business partner, and friend. I loved Barry and will remember him always.”

“It is with great sadness that ACCA and the contracting industry learned of the passing of Barry, a fellow contractor, industry titan, and great friend," said Steve Schmidt, ACCA chairman of the board and president of Frederick Air, Frederick, Maryland. "Barry taught contractors how to be better businessmen and businesswomen for nearly 40 years, and his passion for contractor excellence and education will be deeply missed. Having worked closely with Barry, travelling with him in Alaska, and getting to know his family and teammates at BDR, I considered him to be more than a colleague. He was a trusted friend who shared a common vision of helping contractors realize our true potential. He understood that contractors are a pillar of the American way of life because we deliver essential services and comfort that ensure our economy flourishes.

“ACCA extends our deepest sympathies to Barry’s family, friends, and teammates at BDR," Schmidt added. "ACCA will honor his life and legacy by continually creating programs and services that help contractors reach their full potential, which was Barry’s mission in life.”

A Celebration of Life service will be held Dec. 2 at 1 p.m. at The Seattle Hilton Airport & Conference Center. BDR and the Burnett family encourages those who would like to honor Barry’s memory to make donations in his name to the Wounded Warrior Project by visiting http://bit.ly/2DGlzSn.

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