ACCA President and CEO Paul Stalknecht said the group performs a vital role in the HVAC and refrigeration industry.

“Contractors are concerned about the competency levels of technicians entering the industry,” Stalknecht said. “They believe that many HVACR education programs in the market are not meeting the contracting industry’s needs. By achieving PAHRA accreditation, educational institutions can assure employers that their HVACR graduates meet the industry-endorsed education standards.”

PAHRA has a new board of directors, led by Becky Hoelscher, director of air conditioning aftermarket sales at Emerson Commercial and Residential Solutions

“We are committed to responding to the needs of the contracting industry by ensuring HVACR program graduates are job ready,” she said.

The rest of the PAHRA board includes: Treasurer Don Prather, ACCA technical services manager; Secretary Cindy Sheridan, chief operating officer, PHCC Educational Foundation; Jack Bartell, director of services and training, Virginia Air Distributors; Nick Benton, manager of training and human resources solutions, HARDI; Jan Bray, CEO and chief strategist, Bray Strategies; Ray Isaac, president, Isaac Heating and Air Conditioning Inc.; Warren Lupson, president, Lupson & Associates; Joel Owen, manager, Alabama Power-HVAC Training Center; Stephen Pape, president, Pape Service Co.; Richard Russell, technical program supervisor, Oklahoma Department of Career and Technical Education; and Roger Tradajewski, executive director, National Center of Certification Centers.