The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) appointed Samantha Slater to head its federal and state legislative activities as vice president of government affairs. Slater comes to AHRI from the Renewable Fuels Association, where she was lead lobbyist for the past 10 years, with accomplishments that included preserving ethanol's role in the federal renewable fuels standard as well as the federal tax credit for ethanol. Slater has spent more than 20 years in government relations, working across party lines of all levels of government as an industry advocate on public policy issues related to energy, environment, and the economy. 

Previous experience includes positions with the National Corn Growers Association, where she played a key role in securing a renewable fuels standard in the 2005 Energy Policy and Conservation Act; the Electric Power Supply Association; and the National Independent Energy Producers, all of which involved significant federal and state public policy advocacy.

Slater holds a degree in international studies from American University in Washington

"We are excited to welcome someone with Samantha's extensive federal and state government experience to our public policy advocacy team," said AHRI President and CEO Stephen Yurek. "Her knowledge of the legislative process, her extensive contacts on Capitol Hill, particularly in the energy and environment related committees, and her track record of accomplishment in the public policy arena will be invaluable to AHRI as we strive to achieve our legislative goals in the 116th Congress."