Yurek, who has a law degree, joined what was then Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI) in 2002 as the association’s general counsel and vice president of policy and public affairs. He was promoted to president in 2006.

Yurek's impact on AHRI and the global industry has been noteworthy and sustained, the AHRI press release said.

He oversaw the 2008 merger of ARI and the Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association, a move that united HVACR and water heater manufacturers under one organization whose members make more than 75% of all the residential and commercial central air conditioners, heat pumps, furnaces, water heaters, and commercial refrigeration equipment produced and installed worldwide.

During Yurek's tenure, AHRI became a truly global association, establishing offices in Canada, India, and China, and across Latin America, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa, advocating for the industry, and promoting and strengthening AHRI's global standards and equipment certification programs around the world, the press release said.

"Steve Yurek's contributions to our association and our industry have been transformational and have established AHRI as the definitive voice for its members and the industry in all corners of the globe," said Mike Branson, an executive at Rheem Manufacturing Co. and AHRI’s 2026 board chairman. "In addition to advancing AHRI’s mission of advocacy, analytics, standards, and certification, Steve’s foresight in establishing regional offices and promoting AHRI's standards and certification programs around the world, while advocating for and protecting our industry’s interests in Washington and in the states, has greatly enhanced the stature and reach of our industry. He leaves a legacy of strength, commitment, and environmental stewardship that well positions our industry for the future."

The AHRI board has enlisted the help of a search firm to identify suitable candidates to lead the association into the future.