ARLINGTON, Va. - The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) ended its fiscal year on July 31, with its second consecutive year of net membership growth. Membership has grown by 13 percent since 2002, after eight years of declining membership. In the past year, membership reached into all 50 states for the first time in the association's history, making it the only nationwide HVACR organization. Members also represent 35 other nations.

Following a time of restructuring with its chapters nationwide, ACCA President and CEO Paul Stalknecht said the association is now focused solely on its mission of providing business and technical resources to contractors.

"Our membership runs the gamut, from one-man shops to large contracting firms," he said. "Our members are residential and commercial, union and nonunion. We believe that the HVACR industry is of paramount importance to the United States, and, indeed, the world. Our only bottom-line interest is our members' success, and we look forward to serving them with vigor and creativity in the coming year."