It is once again time to gather nominations for The NEWS’ Top 40 Under 40 list. This is the fifth year the publication is holding this contest. So far, we have recognized 160 of the best and brightest young folks in the HVAC industry. It is definitely an impressive list, but we are certain there are more people out there deserving of this recognition.

The idea for this contest came from the constant talk we were hearing about the “graying” of the HVAC industry. And that is a legitimate concern. It certainly seems like more people are leaving the industry than joining it.

However, the people that are entering the industry are a force to be reckoned with. The NEWS wanted to highlight the younger generation that was making a difference in the industry. As an HVAC trade publication, we attend a lot of industry events. Whenever I travel, I notice the overwhelming amount of intelligence the youngsters have to offer. That fact is often easy to forget.

When we first started this contest five years ago, I was 37 years old. The fact that I did not even so much as sniff a nomination when I was eligible for this honor is a testimony to the amount of qualified individuals in this industry. And while it does seem like a bit of a missed opportunity, the toughest part of running this contest is to see how many impressive individuals are left off of the list because we can only recognize 40 each year.

TIME TO NOMINATE

Do you know someone under 40 who is doing great work in the industry? Nominate them at www.achrnews.com/top40. It doesn’t matter whether that person is a contractor, technician, teacher, distributor, employed by a manufacturer, etc.

The contest is open to those working in all aspects of the industry. The nominee just has to excel in the workplace (and give you a blank stare when you mention “Harry and the Hendersons”).

Perhaps a technician is a customer favorite and goes above and beyond what is required. Maybe this young gun started his or her own HVAC company and is killing it. Perhaps he or she is the sharpest engineer on staff.

The younger generation loves to be recognized, and this is a fantastic opportunity to reward these individuals for their hard work and fresh ideas. One of the goals of highlighting the youth of this industry is to help recruit more talented individuals to the trades. The next time you’re interviewing a 20-something applicant, you could mention that your staff features one of the up-and-coming individuals in the HVAC industry.

On the entry form, please share as much information as possible. The more we know about your nominee, the more reasons we have to put them on the list. This is one of those rare occurrences where bragging is encouraged.

Those chosen for the list will be featured in the Aug. 26 issue of The NEWS, with both a picture and a small write-up.

I am excited to see who gets nominated, and I hope you’re as excited to share these young employees’ achievements with the rest of the industry.

Publication date: 4/15/2019

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