HARDI 2024 Annual Conference Sets New Records, Inspires HVACR Professionals
Heating, Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International concluded 2024 with its largest annual conference to date. Held Dec. 7–10 in Atlanta, Georgia, the event welcomed over 2,030 attendees, including more than 550 wholesaler representatives from 181 companies, 65 Solution Center providers, 45 member sponsors and a sold-out booth program featuring 230 suppliers and manufacturers.
The conference opened with a keynote from Ross Bernstein, award-winning speaker and best-selling author of nearly 50 sports books. Bernstein’s presentation set the tone for the event by emphasizing leadership and relationship building. Dr. Anirban Basu delivered his signature witty, quick-fire perspective on complex economic topics, while Pamela Burnum closed the event with an empowering session on effective communication techniques for leadership success.
The conference featured 29 breakout sessions, including presentations from HARDI’s Market Intelligence team on data-driven strategies for business development and benchmarking. Four regional forecast sessions offered in-depth analyses of economic and regulatory trends unique to each region.
HARDI honored individuals and member organizations whose achievements exemplify the association’s mission and make exceptional contributions to the HVACR wholesale industry:
• Voice of Distributor Award: Jeff Underwood, RectorSeal
• Market Intelligence Pillar Award: CFM Equipment
• Talent Pillar Award: Rheem Air Distribution
• Advocacy Pillar Awards: Christian Baca, Rheem Northeast Distribution and Michael Meier, Meier Supply
• LATAM Distributor Award: APR Supply Co.
• LATAM Strategic Sponsor Awards: NAVAC and DiversiTech
The 2025 conference will be held Dec. 8–11 at the Wynn Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit hardinet.org.
