Special to CONTRACTOR

CINCINNATI — The Radiant Heating Conference and Expo, held May 8-11 here, attracted 1,067 registrants and 106 exhibitors. Total attendance declined from last year’s event in Salt Lake City, which drew 1,244 people. The number of exhibitors increased, however, by about 20 companies.

The education-oriented event sponsored by the Radiant Panel Association attracted almost 500 trade professionals to 26 seminars on May 9 and 10. In addition, 334 people attended Industry Opportunity Day, which consisted of exhibitor-sponsored workshops, product demonstrations and information sessions on May 8. That same day, 70 people participated in the Radiant Basics course taught by contractor Ken Barney, vice president and general manager of Thornton Plumbing & Heating in Midvale, Utah. Another 112 people took the Radiant Precision course conducted by engineer John Siegenthaler of Appropriate Designs.

On May 11, 36 trade professionals took the first RPA Certification Exam, which followed RPA’s annual business meeting. At the meeting, RPA board members elected a slate of new officers. Contractor Michael Ackmann of New Century Comfort Systems in Burlington, Ill., was elected president. He had been the board’s secretary.

Ackmann was one of the first contractors to join the RPA in 1994 when the organization was formed and has been an active member since then.

Ackmann replaces Ted Lowe who has served as president of the RPA for two years. Lowe is regional marketing manager for the Kitec Division of IPEX.

John Barba, Uponor/ Wirsbo’s training manager, was elected RPA vice president. He takes the place of Vice President Greg Jannone of contractor William Jannone & Sons in Bound Brook, N.J.

Filling the secretary position vacated by Ackmann is Ada Cryer of Delta-Therm, an electric radiant manufacturer. Rounding out the new slate of officers is Joe Waskiewicz of JV Mechanical in Webster, Mass., who becomes treasurer.

At the annual System Showcase Awards Dinner May 10, winners were announced in the annual contest that features the best radiant projects in several categories. The winners are:

l Wallace Plumbing, Heating & Cooling for the Ammon residence in Golden, Colo. (residential hydronic project of less than 3,000 sq. ft.);

l Advanced Radiant Design for the Conklin residence in New Windsor, N.Y. (residential hydronic project of greater than 3,000 sq. ft.);

l Lorton Plumbing for the Mountain Star residence in Avon, Colo. (residential hydronic retrofit);

l Arndt & Son Plumbing for the Gefke residence in Oregon, Wis. (most for least category);

l Advanced Radiant Design for the Catskill Wellness Center in the Catskill Mountains, N.Y. (hydronic commercial and Judge’s Choice Award);

l Advanced Radiant Design for the Conifer House in the Catskill Mountains (innovative category);

l Delta-Therm for the U.S. Post Office in Chicago (electric commercial);

l SSHC Inc. for the Youngsman residence in Oak Harbor, Wash. (electric residential).

In addition, F.W. Behler Inc. won the Best of Show Award for its Keller hydronic retrofit project in Dover, Pa. Behler is owned by Dave Yates, plumbing columnist for CONTRACTOR.

All the winning projects in the System Showcase competition will be featured in upcoming issues of Radiant Living, the official publication of the Radiant Panel Association and a supplement to CONTRACTOR, Contracting Business and HPAC Engineering magazines.