AHRI announces retirement of Jack Klimp, staff restructuring

ARLINGTON, VA.– The Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute announced that AHRI CEO Jack Klimp will be retiring June 1, 2009, and that it is restructuring its staff responsibilities to better position the association to accomplish its core missions of excellence in standards, certification and advocacy.

Stephen R. Yurek will continue to serve as the association's president, with the support of the following direct reports: Joe Mattingly continues as general counsel and corporate secretary; Stephanie Murphy will have responsibility for finance, membership and office operations; Bill Tritsis will have direct responsibility for certification programs; and Henry Hwong will have direct responsibility for standards, product section services and statistical programs. Francis Dietz will have direct responsibility for public affairs, meetings and education. David Calabrese will continue to have overall responsibility for government, regulatory and international affairs, assisted by Karim Amrane, Don Davis and Jim Walters.

The following senior staff positions in the association were eliminated in the restructuring: executive vice president and senior vice president of public affairs. Five additional positions were also eliminated.

"We have taken these steps to strengthen the ability of our staff to provide quality member services while preparing for the real possibility that we will need to expand our advocacy efforts both at home and abroad in the near future," said AHRI Chairman Keith Coursin. "Our industry is absolutely vital to the health, comfort and safety of people all over the world, and I am confident in the ability of our staff to represent us in a proactive, professional manner."