Ted Lowe named executive director of the RPA

WEST TISBURY, MASS. — The Board of Directors of the Radiant Panel Association has announced that Ted Lowe has accepted the position of executive director of the RPA. He begins his new role on Sept. 1, 2009.

Lowe, the long-time national hydronic manager with IPEX Inc., has served as president of the RPA for two terms and has been closely associated with the organization since its earliest days.

“I believe I bring a unique set of qualifications to this position with many years experience and strong connections to all levels of the industry including contractors, trade associates, distributors and manufacturers,” Lowe said. “I am passionate about the radiant business and deeply committed to the RPA. I believe this is the right opportunity at the right time.”

Lowe served as chairman of the education committee during the time the Radiant Basics and Advanced Radiant books and courses were developed, and is a member of the RPA snowmelt committee, which wrote installation guidelines for publication. He is an Authorized RPA Instructor and an RPA Certified Installer and Designer. He also writes for numerous trade publications.

Lowe was named as a Radiant All-Star and was elected to the RPA Hall of Fame in 2008.

Lowe “discovered” radiant while in college studying solar design.

“Solar seemed a perfect fit for utilizing free energy which would help liberate us from our oil dependency,” he said. “Unfortunately, shortly after that, our new president from California cancelled the tax credits and effectively squashed the fledgling industry for a time. I knew that eventually solar would return to public consciousness, but in the meantime I was hooked on the elegance of radiant.”

Lowe's intimate understanding of the organization together with his vision for the future will allow him to focus on several priorities that need immediate attention. These include marketing the RPA and increasing membership by re-engaging the different stakeholders and expanding the organization's offerings to provide the most value to the radiant industry.

In addition, Lowe plans to immediately concentrate on the planning that is underway for next year's REX Show in Reno, Nev., on May 5-7, 2010.

“By the time we get to Reno, I want the RPA membership to feel a difference,” Lowe said. “Between the networking, learning and marketing opportunities, REX has the potential to become an even more rewarding investment for heating and cooling professionals than it has in the past. With the advances in technology, the sustainable possibilities and the hope of an economic recovery, this is a very exciting time.”

The Radiant Panel Association, founded in 1994, is a national non-profit trade organization representing the radiant heating and cooling industry with educational materials, courses and events. Additional information is available at www.radiantpanelassociation.org.