In this issue
January 2026 Newsletter ASHRAE Rochester Chapter (Revised) 
ASHRAE Rochester Newsletter
Statements made in this publication are not expressions of the Society or of the chapter and may not be reproduced without special permission of the chapter.
Monthly Meeting Info
DATE: Monday, January 12th, 11:45am - 1:30pm
EVENT: Please join us on Monday for our December lunch meeting at Strathallan, City View Ballroom at 550 East Ave, Rochester, NY 14607. Our December event topic, speaker & details can be found below.
TOPIC: Hydronics As a Solution to Achieve Electrification & Decarbonization (PDH Approved)
PRESENTED BY: Chris DesRoches – Swegon (Distinguished Lecturer)
This presentation will explore a system-wide approach for application of centralized heating/cooling plants, centralized ventilation and terminal units leveraging low-temperature heating and high-temperature cooling to achieve a comfortable low-carbon HVAC system.
Highlights from recent ASHRAE Meeting
Our December meeting featured an insightful presentation on ISMRE2 and Liquid Desiccants.
A big thank you to Zachary Jenkins from Mojave for presenting remotely and to RF Peck for generously sponsoring the event!
Membership Application
Application is also available on the website:
Welcome New Members
We have (2) new member this month! Rochester ASHRAE welcomes:
- Nate McKenna, CPL
- Jeremiah Vezza, Turner Engineering
WELCOME and THANK YOU for being a part of the ASHRAE - Rochester Chapter community!
Government Advocacy
Federal
1. Energy Department launches Speed to Power Initiative, accelerating large-scale grid infrastructure projects.
The U.S Department of Energy (DOE) announced the Speed to Power Initiative which seeks information on multi-gigawatt generation, transmission, and grid infrastructure projects that enable the power needed to win the global AI race while continuing to meet growing demand for affordable, reliable and secure energy. Read more about this at “Energy Department Launches Speed to Power Initiative, Accelerating Large-Scale Grid Infrastructure Projects | Department of Energy”.
Miscellaneous
1. USGBC Issues Report on Commercial Indoor Air Quality Monitoring.
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) recently issued a new report on indoor air monitoring in commercial buildings. The report considers the impact of new low-cost IAQ sensors on the IAQ monitoring device market, as well as the potential applications for the new building IAQ performance data now available from these devices. The report also provides recommendations for interpreting and analyzing IAQ datasets and identifies specific air contaminants that need further research. Read more about the report at “Driving Action on Indoor Air Monitoring in Commercial Buildings | U.S. Green Building Council”.
2. New IWBI Report: Investing in Health Pays Back.
The International Well Building Institute has released its second edition of the “Investing in Health Pays Back” report. The report finds that healthy buildings result in 26% overall increase in well-being, 28% increase in worker satisfaction and Improvements in productivity and learning outcomes. Read more about the report at “Investing in Health Pays Back | IWBI”.
Chapter Officers
President: Gannon Dubay, (585) 435-0250, [email protected]
President Elec: Brian Heffernan, (585) 490-1409, [email protected]
Treasurer: Zoe Benson, (585) 210-8758, [email protected]
Secretary: Sameer Bhise, (585) 427-8888, [email protected]
Past President: Bret Fryover, (585) 427-8888, [email protected]
Board of Governors (3): Adam Roeder, (585) 880-3860, [email protected]
Board of Governors (2): Joe Cappotelli, (585) 991-9723, [email protected]
Board of Governors (2): Rachel Stuckey, (585) 217-3294, [email protected]
Board of Governors (1): Nate Kurash, (216) 577-9178, [email protected]
Board of Governors (1): Joseph Maioli, [email protected]
Board of Governors (1): Nicholas Pegoli, (585) 576-4587, [email protected]
Committee Chairs
Attendance: Nik Jaremka, (585) 360-7891, [email protected]
Awards and Recognition: Matt Kremers, [email protected]
CTTC: Jeff Wiedrick, (585) 325-8354, [email protected]
Diversity and Inclusion: Jordan Morin, [email protected]
Education: Bill Murray, (585) 641-7121, [email protected]
Government Advocacy: Sameer Bhise, [email protected]
Historian: Adam Roeder, (585) 880-3860, [email protected]
Membership: George Herman, (585) 219-5908, [email protected]
Newsletter Editor: Scott Edwards, (585) 301-6591, [email protected]
Nominating: Bret Fryover, (585) 427-8888, [email protected]
Refrigeration: Sam Scorsone, [email protected]
Research Promotion: Dan Diaz, [email protected]
Social Media: Orson Lyons, [email protected]
Student Activities: Rob Hudson, (585) 341-3187, [email protected]
Sustainability: Zoe Benson, (585) 210-8758, [email protected]
Webmaster: Bill Ernst, (585) 872-7472, [email protected]
YEA: Joe Cappotelli, (585) 991-9723, [email protected]
Job Postings and Help Wanted
This section of the newsletter is reserved for those firms wishing to advertise their desires to hire from the Chapters Membership. If you are interested in utilizing this FREE service provided by the Rochester Chapter, please contact our Chapter President, Gannon Dubay at (585) 435-0250 or by email [email protected]. This service is available to ASHRAE members for any local firm in our industry looking for knowledgeable persons in the HVAC&R industry.
ASHRAE Annual Conference
Register now for the 2026 ASHRAE Winter Conference and AHR Expo taking place Jan. 31-Feb 4 in Las Vegas. Immerse yourself in a world of HVAC&R with 100+ technical sessions and 1700+ exhibitors at the AHR Expo. Your paid ASHRAE Conference badge provides entry to the AHR Expo.
Technical Tracks
Nine tracks offer 100+ technical sessions with PDHs. Tracks include Artificial Intelligence, Energy Storage & Grid Resilience, Research Summit, and more. The preliminary program will be online in October.
AHR Expo
Use your (paid) conference badge to get into the Show and see cutting-edge products and technologies, gain insights from industry leaders, and drive business and career growth.
Social Events
Meet new friends and connect with old ones at the Welcome Party, Members Night Out, Women in ASHRAE Breakfast, Member Resource Groups, and more.
ALI Courses
New! The ASHRAE Learning Institute (ALI) schedule for the winter conference features a MENA-focused course, District Cooling. Delivered in dual I-P and SI units, this course is tailored to regional and global needs.
Looking to get ASHRAE Certified?
Apply by Jan. 16 and sit for the ASHRAE Certification Exam taking place Feb. 3 in Las Vegas. Check out the Certifications>
ASHRAE Diversity Equity and Inclusion
ASHRAE Diversity in ASHRAE Committee - Call for Members!
Did you know that:
- 67% of engineers in the US are white?
- The average age of an engineer in the US is 40 years old?
- Only about 5% of engineers in the US are LGBTQIA+?
These numbers have improved over the last few years as the culture that surrounds us has continued to raise the voices of minorities. The growing diversity in the industry encourages people to go into whichever field or career of their choosing, no matter their gender, race, age, or orientation. There is a delayed return in the process, though; changing the culture enough to empower more people to become engineers takes time, so there is no better time to start contributing to the culture change than right now.
Do you have a unique perspective or story about being an engineer as a minority? Do you want to contribute to the culture of empowerment of minorities in this field? Do you want to encourage diversity in a new generation of future engineers?
Please reach out to me if you have any interest in participating in the growth of diversity in our community. There’s handful of events and activities I’ve considered, but one person alone cannot accurately portray or represent diversity. The success of any ideas that come from this committee will depend on a resourceful and diverse group of committed engineers that want to see the field improve and grow.
Jordan Morin
ASHRAE Diversity in ASHRAE Chair
ASHRAE WIA Symposium
After a sold-out debut, the Women in ASHRAE Leadership Symposium returns—bigger, bolder, and more empowering than ever!
Join us for two full days of connection, inspiration, and leadership growth with women from across the HVACR industry—from students and early-career professionals to seasoned veterans.
This isn’t just for engineers—it’s for every woman making an impact on the built environment. Whether you’re here to build your network, develop your leadership skills, or cheer on the next generation through the Young Women in ASHRAE EmpowerHERment Award competition—YOU BELONG HERE!
- Inspiring Keynotes, Workshops
- Expanded Networking, Mentorship
Interested in sponsoring?
We have a sponsorship packet ready—contact us to learn more [email protected].
Visit the conference website for more program and registration details
