5 Reasons to Attend the AHR Expo

You’re busy. We get it. And, often, the very last thing you may want to do is to head out of state for another conference. But if you’re in the HVACR industry, you should strongly considering packing your bags and heading to Florida next week for AHR Expo, one of the industry’s top conference and expositions.   The reasons for attending vary by profession, experience levels and industries but we believe there are five reasons that apply across the board. It’s not too late…you can still make it happen!

1.  Networking. Show organizers anticipate that over 60,000 industry professionals from 144 countries will gather in Orlando next week. This year’s pre-registration has set an all time AHR Expo record. There will be over 2,100 exhibitors from 35 different countries. You’ll attend conference sessions with contractors, design and construction engineers, operations & maintenance professionals, technicians, purchasing managers, facilities managers and more. It’s highly likely you’ll meet someone to do business with or someone who is currently solving the same problems you do. Determine your networking goals before you arrive and then achieve them with the vast pool of choices throughout the week.
   
   
2. Education. The Expo offers almost 50 free seminars on a variety of topics from Monday through Wednesday. Additionally, exhibitors are offering 80 free sessions to showcase their new products and technologies. ASHRAE Learning Institute will be offering 17 Continuing Education Courses Sunday, January 24^th through Tuesday, January 26^th. These half-day and full day sessions are available for a fee for both members and non-members.   NATE and ACG will offer certification workshops, reviews and testing as well.
   
   
3. Industry updates. The AHR Expo is a fantastic introduction to HVACR for new professionals. Whether you are a new graduate or new to the industry, opportunities abound to learn more about the products and technology available in the industry. But there is no need to feel excluded if you’re a seasoned pro. Attending the Expo and the associated seminars allows industry veterans to learn more about new products and technology or allows you to explore older products and technologies you may be interested in.
   
   
4. Explore the latest technology. The Expo provides a fantastic opportunity to examine the newest equipment on the market. Many manufacturers will display equipment samples with a cutaway view so you can get an in-depth understanding of functionality of each piece. Other manufacturers offer 20-minute talks on new products and technology during the exhibitor showcases mentioned above. You won’t get another opportunity like this to have an up-close view and one-on-one discussions with manufacturers about the equipment.
   
   
5. A change of pace. Let’s face it…sometimes it helps to remove yourself from your day-to-day environment to gain a fresh perspective. From time to time, it can be a significant benefit to you (and your company!) to get out of your routine, meet some different people, and see some other sides of the industry. It may help you return to that to-do list with renewed energy.

Attending conferences is sometimes viewed as a real pain. But you’ll be more valuable to your employers if you have a deeper understanding of the products and technology on the market and a strong network of peers. The AHR Expo is one of the biggest and the best in the industry so it just makes sense to venture out. We’ll be there. Let’s connect!