Education

Mainstage Events

Featured Keynote Speakers

Don't miss these inspiring mainstage presentations from industry visionaries

Keynote: How Companies Can Get Their Courage Back

Ryan Berman
Ryan Berman
Founder & CEO, Courageous
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
8:45 AM - 9:45 AM

There’s a noticeable deficiency of courage in the business world. It is absent from business models, boardrooms, company cultures, and mission statements. Courageous leadership seems to have taken a sabbatical—and many businesses are far worse for it. Most terrifying of all, employees within an organization who aspire to make calculated courageous calls across a company are not getting the opportunity to do so. Their bold ideas are getting squashed along the way or, sadly, they’ve landed in a culture where iterative growth has become the goal throughout the hallways. Instead of spending the next 1200 words delving deeper about “why” this is our current diagnosis, I’d prefer to simply tap into “how” we can help those willing leaders help their companies get their courage back. Indeed, unlocking courage, when truly embraced and understood, can be your ultimate X factor and competitive advantage.

BEWARE: Your Thoughts May No Longer Be Your Own

Keith Kong
Keith Kong
Technology Futurist & Industry Expert
Monday, March 16, 2026
9:00 AM - 10:15 AM

What you’re about to see will blur the lines between reality and deception. International phenomenon Keith Kong predicts things before they’ve happened, plucking thoughts straight out of your mind during this interactive journey into the unexplainable!

More than a Mentalist, Keith’s extraordinary expertise in Psychology and Criminal Profiling have amazed audiences the world over. Celebrities, universities, and corporations all call upon him to entertain them while probing the vastness of the human psyche.

Browse Sessions by Category

Business

Revenue Rescue: Fixing What’s Leaking Through the Cracks

Great for Commercial Contractors

Jason McFadden​
Business Coach, Nexstar Network

Chances are, your business is leaving money on the table — but where? This session walks you through Nexstar’s Revenue Rescue process, helping you identify where time, calls, or profits are slipping through the cracks. From underperforming tech routes to missed sales opportunities, learn how to uncover and recover lost revenue fast.

Make Your Membership Count with ACCA’s New Training Lineup

Maggie-Contador
Maggie Contador
Education and Training Program Specialist, Air Conditioning Contractors of America

ACCA’s training team will share an inside look at the latest updates, resources, and initiatives designed to help members maximize their membership value. From new on-demand courses to live events and instructor-led programs, this session highlights what’s new (and what’s next) in ACCA’s growing educational portfolio. Bring your questions and ideas — this interactive panel is your chance to connect directly with the team behind ACCA’s training initiatives.

Building Smarter Call Centers – By the Creators of Modern AI

Boris-Valkov
Boris Valkov
CEO and Co-Founder, Lace AI

AI has been shaping business operations for years, and call centers in the trades are no exception. In this session, Lace AI co-founder Boris Valkov explains how contractors can use AI to strengthen customer service, support staff, and streamline calls. You’ll learn where AI makes the biggest impact, where it still needs a human touch, and how to use it to make your call center more responsive and efficient.

Four Lead Generation Mistakes You Might Be Making in Your Business and How to Fix Them!

Great for Commercial Contractors

Angela Kiel
Angela Kiel
Strategic Partner Manager, BDR

Are you leaving money on the table without even realizing it? Generating leads is the lifeblood of any home service business, but even the best companies unknowingly make critical mistakes that cost them potential customers. In this session, we’ll break down four common lead generation pitfalls and, more importantly, how to correct them to maximize your marketing efforts. 

The Contractor’s Guide to Profitable Marketing in 2026

Great for Commercial Contractors

Zack Wilson
Chief Marketing Officer and Co-Founder, Lokal
Chuck Worley
Owner, Worley’s Home Services
Eugene Geiz
Owner and Operator, Flex Air

The marketing landscape is shifting rapidly, and contractors need genuine insight into what works — and what doesn’t.
In this session, the team from Lokal – Digital Marketing for Home Services breaks down the data and trends shaping lead generation in 2026 and how to turn that information into better results.

Credibility Sells: How Trust and Social Proof Drive HVAC Customer Decisions

Matt Wilson
President, MPW Marketing
Kerry O’Brien
President, T.F O’Brien Heating & Air Conditioning

Matt and Kerry will share actionable strategies to integrate social proof at key customer touchpoints, from initial outreach to post-installation follow-up.
Discover how certifications, awards, and authentic messaging can boost brand perception and reinforce local credibility. 

2025 Contractor of the Future Study: Where Your Business Stands

TJ-Oconnor
TJ O’Connor
President, Farmington Consulting Group

ACCA’s highly anticipated 2025 Contractor of the Future Study unveils insights from HVAC contractors nationwide, providing contractors with the data-driven intelligence needed to strengthen their business.

Ready to take your business to the next level?
REGISTER NOW!

Technical

Technical Retrofit

Ed-Janowiak
Ed Janowiak
Manager of HVAC Design Education, Air Conditioning Contractors of America

Retrofits aren’t as simple as swapping old for new, and in this practical session, you’ll learn why. We’ll walk through how Manual J® helps explain why you can’t always replace like with like, how Manual S® guides you in selecting equipment with the right BTUs for design day load, and what to consider when new airflow meets existing ductwork. This session is designed to give you clear, usable takeaways you can apply right away to avoid common retrofit mistakes, improve system performance, and deliver better comfort for your customers.

Designing Heat Pump Systems That Won’t Come Back to Haunt You

Eric-Fitz
Eric Fitz​
Co-Founder, Amply Energy

Designing an HVAC system with a variable capacity heat pump is no longer a future-forward concept; it’s what top contractors have been doing for years to win more jobs and delight homeowners. But let’s be honest: navigating Manual S®, emergency heat, duct capacity concerns, and utility costs for every project can feel like a minefield.

Ready to take your business to the next level?
REGISTER NOW!

Leadership

Harness the Metrics That Matter: Tracking and Utilizing KPIs to Maximize Profitability

Great for Commercial Contractors

Kristen Deese
Kristen Deese
Founder, The Virtual CFO for the Trades

Are you leaving money on the table without even realizing it? Generating leads is the lifeblood of any home service business, but even the best companies unknowingly make critical mistakes that cost them potential customers. In this session, we’ll break down four common lead generation pitfalls and, more importantly, how to correct them to maximize your marketing efforts. 

Retention by Intention: The Power of Regular One-on-Ones

Great for Commercial Contractors

Kyla-Robinson
Kyla Robinson
Organizational Development Training Manager, American Residential Services

According to a Gallup survey in 2023, 21% of employees who left their jobs say it could have been avoided if they’d had more positive interactions with their managers. As leaders, we balance an overflowing plate of tactical and strategic planning. The thought of prioritizing positive interactions with our people to get them to stay sounds tedious. In this presentation, we discuss how one-on-ones can directly impact retention. 

Ready to take your business to the next level?
REGISTER NOW!

Talent

What It Takes to Attract (and Keep) Good Techs

Great for Commercial Contractors

Westie-Magnuson
Westie Magnuson
Chief People Officer, Cornel’s Plumbing, Heating, & Air Conditioning

In this session, Westie Magnuson, Chief People Officer at Cornel’s Plumbing, Heating & Air, shares field-tested strategies that helped Cornel’s scale from 34 to 65 employees, mostly techs, in under a year, while earning a spot on Oregon’s Top 100 Companies to Work For list.

Your Hiring Process is NOT Working. Let’s fix it!

Great for Commercial Contractors

Aaron Schuh
Aaron Schuh
CEO and President, Recruit4Business

If finding good people feels harder than ever, your hiring process might be part of the problem. This session breaks down the most common mistakes HVACR companies make when recruiting and onboarding — and how to fix them. 

Blueprint for Success: Building a Leadership Development Program in Your HVAC Business

Great for Commercial Contractors

Dan Dowdy
Founder, Built for the Trades
Albert Rodriguez
Built for the Trades

Technical skills build HVACR businesses, but leadership drives growth. Without a structured program to develop leaders within your team, you’ll stay stuck handling every decision and thwarting daily problems instead of scaling your company.

Ready to take your business to the next level?
REGISTER NOW!