Kalahari Resort
Greater Austin • Texas | March 24-27, 2025
SAVE THE DATE!
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Join Jake on his transformative journey from nurse to acclaimed speaker and strategist, empowering people to create their dream lives through results-driven coaching. Jake has always had a heart to serve humanity and guides solopreneurs, entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, and corporate workers strategically to increase their vitality and performance daily by providing personalized strategies and methods for increasing their business success.
In Jake’s keynote, he challenges your notions of leadership, aiming to astound you with new possibilities. Discover his “4 Pillars of Influence” and learn to connect deeply with your team, breaking down communication barriers and fostering collaboration. Jake’s session offers the key to impactful leadership, equipping you with the skills to lead with influence, innovate, and inspire positive change within your organization. Don’t miss this opportunity to redefine your approach to leadership!
ACCA 2024 welcomes top manufacturing industry leaders for an interactive session on current events affecting manufacturers and the HVACR supply chain.
Leading manufacturer representatives, including Brandon Franks (JCI), Braden Cook (Carrier), John Schneider (Copeland), Doug Widenmann (Daikin), Randy Roberts (Rheem/Ruud), and Heather Buchicchio (Mitsubishi), will join Kyle Gargaro, Editor-in-Chief of The ACHR NEWS, for an interactive Q&A session where contractors can ask key questions and address industry representatives directly.
Brandon Franks, JCI
Braden Cook, Carrier
Braden Cook serves as the Director, Product Management and Training, Residential HVAC. Braden directs the product marketing and lifecycle management for residential heating, cooling, ductless and VRF products, with a focus on launches in support of 2023 regulatory compliance. Braden joined Carrier in 2015 as Product Manager for our 80% Gas Furnaces and Oil Furnaces. Since 2017, he has held the position of Heating Platform Leader with a primary focused on Fan Energy Rating (FER) and Ultra Low NOx gas furnace launches.
Braden holds a Master of Business Administration from University of Indianapolis and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering technology from Purdue University. Braden and his wife Brittney live in Westfield, Indiana, with their three kids.
John Schneider, Copeland
John Schneider was born and raised in Brunswick, Ohio. John attended Ohio State University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. Upon graduation, John joined P&G, working in New Product Development. While working in Cincinnati, John received his MBA from Xavier University.
In 2000, John joined Copeland, a subsidiary of Emerson Electric, in Sidney, Ohio, as Market Manager, Residential Air Conditioning. He subsequently held roles of increasing responsibility, including VP of Marketing and VP of Global Variable Speed. In 2013, Schneider was promoted to VP/GM Thermal Management, North America of Emerson’s Network Power division in Columbus, Ohio. In 2016, Emerson sold the Network Power Division and John stayed with the new management, where he became the SVP, Global Thermal Management & Solutions of the new company, Vertiv. In 2020, John rejoined Emerson as President of the Therm-O-Disc Division in Mansfield, Ohio.
In August 2021, John was promoted to President, HVACR Technologies, Americas. In this role, John is responsible for Emerson’s businesses serving the HVACR industries, with revenue in excess of $2B, including Copeland compressors and related HVACR technologies.
Doug Widenmann, Daikin
Randy Roberts, Rheem/Ruud
For over a quarter of a century, Randy Roberts has played an active and integral role growing and positioning Rheem’s U.S. Air Conditioning Division for long-term success. Since 1997, Randy has worked closely with Rheem contractors and distribution partners, helping them succeed and grow their business while also strengthening Rheem’s culture, strategy, and customer and consumer partner engagement. Randy currently oversees Rheem’s Residential Sales, Marketing, Customer Service, and Product Development efforts.
Randy is an alumnus of the University of Alabama earning his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1993, as well as an Executive MBA in 2012. He has served as a board member and President of the Birmingham Golf Association (BGA), where he has been instrumental in Junior Golfer development in the greater Birmingham community. In addition, Randy is also a deacon and active member of Mountain Brook Baptist Church. When not working, Randy enjoys playing golf, pickleball, and watching college sports.
Heather Buchicchio, Mitsubishi
Kyle Gargaro, ACHR News
Some of the greatest success stories in our industry were born from best-in-class contractors exchanging ideas at ACCA conferences. The networking of ACCA’s Contractor Forum comes alive at ACCA 2024!
Superstar contractor Bobby Ring will moderate an all-star panel of HVAC legends, ready to share their stories take your questions. Join us for a lively discussion on our industry’s greatest issues and ideas that can put you ahead of the pack.
Bobby Ring, Meyer & Depew Co Inc
Sarah Michel, Velvet Chainsaw
Ken Goodrich
Goettl’s current Board Chair and former CEO, Ken Goodrich, has childhood memories strongly tied to Goettl. He remembers holding his father’s flashlight while he completed jobs on air conditioning units and recalls his admiration for the longevity and quality of Goettl products. In 2013, Ken purchased Goettl Air Conditioning and has since expanded the company to locations including Tucson, Austin, San Antonio, Las Vegas, and across Southern California, with plans to continue growing nationally.
Ken also serves as a member on Nevada’s Governors Workforce Development Board (GWDB).
Michael Caito, MAP Consulting
Michael Caito is the owner and CEO of Management Action Programs, Inc. (MAP). A visionary, nose-to-the-grindstone leader, Michael’s entrepreneurial roots date back to the early 1990s when he joined two partners in launching Restaurants on the Run with a mere $6,000. Michael spent the next 20 years building that business through a strategic lens, adopting MAP’s accountability system along the way. When the company sold in 2015, it was valued at 12x EBITDA and scaled 10 markets, 600 people and $40 million in revenue.
A self-taught business student, Michael practices proven management methodologies. Known as a “metrics guy,” he’s big on data, using it to measure progress and get breakthrough results. He also thrives off sharing lessons learned. A member of Entrepreneurs’ Organization for 20+ years, he’s served as a past Global Chairman and traveled to over 25 countries, engaging with countless company owners and organizations. Michael is also active in the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO). In December 2017, Michael purchased MAP, the very company that helped him so much over the years. Now at the helm, he’s set his sights on developing MAP’s people and expanding its footprint globally.
The father of three young boys, Michael coaches their athletic teams and yet still carves time out for himself to exercise regularly and mountain bike whenever he can.