Kalahari Resort
Greater Austin • Texas | March 24-27, 2025
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Are we over the cliff? The American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act of 2020 mandates a production and consumption phase-down of HFCs to ensure a smooth transition to A2L refrigerants. The 40% HFC reduction has hit! Our Codes & Coffee panel of experts will discuss the market impact – so far. This will include an update on whether the recovery of HFCs had any impact to prevent a potential “crash” of available product and spiked cost in 2024. In addition, the A2Ls are here, the A2Ls are here! Since the 2024 codes will cover A2L equipment in residential applications, we’ll discuss how the transition to A2L products is progressing in the marketplace.
Our panel will feature Kate Houghton, vice president, sales & marketing, Hudson Technologies (the largest refrigerant reclaimer in the U.S.), Chris Forth, JCI’s vice president of regulatory, codes, and environmental affairs, and Don Gillis, technical trainer with Chemours. ACCA’s Manager of Codes & Standards David Bixby will moderate the panel. Don’t miss it!
Kate Houghton has been Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Hudson Technologies since May 2019 after joining the company in November 2014 as the Director of Marketing. She has over 25 years of marketing experience within industrial manufacturing companies. Her previous roles include 16 years with Kidde-Fenwal/United Technologies, including Director of Marketing Global Suppression. Other prior positions include Vice President of Marketing at C&M Corporation and Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Safety Hi-Tech USA.
Chris Forth is a 30+ year HVAC industry veteran, who has worked in engineering, in product management, and most recently in the regulatory and codes space as the Vice President of Regulatory, Codes & Environmental Affairs for the Ducted Systems division of Johnson Controls. Chris is heavily involved in industry codes and standards development, as well as industry advocacy efforts to facilitate the safe transition to low-GWP refrigerants at the state, federal and international levels.
Chris currently serves on multiple committees and boards, including the Air-conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), the Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy, and the State Chamber of Oklahoma, where he is based.
Don Gillis is a technical trainer at Chemours. Prior to his work with Chemours, he was a training specialist and HVACR instructor for Copeland. He has more than 30 years of experience in the industry, having been an installer, sales and service manager, and service technician.
David Bixby has over 30 years’ experience in the HVAC industry working for equipment OEM’s and trade associations, including 14 years with the Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association (now known as AHRI), participating in codes, standards and regulatory activities. Now providing support for ACCA’s Codes Subcommittee and model code activities of interest to ACCA’s goals, including ICC, IAPMO and NFPA code groups. In addition, David now leads ACCA’s ANSI standards activities including secretary for the ACCA Standards Task Team.