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Spotlighting the Entrepreneurs Shaping Northeast India’s Growth Story

Small businesses are at the heart of India’s growth story. At the event, entrepreneurs from the Northeast highlighted how they are building scalable brands, creating local jobs, and driving innovation in their communities. Representing a diverse mix of homegrown brands and artisans, local retailers and creators, their stories reflect the growing ambition of Northeast India’s business community. Previously restricted in their reach, the role of digital technologies, and Meta ads, has helped many of these brands to get discovered and find an opportunity to expand across India and even internationally. 

The Next Phase of Growth for Small Businesses

The first is AI.

AI-powered tools are helping businesses automate campaign creation, improve performance, and generate creative assets faster than ever before. Solutions such as Meta‘s Advantage+ suite and Generative AI creative tools are making advanced marketing capabilities more accessible to businesses of every size.

Said Upamanyu Borkakoty, Founder of Woolah Tea,

 “We have been running Meta Ads for the last 4 years. Using the AI-powered Advantage+ Shopping campaign has been a game changer. Our orders jumped more than 600% within just 6 months of shifting focus on the Advantage + Shopping Campaign. I am delighted to be a part of this event organized for SMEs of North East, and would love to see lots of more successful businesses from the region scale and get recognized”

The second is messaging.

For many small businesses, WhatsApp has evolved from a communication tool into a business engine – helping entrepreneurs manage customer conversations, showcase products, generate leads and drive sales.

Today, more than 200,000 small businesses in India use Click-to-WhatsApp ads every month to connect with customers. Features such as catalogues, quick replies, labels and customized messaging are helping businesses deliver faster, more personalized customer experiences while operating efficiently.

Said Rimjim Deka, Founder of Littlebox India, 

“Meta has been at the heart of the business we have scaled so far. We have used several Meta tools from the very beginning, and currently, Advantage+ is the one we extensively use to help us scale much more efficiently. We also use Instagram as the window for our brand and the community we are building. Running Instagram Partnership Ads has proven to be very fruitful. I am glad to be part of Meta‘s first-of-its-kind event in the Northeast. I hope that every young entrepreneur present can take away learnings to further scale their businesses.”

Reaching Customers in India’s Digital Economy

Recent Meta-commissioned IPSOS research highlights the growing opportunity for businesses in India’s digital economy.

Among surveyed users, 97% watch videos on Meta platforms daily, while 73% of surveyed rural users discover new products and brands through Meta platforms. The research also found that Meta influences product discovery for 81% of users and purchase decisions for 47% of users. These trends are creating unprecedented opportunities for businesses — regardless of size or location — to connect with customers across India.

Said Punam Gogoi, Founder, CareerClass, 

“Students don’t enroll because they see an advertisement; they enroll because they find someone they trust. Meta has helped CareerClass turn awareness into trust, trust into guidance, and guidance into success. I’ve seen how a single digital insight can completely transform the way an organization connects with people. Meta’s MSME initiatives empower businesses to think bigger, market smarter, and unlock opportunities that once seemed out of reach.”

Supporting the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs

As more entrepreneurs embrace digital tools and AI technologies, the opportunity for small businesses to grow beyond traditional boundaries continues to expand. By bringing together entrepreneurs and business owners from across Northeast India, the World MSME Day gathering in Guwahati aimed to help small businesses learn from one another, build new connections, and explore practical ways to unlock their next phase of growth. As India’s digital economy continues to evolve, Meta remains committed to helping businesses of every size access the tools, technologies and opportunities they need to grow.

June 29: India’s equity market has regained its position as the world’s fifth-largest by market capitalisation, with the combined value of listed companies exceeding $5 trillion. The milestone reflects improving investor sentiment, supported by sustained domestic investment, resilient corporate performance, and a recovery in benchmark stock indices.

The rise in market value has been driven by broad-based gains across sectors, helping Indian equities recover from earlier bouts of global market volatility. Strong participation from domestic institutional and retail investors has continued to underpin the market despite external economic and geopolitical uncertainties.

Market experts said the achievement highlights the strength of India’s capital markets and the country’s long-term economic growth prospects. They added that favourable corporate earnings, steady economic activity, and consistent domestic inflows have reinforced investor confidence.

Looking ahead, investors are expected to remain focused on global economic conditions, geopolitical developments, inflation trends, and central bank policy decisions, which could influence the direction of equity markets in the near term.

June 29: Indian benchmark equity indices opened nearly flat on Monday as investors monitored developments in U.S.-Iran relations and evaluated their potential impact on crude oil prices and global market sentiment.

The Nifty 50 and the BSE Sensex traded with marginal gains in early trading, reflecting a cautious approach among investors. While concerns over geopolitical tensions have eased somewhat, uncertainty continues to keep market participants on the sidelines.

Sectoral performance was mixed, with information technology stocks facing pressure, while select pharmaceutical shares gained following positive company-specific developments. Investors also kept a close watch on global oil prices, which remain sensitive to geopolitical developments in the Middle East.

Going forward, market participants are expected to monitor further developments in U.S.-Iran relations, movements in crude oil prices, and key U.S. economic data for signals on global monetary policy and their potential impact on financial markets.

Mumbai, June 29: DJI, the global leader in creative camera technology, has brought its flagship Osmo Pocket 4 to AYC (All You Can), one of India’s largest creator-focused events, with an immersive hands-on experience designed to show creators what is possible when professional imaging technology fits in the palm of their hand.

Unveiled during a press conference on the opening night of AYC at the Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai, DJI’s “Pocket Playground” activation invites attendees to experience the Osmo Pocket 4 firsthand through interactive shooting challenges running through June 28.

For more than a decade, DJI has been at the forefront of empowering creators worldwide with innovative imaging technologies that make professional-quality storytelling accessible to everyone. Today, DJI products are trusted by filmmakers, vloggers, travel creators, influencers, journalists and content professionals across the globe, helping millions capture and share stories with greater creativity and confidence.

As India’s creator economy continues to expand, a growing number of creators are looking for tools that offer more creative freedom than a smartphone without the complexity of traditional camera systems. The Osmo Pocket 4 was designed specifically for this audience.

The latest generation of DJI’s highly successful Osmo Pocket series, the Osmo Pocket 4 is purpose-built for vloggers, travel creators, lifestyle influencers, family storytellers and mobile-first content creators seeking professional-quality results in a compact and intuitive form factor.

While smartphones have enabled an entire generation of creators to start creating content, many eventually encounter limitations in image quality, stabilization, subject tracking and creative control. The Osmo Pocket 4 bridges that gap by delivering advanced imaging capabilities in a device small enough to fit in a pocket and simple enough to use anywhere.

Rather than demonstrating those capabilities through presentations or product displays, DJI chose to let creators experience them directly.

At the center of the activation is Pocket Playground, an interactive experience built around three live challenge stations that showcase the Osmo Pocket 4’s most powerful capabilities.

Visitors can test ActiveTrack 7.0 intelligent subject tracking, which automatically keeps subjects in frame so creators can focus on storytelling instead of camera operation. They can experience ultra-smooth footage enabled by DJI’s signature 3-axis gimbal stabilization, helping creators capture professional-looking video while walking, running or moving. Attendees can also explore 4K video at up to 240fps, allowing dramatic slow-motion footage that brings action, travel and lifestyle content to life.

The experience is designed to help creators understand not just what the camera can do, but what it enables them to create.

Speaking at the press conference, DJI representatives highlighted the company’s long-term commitment to India’s rapidly growing creator ecosystem.

“DJI has always believed that technology should remove barriers to creativity, not create them. The Osmo Pocket series represents that philosophy by combining professional imaging performance with extraordinary portability and ease of use. As India’s creator economy continues to grow, we are committed to bringing world-class creative tools and meaningful hands-on experiences closer to creators across the country.” 

— Yann Liu, DJI representative

“India is producing creators faster than almost anywhere in the world, and most begin their journey on a smartphone. The Osmo Pocket 4 is designed for that next stage of creative growth, offering better stabilization, smarter tracking, stronger low-light performance and greater creative flexibility without sacrificing portability. At AYC, we’re putting the camera directly into creators’ hands because the best way to understand its value is to experience it yourself.”

— Siddharth Sisodia, Business Head, Thakral Innovations (TIPL), Authorised DJI Distributor for India

New Delhi, June 29: As artificial intelligence reshapes the workplace, employers are sending a clear message to the next generation of business leaders: mastering technology matters, but the most valuable professionals will be those who can combine AI capabilities with distinctly human strengths. 

According to GMAC’s latest annual survey of more than 600 global corporate recruiters in 39 countries—the majority of them working for Global Fortune 500 companies—technology, AI, and data analysis skills saw the largest increases in importance compared with last year. Communication skills, problem-solving, and adaptability emerged as the capabilities employers consider most when hiring business school graduates. In the next five years, employers anticipate skills using AI tools and strategic thinking will become business school graduates’ most valued skills.

The research also reveals a gap between employer expectations and workforce readiness. While the majority of employers say candidates are very well or adequately prepared to demonstrate most workplace skills, they report notable shortages in AI capabilities, grit, emotional intelligence, and managing human capital. 

“The future belongs to professionals who can use emerging technology as a multiplier rather than view it as a competitive threat,” said Joy Jones, CEO of GMAC. “Employers are increasingly seeking those who can combine analytical and technological capabilities with strong communication, active resilience, sound judgment, and the ability to lead people. We believe that business schools have an even more important role to play in developing both sides of that equation.” 

Key findings to note for business school graduates and aspirants:

• Business education commands universal employer trust: Every employer surveyed expressed some level of confidence in graduate management education (GME) and the ability of business school graduates to contribute value to their organizations.
• AI is taking over tasks, renewing communication needs: Nearly two-thirds of employers concerned about AI want graduate business talent to use AI tools to automate routine tasks, while employers focused on communication challenges increasingly prioritize presentation and verbal communication skills.
• Professionalism matters more than ever: Compared to last year, fewer employers believe today’s graduates demonstrate the same level of professionalism as previous generations, highlighting a growing gap in workplace readiness.
• Global talent flows are being redrawn: Employers in Europe and Asia are becoming more open to hiring internationally mobile talent, while U.S. sponsorship has softened in recent years. Meanwhile, one-third of U.S. employers plan to hire international talent for positions outside the country, signaling that global career opportunities continue to expand even as talent migration patterns evolve.
• The degree premium persists: In the United States, MBA graduates continue to earn higher starting salaries than comparable direct-from-industry hires, while business master’s graduates maintain a salary advantage over bachelor’s degree holders.

Honors and Awards recipients recognized for outstanding leadership, service and contributions to the HVAC&R industry

ATLANTA (June 28, 2026) – ASHRAE recognized outstanding member achievements during its 2026 Annual Conference in Austin, Texas, honoring individuals whose leadership, service and technical excellence have advanced the Society and the built environment. Through the ASHRAE Honors and Awards program, recipients were recognized for their contributions to innovation, sustainability, research, education and the continued advancement of HVAC&R and building sciences.

“ASHRAE’s strength is built on the expertise, dedication and leadership of its members,” said 2025–26 ASHRAE President Bill McQuade, P.E., CDP, Fellow ASHRAE, LEED AP. “This year’s Honors and Awards recipients have made meaningful contributions to our Society, our industry and the communities we serve. Their achievements exemplify ASHRAE’s commitment to advancing the built environment and creating a more sustainable future.”

A list of the awards and recipients are below:

Dan Mills Chapter Programs Award
Alvin Lo received the Dan Mills Chapter Programs Award, which recognizes excellence in chapter program endeavors. Lo is a Director, Decarbonisation Business at CLPe, Hong Kong, China.

Donald Bahnfleth Environmental Health Award
Iain Walker received the Donald Bahnfleth Environmental Health Award, which recognizes excellence in volunteer service focused on environmental health issues. Walker is a Staff Scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, Calif.

George B. Hightower Technical Achievement Award
Pratik Deokar received the George B. Hightower Technical Achievement Award, which recognizes excellence in volunteer service in the area of Technical Committee, Technical Group and Technical Research Group activities. Deokar is a Research Engineer at Rheem Manufacturing Company, Lewisville, Texas.

Government Affairs Award
Eid Mohamed Abdelmoneim received the Government Affairs Award. The award recognizes individuals for outstanding effort and achievement in state, provincial and local government activities in connection with technical issues related to the Society. Abdelmoneim is Senior Mechanical Engineer – Design Department at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Lincoln Bouillon Award 
Kwaku Asiedu Boateng received the Lincoln Bouillon Award, which recognizes a member who performs the most outstanding work in increasing membership. The award commemorates Presidential Member Bouillon’s efforts in recruiting new members. Boateng is the Sales and Marketing Manager at Atlantic Climate Control Limited, Accra, Ghana.

Ralph G. Nevins Physiology & Human Environment Award
Federico Tartarini and Meng Kong, Ph.D. received the Ralph G. Nevins Physiology & Human Environment Award, which recognizes significant accomplishment in the study of human response to the environment. Tartarini is an Assistant Professor at The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Kong is a Principal Engineer at GTI Energy, Des Plaines, Ill.

Residential Buildings Service Award
Philip Fairey received the Residential Buildings Service Award, which recognizes excellence in volunteer service focused on Residential Building issues. It serves to heighten general membership awareness of, and interest in, Residential Building activities. Fairey is a Principal at Building Consultants Group, LLC., Merritt Island, Fla.

Standards Achievement Award
Steven Emmerich received the Standards Achievement Award, which recognizes excellence in volunteer service for developing ASHRAE standards and guidelines. Emmerich is a Group Leader at the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Md.

William J. Collins, Jr. RP Award
Kevin Clannon received the William J. Collins Jr., RP Award. The award, named in honor of Presidential Member Collins, recognizes a chapter RP chair who excels in raising funds for ASHRAE’s RP campaign. Clannon is a Senior Applied Sales Specialized Equipment professional at The Master Group Inc., Dieppe, New Brunswick, Canada.

YEA Award of Individual Excellence
Tina Abbasi, Mohamed Faizal and Abraham N.O. OKOKO received the YEA Award of Individual Excellence, which recognizes YEA members for superior efforts during the preceding Society year in the promotion and success of YEA and its programs. Abbasi is Director of Operations at Zapas, Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada. Faizal is an IAQ Consultant at Intercool, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. OKOKO is a Sales & Supports Engineer at AHI-Carrier, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.

ASHRAE Journal Paper Award
David Traxler received the Journal Paper Award for the best article published in the previous volume year of the ASHRAE Journal. Traxler is an Associate Mechanical Engineer, Burns & McDonnell, Baltimore, Md.

Science and Technology for the Built Environment Best Paper Award
Shahzad Yousaf, Craig R. Bradshaw, Rushikesh Kamalapurkar and Omer San received the Science and Technology for the Built Environment Best Paper Award for “Development and performance evaluation of empirical models compatible with building energy modeling engines for unitary equipment.” The award is for the best paper published in the volume year of the Science and Technology for the Built Environment, the ASHRAE research journal.

Yousaf is a Research Assistant at The University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign, Champaign, Ill. Bradshaw is an Associate Professor and Executive Director of the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Center (ACRC) at The University of Illinois – Urbana Champaign, Urbana, Ill. Kamalapurkar is an Associate Professor at The University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla.

Crosby Field Award
Lukasz Sztaberek, Christopher Koenigsmann, Ken Haesslein, Arham Jamshaid, Jack Loughney and David Chacon, Jr. received the Crosby Field Award for “Understanding PCO Air Purification Systems” which was judged to be the best paper presented before the Society. The Crosby Field Award is named for a former Presidential Member.

Sztaberek is an Associate Professor at NYC College of Technology, Brooklyn, N.Y. Koenigsmann is an Associate Professor at Fordham University, Bronx, N.Y. Haesslein is a Research Assistant, Fordham University, Bronx, NY. Jamshaid is at Fordham University, Bronx, N.Y. Loughney is a Research Assistant at Fordham University, Bronx, N.Y.

Willis H. Carrier Award
S. Kia. Mossalaei received the Willis H. Carrier Award given to a member 32 years of age or younger for presenting an outstanding paper at a Society conference. The award was presented for “Laboratory Evaluation of Control Verification Procedures for Certification of Variable-Speed Heat Pump Behavior.” Mossalaei is a Research Assistant at Herrick Laboratories, West Lafayette, Ind.

ASHRAE Best Paper Award
The following papers received a Best Paper Award, which recognizes the authors of the best papers presented at Society conferences during the previous year:

• Philip Boudreaux, Ph.D., Stephen Killough, Rui Zhang, Gurneesh Jatana and Diana Hun received an award for “Development of Novel Techniques for Non-Invasive Air Leakage and Moisture Detection in Building Envelopes.” Boudreaux is on the R&D Staff at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tenn. Zhang is an R&E Engineer at GTI Energy, Des Plaines, Ill. Hun is a Section Head at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tenn.
• Habib Arjmand Mazidi, Sajith Indika Wijesuriya, Ph.D., Ravi Anant Kishorem, Ph.D. and Chuck Booten, Ph.D. received an award for “Retrofit Solutions to Improve the Energy Performance of Existing Operational U.S Administrative Buildings.” Mazidi is an Assistant Professor at Milwaukee School of Engineering University, Milwaukee, Wis. Wijesuriya is at National Laboratory of the Rockies, Golden, Colo. Kishorem is a Senior Research Engineer at National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), Golden, Colo.
• Amy Allen, Ph.D., Jing Wang, Shadi M. Abdel Haleem, Matt Mitchell, Nicholas Long, Gregor P. Henze, Ph.D., P.E. and Jay Tulley received an award for “From Theory to Practice: Feasibility Study of a Thermal Microgrid at a US DoD Installation.” Allen and Wang are Research Engineers at The National Laboratory of the Rockies, Golden, Colo. Haleem is an Adjunct Professor at Washington State University, Pullman, Wash. Long is a Senior Researcher at National Laboratory of the Rockies, Golden, Colo. Henze is an Endowed Professor at The University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colo. Tulley is a Research Engineer at USACE Construction Engineering Research Lab, Champaign, Ill.
• Hye-Jin Cho, Seong-Yong Cheon and Jae-Weon Jeong, Ph.D. received an award for “Experimental Investigation of Vacuum-Based Membrane Dehumidification and Evaporative Cooling-Assisted Dedicated Outdoor Air System.” Cho is a Postdoctoral Researcher at Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea. Cheon is a Research Assistant Professor at Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea. Jeong is a Professor of Architectural Engineering at Hanyang University, South Korea.

Poster Presentation Award
The Poster Presentation Award recognizes the authors of the best poster session paper presented at a Society conference during the previous year.

• Marie-Pier Trépanier and Louis Gosselin received an award for “When Variability on Climate and Occupants Meet – How Climate Change Can Affect Different Occupants in Their House?” Trépanier is a Ph.D. Candidate at Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.
• Farouq Issam Riziq, Mingzhe Liu, Wei-An Chen, Zheng O’Neill, Ph.D., P.E. and Mario A. Medina, Ph.D., P.E. received an award for “Design and Operation of PCM-Embedded Radiant Cooling Systems for Enhanced Energy Flexibility.” Riziq is a Student at Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas. Liu and Chen are Instructional Assistant Professors at Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas. O’Neill is a Professor at Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas. Medina is Director of Architectural Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas.

 Distinguished Service Award
The Distinguished Service Award salutes members of any grade who have served the Society faithfully and with distinction and who have given freely of their time and talent in chapter, regional and Society activities. The following members were recognized:

• Aleksandar Anđelković is a Professor of Faculty of Technical Sciences at The University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia.
• Don Bailey, Dunnellon, Fla.
• Charles Bertuch, P.E., LEED AP is a Project Manager at Colliers Engineering and Design, Syracuse, N.Y.
• Marcus V A Bianchi is Owner of Marcus V A Bianchi, Littleton, Colo.
• Carrie Brown, Ph.D. is a Director at Resource Refocus LLC, Piedmont, Calif.
• Yan Chen, Ph.D. is a Senior Research Engineer & Team Lead at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Wash.
• Bob Coleman is a Lead Engineer at Trane Technologies, Lexington, Ky.
• Kimberly Cowman, HFDP is Director of Engineering at LEO A DALY, Omaha, Neb.
• Charles Cromer, Cocoa Beach, Fla.
• Mahroo Eftekhari, C.Eng., CDPhil, Fellow ASHRAE, SFHEA is a Professor and Course Director MSc in Net Zero Building Services Engineering at Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire, United Kingdom.
• Charles Eley is a Retired Architect & Engineer, San Francisco, Calif.
• Niss Feiner, CHD is Principal Mechanical Designer at Delta-T Designs Inc., Oro-Medonte, Ontario, Canada.
• Stan Gatland is the Manager of Building Science and Comfort at Saint-Gobain North America, Malvern, Pa.
• Reid Hart, P.E. is Chief Engineer at BirchGrove Hearth, LLC, Eugene, Ore.
• Kyle Hasenkox is a Principal at Rocky Point Engineering Ltd., Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
• Heric Holmes, P.Eng. is Senior Manager of Mechanical Engineering at Bird Construction, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
• Joshua Hughes, P.E. is an R&D Engineer at The Chemours Company, Wilmington, Del.
• Elizabeth Jedrlinic is a Sales Manager at Trane, New York, N.Y.
• Manfred Kehrer is a Senior Associate at Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc., Northbrook, Ill.
• Elise Kiland, P.E. is Founding Building Engineer at Cambio, San Francisco, Calif.
• Bruce B. Lindsay, P.E., CDP is a Principal at Lindsay & Associates, Melbourne, Fla.
• Carol Lomonaco is a Senior Product Manager at Vista Lake Consultants, LLC, Wauwatosa, Wis.
• Nicholas Long is a Senior Researcher at National Laboratory of the Rockies, Golden, Colo.
• Genevieve Lussier is President at Eequinox, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
• Eduardo Maldonado, Life Member ASHRAE is a Professor at Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, Portugal.
• Andrew Manos is a Mechanical Engineer at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, N.Y.
• Meghan K. McNulty, P.E., is a Building Systems Engineer at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Wash.
• Kevin B. Mercer, P.E. is a Sr. Principal Engineer at Rheem Manufacturing Co, Fort Smith, Ark.
• Gwelen Paliaga is a Senior Director at TRC, Oakland, Calif.
• Scott Peach, P.E. is President at SP Engineering, Inc., Mobile, Ala.
• Les Pereira is Retired, Richmond, British Columbia, Canada.
• Tulia I. Rios is an Applications Engineer at Stan Weaver, Miami, Fla.
• Michelle Shadpour is an Executive Project Manager at SC Engineers, San Diego, Calif.
• Carey Simonson is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at The University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
• Bill Simpson is a Sales Engineer at Harrison Energy Partners, Little Rock, Ark.
• Jeff Stein, P.E. is a Principal at Taylor Engineers, Alameda, Calif.
• Elia Sterling is at Theodor Sterling Associates LTD, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
• Fitsum Tariku is a Professor at Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.
• Rick Vowels, P.E. is Retired, Louisville, Ky.
• Bruce A. Wilcox, P.E. is President at Bruce A. Wilcox, P.E. Inc., Berkeley, Calif.
• Jason Woods is a Sr. Research Engineer at National Laboratory of the Rockies, Golden, Colo.

Exceptional Service Award 
The Exceptional Service Award recognizes Distinguished Service Award recipients who have continued to serve faithfully and with exemplary effort. The following members were recognized:

• Robert Bean, RET, PL(Eng) is a Retired Practitioner, Lake Chestermere, Alberta, Canada.
• Robin Bryant is a Senior Project Manager at B&I Contractors, Inc., Fort Myers, Fla.
• Susanna Hanson is a Principal Engineer at Solstice Advanced Materials, Morris Plains, N.J.
• Isabelle Lavoie is General Manager at Johnson Controls, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
• Corey Metzger is a Principal at Resource Consulting Engineers, Omaha, Neb.
• Ahmed Alaa El Din Mohamed, Ph.D. is Chairman at Portec Link General Trading LLC, Green Vision Contracting, and Cool Pro, Alexandria, Egypt
• Carey Simonson is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at The University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
• Iain Walker is a Staff Scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, Calif.
• David A. Yashar, Ph.D. is Deputy Director of the Standards Coordination Office, The National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Md.
• Douglas Zentz is an Emeritus Professor at Ferris State University, Elkhart, Ind.

Distinguished 50-Year Member Award
The Distinguished 50-Year Member Award is given to individuals who have been a member for a minimum of 50 years, and are either a past Society president, Fellow ASHRAE or Distinguished Service Award recipient or who have performed outstanding service to ASHRAE or its predecessor societies – the American Society of Heating and Ventilating Engineers (ASHVE), the American Society of Refrigerating Engineers (ASRE), and the American Society of Heating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHAE).

• Mark Allen is President at A.J. Allen Mechanical Contractors, Inc., Des Moines, Iowa.
• Erv Bales, Summit, N.J.
• Albert Black, III, Creve Coeur, Mo.
• Robert Cappelletti, Lansing, Mich.
• Dale Carter, Comox, British Columbia, Canada.
• Julian de Bullet, Gainesville, Va.
• Michael N. Hart is Chairman of the Board at EEA Consulting Engineers, Austin, Texas.
• Donald C. (Don) Herrmann, BEAP is Owner at Building Resources LLC, Hudson, Fla.
• David E. Knebel, P.E. is a Consultant, Tulsa, Okla.
• Reza Mashayekhi is President at Mashatyekhi Consultants, Inc., St. Petersburg, Fla.
• Frank Mills is Owner of Frank Mills Consulting, England
  Awarded posthumously to Garry Neil Myers, Retired, Allendale, N.J.
• Thomas Reinarts, Rio Verde, Ariz.
• Richard Rooley, FREng, with Rooley Consultants in Stoke Poges, England.
• Ronald Shelton, Oak Ridge, Tenn.
• Phil Trafton is Principal Advisor at Coffman Engineers, Woodland Hills, Calif.
• Saul V. Villanueva, P.E. is President at Mechanical Applications Consultants, Inc., San Jose, Calif.
• Timothy G. Wentz, HBDP is an Emeritus Professor at The University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Neb.

Distinguished 75-Year Member Award
The Distinguished 75-Year Member Awards is given to individuals who have been ASHRAE members for a minimum of 75 years.

• Joseph S. Lea, P.E. is Retired, Jamaica, N.Y.

 Andrew T. Boggs Service Award

Larry J. Fisher received the Andrew T. Boggs Service Award. The award, named after ASHRAE’s executive vice president emeritus, recognizes an Exceptional Service Award recipient for continuing unselfish, dedicated and distinguished service. Fisher is Founder of ECT Service, Louisville, Ky.

Eunice Foote Decarbonization Award

Luke Leung, P.E., P.Eng, BEMP received the Eunice Foote Decarbonization Award, which recognizes a member who works to reduce carbon emissions in the built environment. Leung is a Principal at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), Chicago, Ill.

 Louise & Bill Holladay Distinguished Fellow Award

Costas Balaras received the Louise and Bill Holladay Distinguished Fellow Award. This annual award is given to an ASHRAE Fellow for continuous preeminence in engineering or research work. The honor was initiated in 1979 by Presidential Member Bill Holladay. Balaras is the Research Director for the Institute for Environmental Research & Sustainable Development at The National Observatory of Athens, Greece.