Opening Session Buzz

Posted on March 7, 2010

OH MY! A wall of energy poured out the ballroom doors as “The Big Picture’s” opening general session wrapped up this afternoon. Participants of the 42nd Annual Conference and Indoor Air Expo here in Tampa kicked off this year’s event in a monumental way—impressive visual displays, prideful moments of recognition, and a powerful keynote speech that has left many attendees shrugging off the need for the next coffee break.

“Being a visionary doesn’t mean just seeing the Big Picture—it means creating the Big Picture,” said Stan Johnson, outgoing ACCA chairman. “You must recognize that the Big Picture isn’t just something that happens, it’s something you help create. And that’s what the 2010 ACCA Conference is all about.”

ACCA always makes a big production out of its opening general session, so it’s hard not to be captivated by the visuals flying by on the big screens. But when things quieted down and keynote speaker Lowell Catlett took his microphone, he created a lasting energy that will carry through this week’s conference long after the videos are done.

Sure, Catlett is an economist. But he was unlike any economist any of us had seen before. We’re serious—he was entertaining, engaging and he delivered a powerful message about the future of our economy.

“Folks, the economy--it's ok,” said Catlett, dean of New Mexico State University. "We'll get through it. Bull markets make idiots out of all of us. Only when things get tight does that mother of innovation kick in."

Feeding on all this energy, attendees are now heading to their first workshops of the conference and will gather again this evening for the opening reception. What a great kick-off!

Other workshops and sessions on a variety of HVACR business topics are continually presented this week in Tampa as part of ACCA’s 42nd Annual Conference and Indoor Air Expo. Read all of our blogs and news updates from the event at www.accaconference.com, or from your mobile phone at www.acca10.com.