***All times listed for the 2020 Virtual Leadership Forum will be in Eastern Standard Time *** 

LEADERSHIP FORUM OPENING GENERAL SESSION (10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)

The opening session of AHRI’s Virtual Leadership Forum will feature a fireside chat-style interview with 2020 Chairman John Galyen and incoming Chairman Mike Schwartz, who will also answer questions from the membership. The outstanding efforts of several members will be recognized in a video presentation of the AHRI Richard C. Schulze and Distinguished Service Awards, and that will be followed by the traditional Need-to-Know video. A panel session featuring AHRI’s staff sector leads, moderated by COO John Lanier, will round out the session and start things off on an informative note.

KEYNOTE PRESENTATION: 2020 ELECTION ANALYSIS (2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.)

This session will feature a keynote address by A.B. Stoddard, associate editor and columnist with the political news site and polling data aggregator RealClearPolitics. Stoddard will address the recently held 2020 elections and political landscape of the day. After her analysis, Stoddard will lead an interactive Q&A session with AHRI Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Samantha Slater.

GENERAL SESSION: THE STATE OF THE STATES: LEGISLATURES, GOVERNORS, AND BALLOT INITIATIVES (2:45 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.)

This dynamic session will feature Jessica Taylor, Senate and Governors Editor for The Cook Political Report, and Wendy Underhill, Director of Elections and Redistricting for the National Conference of State Legislatures. Jessica will provide an in-depth, post-election analysis of gubernatorial races across the country, and Wendy will follow to highlight the outcome of state legislative elections and statewide ballot measures. This session will provide unique insight into state election trends, voter behavior, and the impact of state election results on legislative and state control going into 2021.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18

KEYNOTE PRESENTATION: LIFE AFTER COVID...AND GLOBALIZATION (10:00 a.m.  – 11:30 a.m.)

In this not-to-be-missed session, geopolitics expert Peter Zeihan will present on the issues of changing demographics, housing shortages, supply chain impacts, and the future workforce generation, all in the wake of the global pandemic. As 2020 approached, several factors influenced the global economy. Among them, foreign relations and trade, supply chain management, and workforce challenges, all of which have had a significant impact on our industry. The global outbreak of COVID-19 has exacerbated already existing challenges for business leaders as they strive to understand and adapt their businesses in this new world. While the world awaits development and distribution of a vaccine, business leaders are faced with questions about the sustainability of their businesses and the impact of COVID-19 on the various economic sectors. Following his address, Zeihan will participate in a moderated discussion with AHRI COO John Lanier to discuss the future of the global system as it pertains to the HVACR industry. Business leaders will not want to miss this exciting session! 

KEYNOTE PRESENTATION: CALIFORNIA  AIR RESOURCES BOARD TOP PRIORITIES (2:00 p.m. – 2:20 p.m.)

California Air Resources Board (CARB) Vice Chair Sandra Berg will provide AHRI members with an update on CARB’s ongoing efforts to reduce air pollution and protect public health in the state. Berg will provide insight into CARB’s top priorities, including the agency’s efforts to regulate emissions of hydrofluorocarbons from stationary air conditioning and refrigeration equipment. Berg will also highlight current and future agency actions related to air quality that may impact the HVACR and water heating industry. 

GENERAL SESSION: WASHINGTON, D.C. 2021: AS THE PENDULUM SWINGS (2:20 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.)

2021 will bring a new Congress and possibly a change in control of the Senate and the Administration – which would mean the likelihood of significant changes to the legislative and regulatory landscapes. Even absent a major political shift, energy, environmental, and trade policies will continue to be driven by non-government environmental advocates, as well as the stalwart business and manufacturing associations in Washington, D.C. In this session, industry and environmental advocates will have a conversation about their priorities and the vehicles for change in the regulatory and legislative arenas in 2021 and beyond, including in Congress, The Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Energy.