Claire Farr
2021-2022
NEOK Chapter President

Can you believe it’s already May? As we hold our last regular monthly meeting of this chapter year, let’s reflect on what we’ve accomplished so far. We started off the year by selling out the registrations and sponsorships for our annual golf tournament fundraiser! Then we got our regular meetings started with an excellent presentation on energy modeling by chapter member Weixiu Kong, and we’ve continued throughout the year with six other great educational presentations at chapter meetings.

We’ve helped support the future of our industry by gathering young professional engineers for fellowship, engaging K-12 and college students interested in careers in STEM and HVAC, and coordinating with our government officials in support of ASHRAE’s goals. We’ve been in communication with the OUBCC to encourage adoption of updated building energy codes, heard from State Senator Dave Rader at our December meeting, and met with seven other state legislators during our annual Day on the Hill event. We held a successful auction night fundraiser to financially support ASHRAE research promotion and our other projects, and this month we will award scholarships. We celebrated our chapter’s rich history during our March chapter meeting, and we’re still planning to hold a skeet shoot in late spring or early summer.

It’s been a whirlwind, and I’d like to personally thank the chapter leaders who have volunteered their time over the last year to make this all happen. As we’ve highlighted before, ASHRAE is a membership organization, and without our members volunteering their time to contribute to the industry none of this would be possible. Our chapter leaders are listed at the end of every newsletter, but they deserve more prominent recognition. Thank you to everyone listed below who has helped actively made this chapter year a success as an officer, member of the Board of Governors, committee chair, or active Past President:

Keith Averitt, Matt Simmons, Austin Barton, Brian Biggerstaff, Chuck Mayfield, Ray Gomez, Mike Beda, Steve Uerling, Pam Dunlap, Dan Owens, Michael Floyd, Garen Ewbank, Gene Redford, Matt Petersen, Eric Mulliniks, Jason Blair, Nolan Chance, Ryan Dunkerson, Jacob Koch, Zachary Seizinger, Chad Smith, Duane Harman, and Robert Schatz.

At this month’s chapter meeting, we will induct the officers and Board of Governors for next chapter year. We’ve also adopted a five-year strategic plan with goals related to chapter leadership, growth, and finances to help guide our success for the future. Keith Averitt will be taking over the chapter presidency next year, and we are clearly on a path to continue our Northeastern Oklahoma Chapter of ASHRAE’s vibrant success in the future. Huzzah!

Last updated: 05/09/22