President’s Message
January 2026
Happy New Year, NEOK!
I hope you all enjoyed the holidays and were able to take a well-deserved
break. Thank you again to those of you who carved out time during such a
busy season to stay engaged with ASHRAE. Our December meeting sparked a
great discussion around third-party commissioning, how it fits into the building
timeline and ultimately how it contributes to higher quality projects. We were
also able to donate a box of toys to Toys for Tots, and I want to sincerely thank
you for supporting an effort that makes a meaningful impact in our
community.
We wrapped up the month with a YEA outing to an Oilers game and celebrated
the conclusion of our Membership Promotion Drive by taking participating
members to a Thunder game. What a fun way to close out the year together!
For me, the holidays are about creating a little magic for my kids. And while it
can sometimes be hard to find that same magic after the calendar flips, I truly
love what the New Year represents. There’s something powerful about a clean
break, a fresh start, and a completely blank canvas. It is a chance to reset and
commit, even in small ways, to showing up consistently for the things that
matter.
Our chapter is taking that blank canvas and running with it. In 2026, we’re
introducing events and experiences that NEOK hasn’t done before, while
continuing to build on the traditions that make our chapter strong. Below is a
sneak peek at some of the special events planned for the remainder of the
year:
Jan – Networking mixer with AIA Feb – Nat’l Engineers Week Celebrations
Feb – Day on the Hill in OKC Feb – Chiller Plant Tour
Mar – Silent Auction at The Summit Mar – Sustainability Event
March – Family Day Event Mar – Factory Tour
April – Cornhole Tournament April- FC Tulsa Outing
May – YEA Virtual Golf Event May – Factory Tour
We’ll continue to share dates and details as we get closer, so be sure to follow
us on social media and keep an eye on your inbox. One event that didn’t make
the list above, but deserves special mention is our January 7th Chapter
meeting, hosted at the Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks. This meeting will include
a behind the scenes tour of the facility, along with an in-depth discussion on
how the space was designed to support IEQ for both the animals and the
visitors. It is a truly unique experience, and I hope you will join us.
As we move into the new year, I encourage you to think about what you want
to get out of ASHRAE in 2026. Whether is it expanding your technical
knowledge, growing your professional network, mentoring the next generation,
or simply showing up more often, this chapter is built by members who choose
to engage. A new year doesn’t require complete reinvention, sometimes it’s
just about the commitment to say “yes” a little more often. We would love to
see you at a meeting or event this year and I hope you’ll help us make 2026
another historic year for NEOK.
Happy New Year!
Sara Fazel - President, 2025-2026