2021 RETA Breeze September-October

2020-21 BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHAIRMAN Vern Sanderson, CIRO, CRST, RAI Wagner-Meinert, LLC PRESIDENT Eric Teale, CARO, CRST Danfoss Industrial Refrigeration EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Keith Harper, CARO Tyson Foods Inc TREASURER Pete Lepschat, CIRO, CRES, CRST Lineage Logistics SECOND VICE PRESIDENT Bengie Branham, CIRO Perdue Farms DIRECTORS Alan Gervais, CARO, CIRO Western Precooling Systems Bill Lape, CARO, CIRO, CRST SCS Engineers David Gulcynski, CIRO Dot Foods Inc. Debbie Koske Calibration Technologies, Inc Edward Johnson, CARO Schwans Global Supply Chain, Inc. Jeremy Murfin AC & R Specialists Jim Kovarik Gamma Graphics Jordan Reece, RAI Lanier Technical College Michael Hawkins Midatlantic Refrigeration, LLC Raymond Urban, CARO Lineage Logistics Ricky Jimenez, CIRO Mericle Mechanical Inc William Ellena Coastal Pacific Food Distributors, Inc COMMITTEE CHAIRS Dascha Whitmore, Marketing Dave Gulcynski, CIRO , Education Dot Foods, Inc. Jim Kovarik, National Conference Gamma Graphics Lee Pyle, CARO, Certification SCS Tracer Environmental Michael Hawkins, Membership Midatlantic Refrigeration, LLC Jim Barron, Executive Director

FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT

My first President’s Message was filled with gratitude and thankfulness. My last President’s Message will be no different. Thank you to the Board of Directors. The job of the Director is not visible to those not directly involved with the Board. Each Director spends their personal time preparing for and attending Board Meetings, serving on various committees, and connecting with our members. The work that the Board does is absolutely critical to health and growth of RETA. Thank you to the RETA Executive Committee. We were faced with some tough decisions this past year and your insights and dedication to the RETA mission guided us to do the right thing for the right reasons. I especially valued the counsel and friendship from each of the Executive Committee. Thank you to the RETA Staff. Everyone contributed more than what was asked of them. Some pulled double and triple duty as the hiring issues affecting all industries affected RETA. The Staff works behind the scenes running RETA on a day-to-day basis and not enough can be said of how awesome they are. Thank you to the Membership for continuing to participate and help grow RETA. The heart of RETA is our Members. Without you, there would be no RETA. It was inspiring to see how Chapters adapted and continued to meet so that the professional development of the refrigeration operating, and technical engineer would continue. Thank you to my wife Meg who has been with me since we left college and started

Aer Teale, RETA National President

our little two person and two dog family. She has accommodated odd meeting times, unplanned phone calls, and time away from her and the dogs. My life wouldn’t be the same without her friendship, love, and support. Thank you cannot begin to describe the gratitude I have for having had the opportunity to be the President of RETA. It

has been an honor to have been entrusted with the care of RETA.

Thank you,

Aer Teale, P.E., CRST RETA President

4 RETA.com