2022 RETA Breeze Nov-Dec

2022-23 BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHAIRMAN Keith Harper, CARO Tyson Foods Inc PRESIDENT Bengie Branham, CIRO, RAI SCS Engineers EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Michael Hawkins, CARO Midatlantic Refrigeration, LLC TREASURER David Gulcynski, CIRO Dot Foods Inc. SECOND VICE PRESIDENT Bill Lape, CARO, CIRO, CRST SCS Engineers DIRECTORS Alan Gervais, CARO, CIRO Western Precooling Systems Andrew Palomar, CARO APCCO Barbara Kirkpatrick Mi-Docs Debbie Koske Calibration Technologies, Inc. Edward Johnson, CARO Gordon Rascoe, Jr, CIRO, CRST, RAI ConAgra Brands Jeff Lublin Kolbi Pipe Marker Co. JeremyMurfin AC & R Specialists Jim Kovarik Gamma Graphics Services Melissa Cassell General Refrigeration Company Raymond Urban, CARO Lineage Logistics Victor Dearman, Jr. Peco Foods, Inc COMMITTEE CHAIRS Certification: Lee Pyle, CARO SCS Tracer Environmental Education: Eric Girven, CIRO, CRST, RAI SCS Tracer Environmental Marketing: Dascha Whitmore Stellar Membership: Arlie Farley, CARO, CIRO, CRST Farley’s SRP, Inc National Conference: Jim Kovarik Gamma Graphics Services Publications: Ed Johnson, CARO Executive Director: Jim Barron

FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT

Hello my RETA family. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the HQ staff, the Conference Committee, dedicated volunteers (and anyone else not mentioned) that assisted in the most extraordinary and industry focused conferences I have attended. It truly was an amazing event from the moment President Harper slammed the gavel to commence our meeting until I slammed the gavel to conclude. I left Reno on Saturday morning more energized and invigorated knowing it will overflow over to my RETA chapter meetings. The incredible energy from the speakers and the attendees seemed to feed off of each other and to me it elevated the experience up several notches on the excitement scale. I can only imagine what our 2023 Jacksonville, Florida conference will be based upon this event. My first address to the RETA family is a continuation of my Presidential accep tance speech “Let’s plant a seed so tomor row someone can sit under the shade”. We often use the humble “Tree” as an analogy to express many thoughts. Several unique characteristics of a tree are pretty straight forward and elemen tary. Other examples provide deep clarity to discussions when one (like me) does not have a deep repertoire of words. I can still get my point across and induce thought or understanding of subject matter. With that said, let’s look at the “Tree”. First of which they are tall. Most pine and oak trees are 60’ to 80’ feet tall. They tower above most other forms of plant life. Trees are strong. They enhance our life here on earth with their majesty and

Bengie Branham, RETA National President

beauty. Our primary use for them is to build strong structures for the better ment of humanity such as housing and shelter. In addition to providing us with beauty and shade, the tree also allows us to know without the use of a calendar what season of the year it is. However, the tree provides us with the most necessary element of life we cannot live without, Oxygen. The tree is almost always also used as an analogy when discussing a family’s genealogy and the different branches of family history. All though there are multiple branches, the branches are all connected at the trunk of the tree. The tree trunk is then connected to a deep foundation we know as the root. The root system provides a strong foundation and stability through everyday life and strength when the wind blows during storms. The root also gives the tree its

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