2023 RETA Breeze March-April

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 hope all of you are doing well and you are looking forward to and anticipating the blessings that the Spring season always seems to bring. It is an awe-inspiring time to see the cold dreary grey winter doldrums fade away only to be replaced with the vibrant colors of flowers and trees in their majestic bloom. To myself, it symbolizes a new beginning after a long period of dormant, stagnant existence. I am not a fan of winter and its challenges to say the least! In my opinion, it’s the dead coming to life. For me personally, Spring is a time to look forward to fishing, family gatherings, golfing, and time outside riding motor cycles in clean fresh air. It is also a time to look up and give thanks to our almighty for his continued promise of a new begin ning much like a birthday or a new year’s celebration. A blank slate filled with promises of a better you or circumstances surrounding you. But what ever way we view it, it is a new beginning. That’s why as the current President of RETA, I am so very excited to announce that a new chapter in our history has begun. RETA now owns its Headquarters and has no mortgage. That is correct, RETA has paid off its mortgage on the National Headquarters in Albany, Oregon. Also, I would like to add we did it in 5 years due in part to dedicated Executive Leadership of this GREAT organization!! At this time, I want to personally acknowledge President Eric Girven, Jim Barron, and the 2018 Board of Directors for having the dedication and commit ment to our vision of spreading our mission statement to all four corners of industry way in 2018. During this time period and serving as a Director (serving what I considered as a three-year term at

Bengie Branham, RETA National President

the time), we voted under the guidance of President Eric Girven to purchase the current facility that we now own as the permanent home of the Refrigerating Engineers & Technicians Association. The vote to purchase a home for RETA was historical as RETA had never had owned a brick and mortar building up to this point in our current history. I also did not fully understand the impact that my vote in 2018 would influence anything in 2023. In closing, votes and those making them really do matter. The RETA membership elected the 2018 and 2023 Board of Directors to move our organization for- ward. Actually to ‘Spring” us forward, and I am happy to say we have done just that. My wish is to see all members in Jacksonville, Florida for our National Conference as that is when you as a member, get to choose the leadership that will continue to move RETA forward. As the current president, I would like to thank Jim Barron and HQ staff, the 2018 Board of Directors , and the current Board of Directors for being steadfast and resolute in preparing RETA for growth in the 21st century. Stay tuned. More to come!!

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