ASHRAE Recognizes Contributions of Members Around the World

ATLANTA,  June 22, 2025 – The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) recognized outstanding achievements and professional excellence during its  2025 Annual Conference  in Phoenix. Members were honored for their significant contributions to the Society and the built environment. The awards ceremony celebrated individuals whose work has advanced innovation, sustainability and technical leadership in HVAC&R and building sciences.

"We are proud to recognize this year’s ASHRAE Honors and Awards recipients for their exceptional accomplishments," said 2024–25 ASHRAE President M. Dennis Knight, P.E., BEMP, Fellow Life Member. "Their commitment to excellence and advancement of sustainable building practices reflects the very best of our Society. We extend our congratulations and gratitude to each honoree."

Dan Mills Chapter Programs Award: Gutemberg Rios,  an Engineer, PRIMATE IntelligenceConsulting Ltda, Brasília, Federal District, Asa Norte, Brazil.

Donald Bahnfleth Environmental Health Award: Jeffrey Siegel, Fellow Member and Professor, University of Toronto, Department of Civil & Mineral Engineering, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

George B. Hightower Technical Achievement Award: Phil Naughton, Life Member and Principal/Owner, Eco Cleanroom HVAC Consulting, Austin, Tex.

Government Affairs Award: Billy Austin, P.E., BCxP, BEAP, BEMP, CDP, CHD, HBDP, HFDP, OPMP, Fellow Member and Principal, Shultz Engineering Group, PC, Charlotte, N.C.

Homer Addams Award: Cary Faulkner,Mechanical Engineer, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Wash.

Lincoln Bouillon Award: Jean Leilani Grace N. Clemente, Country Manager - Philippines, K-flex Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Klang, Selangor, Malaysia.

Lou Flagg Historical Award: Alan Y.W. Lam, Senior Associate, AGA Technical Services Ltd., Hong Kong.

Lower GWP Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Innovation Award:

• Huanan Shen, P.E., John Hollick, Life Member, and Aaron Feng Gao, Ph.D. Shen is Principal, VDesign Tec Inc., New York, N.Y; Founder, Shunde, Foshan, China. Hollick is President, Conserval Engineering Inc., Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Gao is Director of North America, Solareast Heat Pump Co, Foshan, Guangdong, China.
• Guogeng He, Shaolin Chen, Jun Xiong, Jialiang Hua and Zhihao Zhang. He works for the School of Energy and Power Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China. Chen works for the Institute of Environmental Health and Engineering, Beijing, China. Xiong works for TCL Industrial Holdings Co., Ltd., Zhongshan, China. Hua works for the School of Energy and Power Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China. Zhang works for the School of Energy and Power Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.

Residential Buildings Service Award: Paul W. Francisco, Fellow Member, Director of the Indoor Climate Research & Training Division, Champaign County Regional Planning Commission, Champaign, Ill.

Standards Achievement Award: H. Jay Enck, BCXP and Jason Glazer, P.E., BEMP. Enck is Chief Technology Officer, Commissioning & Green Building Solutions, Inc., Atlanta, Ga. Glazer is Principal Engineer, GARD Analytics, Inc., Arlington Heights, Ill.

William J. Collins, Jr. RP Award: Amanda Forest, Mechanical Engineer, JASEL Engineering Inc., Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

YEA Award of Individual Excellence: Aaron Besseling, Akshay Bhargava, P.E. and Jayson Bursill. Besseling is a Project Manager, Besseling Mechanical Inc., Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Bhargava is a Mechanical Engineer, CMTA, Indianapolis, Indiana. Bursill is a Data Scientist, Delta Intelligent Building Technologies, Surrey, British Columbia, Canada.

Youth Outreach Award: Juliana Velez, Data Scientist, Measurabl, Oakland, Calif.

ASHRAE Journal Paper Award:Max Sherman, Fellow Life Member, Principal, EPB Consulting Group, Moraga, Calif.

Science and Technology for the Built Environment Best Paper Award: Eric Martin, Tanvir Khan, Bereket A. Nigusse and Charles Withers, Jr., received the Science and Technology for the Built Environment Best Paper Award for “Estimating internal moisture generation rates in recently constructed, occupied homes in the southeastern United States.”  Martin is Program Director, University of Central Florida / Florida Solar Energy Center, Cocoa, Fla.  Khan is a Sr. Research Engineer, NCASI, Newberry, Fla. Nigusse is Sr. Research Engineer, Florida Solar Energy Center, Cocoa, Fla. Wither is Sr. Research Analyst, Florida Solar Energy Center, Cocoa, Fla.  

Crosby Field Award: Michael Huylo, P.E. and Atila Novoselac, Ph.D., received the Crosby Field Award for “CHP Digital-Twin-Model for Control Optimization and Transition to Renewable Based Fuels,” which was judged to be the best paper presented before the Society. Novoselac is a Professor, Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Tx.

Willis H. Carrier Award: Patricia Guillante, received the Willis H. Carrier Award for “Understanding Housing Challenges in Rural Alaskan Communities.” Guillante is a Ph.D. Student, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich.

ASHRAE Best Paper Award
The following papers received a Best Paper Award, which recognizes the authors of the best papers presented at Society conferences:

• Huijeong Kim, Ilias Bilionis, James E. Braun, Fellow Life Member and Panagiota Karava, received an award for “Social Energy Games for Smart and Energy-Efficient Multi-Unit Residentiael Buildings: Mechanism Design.” Kim is an Assistant Professor, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kan. Bilionis is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering, School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind. Braun is Emeritus Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana. Karava is Professor of Civil and Construction Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind.
• Xiaoou Hu, Yao Yu and Xuelei Xiaoreceived an award for “Development of a High-Efficiency and Cost-Effective Ground Source Heat Pump System for Subtropical Climate Applications.” Hu is a Ph.D. Candidate, North Dakota State University, Fargo, N.D. Yu is an Associate Professor, Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota. Xiao is a Ph.D. Candidate, North Dakota State University, Fargo, N.D.
• Shayan Mirzabeigi, Ph.D. and Bing Dong,received an award for “Miscellaneous Electric Loads Prediction By Deep Learning Implementation: An Educational Case Study.” Mirzabeigi is an Assistant Professor, The State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF), Syracuse, N.Y. Dong is Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, Syracuse University, Syracuse, N.Y.
• Ken Takahashi, Hiroyuki Ichikawa and Ryozo Ooka, Fellow Member,received an award for “Explainable AI Framework for Model Predictive Control in Energy Management Systems.” Takahashi works for the University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. Ichikawa is Assistant Manager, Sanken Setsubi Kogyo Co., Ltd, Tokyo, Japan. Ooka is a Professor, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.

Poster Presentation Award:

• Taylor Suess, P.E, Scott Deprez and Stephen Gent, Ph.D. Suess is a Research Associate, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD. Deprez is an Aero-Thermal Engineer, Quest Defense, West Palm Beach, Florida. Gent is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering, South Dakota State University, Brookings, S.D.
• Min Gyung Yu, Xu Ma, Bowen Huang, Karthik Devaprasad, Fredericka D. Brown and Di Wu. Gyung is an Electrical Engineer, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Portland, Ore. Ma is Electrical Engineer, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Portland, Ore. Huang is an Electrical Engineer, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Wash. Devaprasad is a Mechanical Engineer, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington. Brown is a Buildings Energy Efficiency Task Manager, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington. Wu is Chief Engineer, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Portland, Ore.

Distinguished Service Award
The Distinguished Service Award salutes members of any grade who have served the Society faithfully and with distinction and who have given freely of their time and talent in chapter, regional and Society activities. The following members were recognized:

• Sherry Abbott-Adkins, President, A Squared Plus Engineering Support Group, LLC, Westminster, Maryland.
• Katja Auer, Ph.D., Chief of Staff, XCMR, Inc, Narberth, Pa.
• Atilla BIYIKOĞLU, Ph.D., Instructor, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey.
• Jayson Bursill, Data Scientist, Delta Intelligent Building Technologies, Surrey, British Columbia, Canada.
• Michael Corbat, Vice President of Engineering, Rensa Filtration, Aurora, Ill.
• James M. Del Monaco, P.E., Design Principal, P2S LP, San Diego, Calif.
• Dustin Demetriou, Senior Technical Staff Member, IBM, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
• Sam Glass, Ph.D., Research Physical Scientist, USDA Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wis.
• Mohammad Heidarinejad, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Ill.
• Joe Kilcoyne, Principal, SC Engineers, San Diego, Calif.
• Yuguo Li, Fellow Member, Chair Professor, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
• Shichao Liu, Assistant Professor, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Massachusetts.
• Bruno Martinez, BEMP, Owner, Bruno Martinez Consultoria, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
• Badri Patel, P.Eng., BEAP, HVAC Equipment Account Executive, Johnson Controls, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
• Greg Pavlak, Associate Professor of Architectural Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pa.
• Daniel Redmond, P.Eng., Director of Operations and Maintenance (Facilities Management and Planning), Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
• Stephen Roth, President, Carmelsoft, San Rafael, Calif.
• Muhammad Abbas Sajid, President and CEO, Engineering Services, Karachi, Pakistan.
• Erik Sanchez, Mechanical Design Engineer, Pacific Rim, San Diego, Calif.
• Gregory Scrivener, Lead Refrigeration Engineer, Laporte Engineering, Alberta, Canada.
• Chad Smith, Partner, Airetech Corporation, Tulsa, Okla.
• Li Song, Professor, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Okla.
• Julia Timberman, P.E., Outside Sales Representative, Air Control Products, Columbus, Oh.
• Beth Tomlinson, BCxP, Carbon and Climate Discipline Leader, Stantec, Minneapolis, Minn.
• James W. VanGilder, Data Center CFD Senior Expert.
• Buzz Wright, Mechanical & Fire Protection Engineer, Kelly, Wright & Associates, P.C., Tucson, Ariz.
• Philip Yu, Fellow Member, Director, TRANEPACIFIC, Hong Kong.
• Marwa Zaatari, Ph.D., Dzine Partners, Austin, Tex.

Exceptional Service Award
The Exceptional Service Award recognizes Distinguished Service Award recipients who have continued to serve faithfully and with exemplary effort. The following members were recognized:

• Hoy Bohanon, Life Member, Owner, Hoy Bohanon Engineering, PLLC, Lexington, N.C.
• David J. Branson, BCxP, Fellow Life Member, Compliance Services Group, Inc., Lubbock, Tex.
• Doug C. Cochrane, CDP, Independent Consultant, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
• John M. Constantinide, P.E., Range Mechanical Engineer, U.S. Space Force, Patrick Space Force Base, Fla.
• Michael P. Cooper, P.E., Division President, ENFRA, New Orleans, La.
• Traci Hanegan, HFDP, Fellow Member, Principal, Coffman Engineers, Inc., Spokane, Wash.
• Adam Hinge, Fellow Member, Managing Director, Sustainable Energy Partnerships, Tarrytown, N.Y.
• Trent Hunt, Fellow Member, Vice President, Mechanical Products NSW, Salt Lake City, Ut.
• Jay Kohler, Fellow Life Member, Engineering Consultant, York, Pa.
• Jacob Kopocis, Mechanical Sales, Omaha, Neb.
• Kathleen Owen, Fellow Member, Consulting Engineer, Owen Air Filtration Consulting, LLC, Cary, N.C.
• Ashish Rakheja, Fellow Member, Managing Partner, AEON Integrated Building Design Consultants LLP, Noida, India.
• Daniel Rogers (Awarded posthumously), President and Owner, Flow Control Technology Company, Tampa, Fla.
• Som Shrestha, Ph.D., BEMP, Fellow Member, Senior R&D Staff in Building Envelope Materials Research Group, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tenn.

Distinguished 50 -Year Member Award: The Distinguished 50-Year Member Award is given to individuals who have been a member for a minimum of 50 years, and are either a past Society president, Fellow ASHRAE or Distinguished Service Award recipient or who have performed outstanding service to ASHRAE or its predecessor societies – the American Society of Heating and Ventilating Engineers (ASHVE), the American Society of Refrigerating Engineers (ASRE), and the American Society of Heating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHAE).

• David Arnold, Ph.D., Fellow Life Member, Partner, Troup Bywater + Anders LLP, London, England, United Kingdom.
• Don Brandt, Fellow Life Member, Retired, Trane Co., Phoenix, Ariz.
• William Dillard, Life Member, Longwood, Fla.
• Scott Fisher, Life Member, Senior Engineer, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance, Bloomington, Ill.
• Kenneth E. Hickman, Fellow Life Member, Retired, Engineering Vice President, York International Corporation, York, Pa.
• Russell Keeler, P.E., Fellow Life Member, Retired Principal, Chason Energy, Golden, Colorado.
• Ken-Ichi Kimura, Fellow Life Member, Tokorozawa, Japan.
• Reinhold Kittler, P.Eng, Fellow Life Member, Retired, Virginia Beach, Va.
• William (Bill) McCartney, Life Member, President, HVAC Commissioners Inc, Union, Ontario, Canada.
• Arthur Monaco, Life Member, Retired Mechanical Engineer, Stantec, N.Y.
• Steven L. Rosen, Life Member, Marblehead, Mass.
• Ish Sud, Ph.D., P.E., Fellow Life Member, Regional Manager, P.A., Sud Associates, Durham, N.C.
• Marvin Thedford, Life Member, Retired Principal Engineer, Texas Utilities Company, Dallas, Tex.
• Dennis J. Wessel, P.E., Fellow Life Member, Retired, V. P. Karpinski Engineering, Hudson, Ohio
• Stan Westhoff, Life Member, Retired, Trane and Unilux, Gansevoort, N.Y.
• Byard Dean Wood, Ph.D., Fellow Life Member, Professor Emeritus, Mechanical Engineering, Utah State University, Logan, Utah and Arizona State University, Tempe, Ariz.
• Jack Hanna Zarour, Life Member, Retired, Campbell, Calif.

Andrew T. Boggs Service Award: Costas A. Balaras, Fellow Member and Research Director, Group Energy Conservation, Institute for Environmental Research & Sustainable Development, National Observatory of Athens, Greece.

Eunice Foote Decarbonization Award: Stet Sanborn, Fellow Member and Vice President, SmithGroup, San Francisco, Calif.

Louise & Bill Holladay Distinguished Fellow Award: Christopher Chao, Fellow Member and Vice President (Research and Innovation), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong.

ASHRAE is an international society of more than 50,000 heating, refrigerating and air-conditioning professionals from over 132 nations dedicated to serving humanity and promoting a sustainable world.

Photo courtesy ASHRAE