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Tom Abram

Principal and Director, Climate and Sustainability, Introba

Tom Abram is a Principal and Director at Introba’s Design Analytics practice, supporting building portfolio owners advance through their decarbonization journey. Tom and his team pair advanced analytics-driven methodologies with extensive building design, operations, and management expertise to develop robust and actionable decarbonization strategies and plans. Tom managed energy and sustainability efforts at San Diego State University and the University of Illinois and has taught environmental engineering courses at San Diego State University. Tom provides technical account management and resource development for the US Department of Energy’s Better Climate Challenge, including co-authoring the DOE’s GHG Emissions Reduction Planning Framework for Building Portfolios. Tom holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois and an MS in Sustainable Design and Construction from Stanford University. Tom is a licensed mechanical engineer in California, Certified Energy Manager, Certified Water Efficiency Professional, Certified Building Commissioning Professional, LEED AP, and Certified Educational Facilities Professional.
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Mike Armstrong

President, A-Gas

Mike Armstrong is the President and Managing Director of A-Gas in the Americas. In this role, Mike is responsible for strategy development, business execution, and technology deployment in the rapidly growing Americas marketplace. The ability to deploy A-Gas technology and people in the market is a core focus for Mike, as customers look for more environmentally sustainable products and services. The industry looks to A-Gas to provide unique solutions, and Mike enjoys elevating A-Gas’ 'can-do' spirit in the region every day and in the long term. Mike joined the Americas team in 2016, as its first Chief Operating Officer, and assumed leadership responsibilities as the President of A-Gas in the Americas in 2017. Prior to that, Mike served for over 15 years in a variety of Engineering, Commercial, and Operational leadership roles with Linde, a global leader in the industrial gas market. Mike holds a Master of Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, a Bachelor of Science from the United States Military Academy at West Point and served 6 years as an active-duty Army Officer in Europe and the United States.
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Kyle Baker, PE

Principal Refrigeration Engineer, Design and Engineering, H-E-B, 2026 E+SD Committee Co-Chair

Kyle Baker is an Architectural Engineer with 17 years of experience designing and advancing engineered systems for H-E-B. Based in San Antonio, Texas, Kyle began his career in a multidisciplinary engineering role, supporting New Store, Expansion, Remodel, and Equipment End-of-Life projects across mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and refrigeration disciplines. Today, he serves as H-E-B’s Lead Refrigeration Engineer, collaborating with a team of five refrigeration engineers responsible for the design and technical direction of refrigeration systems across H-E-B’s retail facilities. Kyle played a key role in evaluating the technical implications of the EPA’s Technology Transitions rules for both H-E-B and FMI. He continues to help shape H-E-B’s long-term refrigeration strategy, with a focus on emerging technologies, regulatory change, system performance, and total cost of ownership.
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Sheri Blattel

Director of Retail | Associate Principal, Cushing Terrell

With over 35 years of practice across all phases of Retail Design, I’m passionate about aligning services and solutions to deliver complex projects that advance design. I lead the Retail Design Team at Cushing Terrell, designing for the user experience while expressing each client’s culture, values, and unique aesthetic. I believe the best work starts with relationships: when we take the time to understand not only a client’s design goals but also who they are at their core, we translate character into physical space and create dynamic retail environments that feel authentic and engaging.

In our design practice, we are exploring the next evolution of experiential design and the articulation of brand within the built environment to inspire and rejuvenate users. Our Retail practice is deeply engaged in research at the intersection of sensory psychology, generational trends, and sustainability—and how those forces influence consumer behavior and patterns. Our work aims to go beyond the traditional design partnership by bringing a holistic view that considers context, sustainability, resilience, health, safety, and happiness, as well as the long-term viability of well-loved brands in physical space.

To stay connected with the great thinkers in our industry, I’m a member of the Retail Design Institute, ICSC, the Urban Land Institute, and Shop! Association. I’ve also had the honor of participating in panel discussions at ICSC Vegas, ICSC Red River, the International Natural Food Retailers Association, the Urban Land Institute, and the Zweig Elevate AEC Conference.
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Christopher Brown

Application Engineering Manager, Danfoss

Christopher Brown is an accomplished engineering and business leader with extensive experience supporting the food retail and industrial refrigeration industries. Currently operating as an Application Engineering Manager, he has built a career helping retailers, end users, contractors, and OEMs implement advanced refrigeration technologies that improve energy efficiency, system reliability, sustainability, and total cost of ownership. Christopher possesses deep expertise in transcritical CO₂ refrigeration systems, including system design considerations, component selection, controls integration, commissioning support, and operational optimization for supermarket and large-scale refrigeration applications. He has partnered with some of North America's largest food retailers to navigate the industry's transition toward lower-GWP refrigerants, delivering technical solutions that balance environmental responsibility with business performance. Known for his ability to bridge engineering, sales, and customer operations, Christopher excels at translating complex refrigeration concepts into practical business value. His experience spans application engineering, product strategy, customer engagement, technical training, and team leadership, enabling organizations to successfully deploy innovative refrigeration technologies while achieving operational, financial, and sustainability objectives.
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Jeff Carlson

Refrigeration Specialist, Lunds & Byerlys

Jeff Carlson has more than 25 years of experience in the refrigeration industry, including more than a decade as Refrigeration Specialist for Lunds & Byerlys. In this role, he applies his extensive industry knowledge to support the company’s refrigeration systems and facility operations.
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Chris Chisman

Managing Director, Abbey Design Associates

Chris Chisman is the Managing Director at Abbey Design Associates. With 13 years in company director roles, he is a respected industry figure with 27 years in HVAC-R.  Chris is a member of the British Refrigeration Association council and deputy chair of the “Equipment and Components” subgroup. He has extensive technical knowledge with a commercial acumen, and previously worked for a refrigeration OEM, providing technical strategic direction. Receiver of 4 refrigeration “Product of the Year” awards.
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Brian Cleary

VP of Sales, AMF Sales

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Brett Crask

Grocery Practice Manager, Henderson Engineers

With over a decade of design experience, and with most of that experience focused on grocery projects, Brett has become one of our experts in grocery design. Specializing in electrical design, Brett knows that the electrical system works as the brain that allows the supplemental building systems to function. Taking his skillset of project management and combining it with his cross-knowledge of other disciplines is what makes Brett such a valuable part of any team. Ask him what the most fulfilling part of his work is and he’ll tell you it’s attending a store’s grand opening and seeing the design come to fruition.
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Pete Cuneo

Principal, SEER2

Pete Cuneo is a principal at SEER2, collaborating with national grocery chains to help them deploy capital and reduce their total cost of ownership. Pete has held Director roles with contractors and grocers throughout his 40-year career. As Director of Energy Optimization at Edison Source in the late 1990's, turned a multi-million dollar loss on energy performance contracts into a multi-million dollar profit by implementing refrigeration energy savings strategies still used today. At Source Refrigeration he authored and developed a training program for a 700+ technician workforce and managed a team of refrigeration/energy specialists to help grocers reduce energy consumption at supermarkets nationwide. At The Fresh Market, he redesigned Refrigeration and Mechanical Systems for new stores, along with commissioning the existing fleet, and reduced kWh/sqft by 20% across the chain, with no additional capital investment. Current role with SEER2 is to bridge the gaps in the design, engineering and construction processes to ensure new CO2 stores open and operate trouble free and on budget. Also manages a call center to help technicians and store teams understand predictive alarming that has been implemented, and the steps needed to complete service repairs properly and in a timely manner.
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Zoë Dawson

Technical Sustainability Program Leader, êffecterra

Zoë Dawson is a nationally recognized refrigerant management expert, energy efficiency strategist, and subject matter expert with over 20 years of experience advancing decarbonization, utility program design, and policy innovation.
 
Zoë specializes in integrating HVAC/R technical expertise with policy and program design, advancing third-party measurement and validation (M&V) practices that embed lifecycle refrigerant accounting into energy and emissions performance. She also partners as an independent, third-party advisor with end users and service providers to ensure policies and programs are grounded in operational and technology realities, validating solutions that deliver real customer value, cost-effective performance, and regulatory compliance.

She has led utility-scale program planning, pilot development, and GHG methodology enhancements, as well as multi-state refrigerant M&V initiatives, advised state Refrigerant Management Programs, developed leak-rate methodologies, and integrated lifecycle refrigerant metrics into utility evaluation frameworks. She has also contributed to statewide Technical Reference Manuals in Illinois, Iowa and Missouri, published with ACEEE, and led the integration of lifecycle refrigerant management evaluation criteria under California’s CalNEXT program, expanding utility methodologies beyond traditional MMBtu-based metrics.

Zoë supports Fortune 500 retail, distribution, corporate facilities, innovators, advocates, nonprofits, and government sectors, advancing scalable, cost-effective climate strategies across Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, including circular economy and value chain engagement approaches.
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John DeCicco

Executive Director & CEO, DeCicco & Sons

John DeCicco Jr. is the CEO of DeCicco & Sons, the family-owned specialty grocery store based in Westchester and Putnam Counties, New York. A second-generation grocer, John Jr. grew up in the business founded by his father and uncle in 1973, when the family opened its first small store in the Woodlawn section of the Bronx.  After learning everything he could through working in the stores, John Jr. joined his brother, Chris DeCicco and cousin, Joe DeCicco Jr. in leading the company’s next chapter. In 2005, the business formally became DeCicco & Sons as the first generation brought the second generation into management. John Jr. has since expanded DeCicco & Sons dramatically across the region, becoming widely known as the best supermarket in Westchester. Today, DeCicco & Sons operates eleven stores in Larchmont, Pelham, Millwood, Armonk, Eastchester, Somers, Harrison, Brewster, Bedford, Ardsley, and Sleepy Hollow where their brand-new flagship store is located. They also have two stores slated to open in 2026.

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Martin Döbler

CEO & Founder, Dolomitenconsult GmbH & Co KG

With over 25 years in the retail supply industry, Martin brings deep, practical expertise shaped by leading roles in Europe’s top commercial refrigeration and LED lighting companies. With his company Dolomitenconsult he is a highly sought after advisor for food retailers and the producers of refrigeration cabinets, with a strong focus on lighting solutions and glass door technologies.
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Jim Dominik

Managing Member, Polaris Public Safety Solution

Jim Dominik is a 3rd Generation Career Firefighter, served in all capacities from Firefighter to Chief of Department. He has 35 years of service in career suburban and city fire departments and is a founding member of UL’s Fire Safety Research Institute. He has received varied education and certification and has spent years working in the HVAC trade. He was appointed to a White House Task Force to Represent the Fire Service, was a fire service accreditation assessor, and developed an internationally recognized Fire Chief Training program. He has also served as an expert witness on safety related topics currently working with the DOJ and was a founding member of Polaris Public Safety Solutions. 

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John Driscoll

VP, Construction & Store Development, Weis Markets, Inc., 2026 E+SD Committee Co-Chair

John Driscoll has over 20 years of experience leading multi-disciplinary teams in architecture, construction, facility design, maintenance and project management. As Vice President of Construction & Store Development at Weis Markets, John leads the planning, design, and execution of innovative store environments that enhance customer experience and operational efficiency. With extensive expertise in retail construction and development, John plays a critical role in advancing Weis Markets' growth strategy, ensuring stores meet evolving consumer needs while delivering on the company’s commitment to quality and innovation. Prior to his current work with Weis Markets, John dedicated more than 10 years to H-E-B, where he led teams in developing new stores, overseeing remodels and expansions, and managing equipment replacements.

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Steven​ M. Duffy, AIA, GGP

AIA, GGP, Sr. Vice President of Design, Cuhaci Peterson

Steven Duffy is on a mission to move the needle. Trained as an architect, he is a design-centric leader passionate about elevating design and what can happen when it is married to innovation. As the Senior Vice President of Design at Cuhaci Peterson, he is responsible for developing an integrated approach to architecture and working with other service lines to perfect an end-to-end design philosophy for the firm’s programs and projects. He also influences the firm’s thought leadership by inspiring creative innovation centered on design thinking.
 
 Steve has a unique background spanning more than 35 years. A graduate of the Pratt Institute, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in architecture, his retail-focused experience has encompassed nearly every facet of grocery and retail design, including store development programs, prototyping, and brand reinvention from big box to boutiques.
 
 A noted industry speaker, he has partnered with organizations such as EnsembleIQ and the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) to present his thought leadership and educate audiences. He is also a published author, with his works appearing in Progressive Grocer, Retail and Restaurant, and other periodicals. Steve is a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), The Food Industry Association (FMI), and Innovating Commerce Serving Communities (ICSC). He is also a Green Globe Certified professional.   
 
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Jen Dustin

Leader, Strategic Accounts, Google Cloud

Jen Dustin is the Leader of Strategic Accounts at Google Cloud, bringing over 25 years of operational leadership and enterprise technology transformation experience to her customers. Prior to Google, Jen served as the Global Executive Director at Johnson Controls (JCI), where she led commercial operations and the digital transformation of their retail platform. At Google Cloud, Jen bridges deep operational experience with transformational technology, helping the nation’s largest grocers, wholesalers and QSRs harness the power of Google Cloud. Her work focuses on helping customers realize the true opportunities hyper-advancements in technology can deliver by leveraging autonomous physical-world intelligence. . Jen lives in Annapolis, Maryland, with her husband Jeff. Outside of Google, she is deeply passionate about giving back to her community. She is a trauma survivor, a 5-time Ironman finisher, 100-mile ultramarathoner, Boston finisher and mother to five, bringing the same endurance and physical discipline to everything she does.
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Adam Dykstra

COO, FMHero

Adam Dykstra co-founded Rapid Recovery, which grew to become the world's largest refrigerant recovery company, before co-founding FMHero, a regulatory compliance platform serving technicians, contractors, and equipment owners across the refrigeration ecosystem. His work focuses on translating complex regulatory requirements into practical compliance frameworks for commercial refrigeration operations.
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Brian Fricke, Ph.D.

Group Leader, Building Equipment Research, Energy & Transportation Science Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Brian Fricke is the Group Leader for the Building Equipment Research Group at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Brian has over 20 years of experience in the areas of commercial and industrial refrigeration, including the evaluation of low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants, the development of energy efficient refrigeration technologies and modeling of refrigeration system energy consumption and emissions.

Brian is an active member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), where he is member of several technical committees.  In addition, Brian is a member of the International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) where he serves as the chairman for the U.S. National Committee of the IIR, and Vice-President of Commission C2, Food Science and Engineering.

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Derek Gosselin

Director, Technical Product Specialst Group, HillPHOENIX

With more than 30 years of HVACR industry experience, Derek Gosselin currently serves as Director of Technical Product Support for all Hillphoenix products, a Dover Food Retail Company, located in Conyers, GA. Derek began his career as a store planner at Associated Grocers of New England in Manchester, NH, before joining Tyler Refrigeration as its New England district sales manager, then the National Account Manager. in 2009 as part of the Hillphoenix acquisition of Tyler, Derek joined Hillphoenix as a National Account Manager before moving into operations as a systems division Product Manager with a focus on business and product development. With the recent trends in the industry, he has moved into the lead position on a team to support the promotion and education for the application natural refrigerant with the deployment of developing technology.
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Susanna Hanson, CEM, DGCP

Principal Engineer, Codes and Standards, Solstice

Susanna Hanson is principal engineer for Solstice, where she is focused on codes and standards to enable the safe use of fluorine products, in HVACR and other applications. She has 30 years of experience in the HVAC industry, in technical roles with broadly diverse responsibilities. She served ASHRAE Standards committee as chair and ex officio and as Director and Chair of Region VI. She is a consultant on the ASHRAE 90.1 energy standard, a member of the ASHRAE 15 refrigeration safety standard and on the team developing a transport refrigeration safety standard. She is on the U.S. National Committee for IEC 61C, which writes the international product safety standards for HVAC equipment, as well as the committee developing its US and Canada deviations for UL. She earned her engineering degree from the University of Florida, focusing on energy auditing, energy management and building energy and simulation techniques. Susanna holds eleven patents in the areas of HVAC system design and control for chilled-water systems with thermal storage and geothermal features.
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Andy S. Harig

Vice President, Tax, Trade, Sustainability & Policy Development, FMI

Andrew S. Harig currently serves as Vice President, Tax, Trade, Sustainability & Policy Development at FMI-The Food Industry Association. In this position, he is responsible for lobbying Congress and the Administration on behalf of FMI members, with a primary focus on agriculture, taxes, trade, sustainability, food waste, and pensions. Prior to joining FMI, Andy was an associate trade advisor and speechwriter for the Senate Finance Committee under its Chairman, Max Baucus (D-MT).  From 1999-2001, he was the senior research associate for the Global Economic Policy Project at the New America Foundation, a Washington, DC-based think tank. Andy holds a B.A. from the College of William and Mary and an M.A. from DePaul University in Chicago, IL.


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Jason Harren

Sales Manager, Zero Zone, Inc.

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Frank Hoffman

Director of Product Management, Pricing & Purchasing Service, S&P Global

Frank is a Director of Product Management for the Pricing & Purchasing service at S&P Global Market Intelligence, where he leads commercial and product efforts for the service. He supports clients with procurement analytics and advisory across the Americas, EMEA, and Asia-Pacific. Previously, he was a member of the Global Insight Advisory Services team, where he led much of their supply chain and market planning related work. Mr. Hoffman has been involved in several pieces of thought leadership around metals and the energy transition, such as S&P Global’s Future of Copper study and Impact of the IRA on North American Minerals Markets study.  Frank has also worked as a Senior Economist with S&P Global’s Pricing & Purchasing Service, where he covered nonferrous metals, building materials, healthcare, and services.  Mr. Hoffman received his M.A. in International and Development Economics from the University of San Francisco and his B.A. in Economics from the University of Illinois. 
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Ryan J. Hurley

SVP of Sales and Business Development, E. Gartland & Associates LLC

Ryan Hurley is Senior Vice President of Sales and Business Development at E. Gartland & Associates (EGA), a leading U.S. manufacturers’ representative and distributor of commercial and industrial refrigeration equipment, including MSA Safety/Bacharach's leak detection solutions. He leads EGA’s growth strategy and works closely with food retailers, contractors, designers, and manufacturers nationwide. Ryan specializes in helping organizations navigate complex refrigerant and emissions regulations while implementing high-performance solutions that deliver measurable operational and financial ROI. By aligning technology with compliance, he enables customers to turn regulatory pressure into a strategic advantage.

Ryan is an alumnus of Harvard University where he built a foundation in regulatory strategy and policy development. He then served as a legal advisor at the National Football League and later Amazon Inc., counseling executive leadership and ownership on high-profile transactions, compliance strategy, and global growth initiatives.

Today, Ryan draws on this legal and regulatory background alongside his hands-on equipment expertise to help customers reduce emissions, mitigate risk, control costs, and strengthen long-term operational performance of their equipment.
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Matthew Morrison

Partner, Baker Botts L.L.P.

Matthew Morrison, a partner in Baker Botts’ Environmental section, spent more than two decades at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Justice handling matters under the major federal environmental laws. His practice focuses on Clean Air Act issues involving criteria pollutants, hazardous air pollutants and greenhouse gases, including hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and he has advised and represented numerous companies on HFC regulatory compliance matters before the EPA and federal courts. At the EPA, Matt served as an acting division director and associate division director in the Office of Civil Enforcement and as deputy director of the Office of Criminal Enforcement, Forensics, and Training. He also spent more than 13 years as a trial and supervising attorney in the Environmental Enforcement Section at the Department of Justice. Before becoming an attorney, Matt worked as a chemical engineer in process modernization and environmental compliance. He holds an MBA and serves as an adjunct professor of environmental law and policy at George Washington University Law School.
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Peter Reist

Director Product Strategy, FLō Energy Solutions Inc

Peter Reist serves as the Director of Product & Sales Strategy for FLō Energy Solutions.  Peter brings a unique blend of expertise and creativity to Flo's clients as a thought leader in the field of specialized solutions for grocery stores.  His research and work are focused on what's next in refrigerant technologies, decarbonization, electrification, and ventilation systems.  His more than 25 years of technical experience in various industries, includes leadership roles in Program Management, Manufacturing, Research & Design, Code & Compliance, as well as Solution Strategy. Peter earned his honors degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Toronto.
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Brian J. Ricci

Sales Executive, PowerSecure

Brian is a highly professional, skilled and tenacious sales leader with over 31 years of award-winning success in sales and strategic national and global account management, having a strong background in energy management, building automation, energy services, machine learning and HVAC optimization and now facility resiliency, serving both multi-site food and non-food retail, hospitality, commercial buildings, education, and municipal markets. He applies a professional and value-driven approach to his collaboration and partnering with customers, delivers highly focused customer delight to help companies achieve their resiliency, energy and sustainability challenges. 

PowerSecure is the leader in full site back up power and resiliency and utility grid interaction for facilities. With the growing need and desire for full site resiliency, PowerSecure helps customers utilize these great assets to protect life safety, perishable food by preventing food losses and store profit loss at food retail stores and distribution centers, while also providing carbon and energy reduction through utility load management, which contributes to a companies energy and sustainability reduction goals and create revenue opportunities for their company.
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Amrit Robbins

CEO & Co-Founder, Axiom Cloud Inc.

Amrit Robbins co-founded Axiom Cloud in 2020 to solve the most pressing challenges facing cold chain operators — and to unlock a significant climate opportunity: reducing refrigerant leaks, a greenhouse gas up to 4,000x more potent than CO₂. Today, Axiom Cloud helps grocery chains and cold storage companies tackle their largest maintenance, compliance, and energy challenges using AI and automation. Prior to Axiom Cloud, Amrit was the CEO and co-founder of Axiom Exergy, a hardware company that commercialized thermal energy storage retrofits for grocery store refrigeration — where he sold early pilots to Amazon/Whole Foods and Walmart and built a sales pipeline exceeding $30MM with national cold chain companies. Before that, he co-led the sales, development, and engineering of a $100MM energy efficiency retrofit project for a national supermarket chain at Clark Energy Group. Amrit earned his B.S. in Atmosphere/Energy Engineering from Stanford University and was named to Forbes’ “30 Under 30” list in 2017.
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Ben Rosenzweig, PE

President, Professional Solutions, CoolSys

Ben Rosenzweig, PE, is President of Professional Solutions at CoolSys, where he leads the division's engineering, energy, equipment, and facility solutions businesses serving grocery, retail, cold chain, commercial, industrial, and data center customers nationwide. He is responsible for division strategy, performance, and growth. His work spans the engineering and large-scale deployment of low-GWP and CO₂ transcritical, cascade, and secondary refrigeration systems, heat recovery and waste-heat utilization, combined heat and power, microgrids, and onsite generation for grocery, cold storage, and industrial facilities. He advises operators on AIM Act compliance, refrigerant transition planning, and decarbonization strategies that improve lifecycle performance and energy resilience. Ben serves on the Board of Directors of the North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council (NASRC) and is a member of its CO₂ Technical Committee. He began his career at ExxonMobil before joining Energy Squared, which became CoolSys Energy Design and later part of CoolSys Professional Solutions. Ben holds bachelor's and master's degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Lehigh University and is a licensed Professional Engineer across the United States.

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Joe Sanchez

VP Engineering, BITZER US

Joe manages the Application, Value Add and Pressure Vessel engineering teams for BITZER US.  He has a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Northwestern University and an MBA from University of Florida.  He has been with BITZER for over 20 years.  Joe is an active member of IIAR, RETA, NASRC, ASHRAE and AHRI.
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Tony Saracino

Enterprise Customer Lead, Carbon Signal

Tony Saracino is Head of Growth and Partnerships at Carbon Signal, collaborating with real estate owners and investment managers to convert portfolio-scale energy saving and decarbonization objectives into actionable capital strategies. Carbon Signal's physics-based building energy intelligence platform facilitates these strategies. Tony brings a unique depth of perspective across the entire sustainability value chain. At JLL, he served as Senior Director of Sustainability Solutions, developing and commercializing integrated ESG offerings for technology sector clients. Before joining JLL, he spent six years at Autodesk leading enterprise SaaS adoption and industry-wide sustainability initiatives, including integrating the EC3 embodied carbon database into design and construction workflows as a foundational resource for low-carbon buildings. At BASF, Tony focused on sustainable building materials, advocating for low-carbon concrete and high-performance materials solutions throughout the construction value chain. His career began at Syska Hennessey Group, where he applied building science and mechanical engineering to design high-performance, energy-efficient systems. Tony's expertise connects sustainability across technology, capital, real estate, and design, drawing on firsthand experience from materials to operations to enterprise strategy.
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Elvan Sari

Sr Offering Manager, Honeywell

Elvan Sari is the Senior Offering Manager at Honeywell Solstice, with 12 years of experience at Honeywell. She is responsible for developing and executing global offering strategies in the stationary refrigeration market, helping shape the future of refrigeration solutions.
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Pete Savage

INC Director EMS/Controls Division, AAA Refrigeration Services

AAA Refrigeration Service, Inc., was Founded in 1937 and is headquartered in Bronx NY with two satellite offices specializing in Installation, Controls and service. Pete began with AAA Refrigeration in 2005 as a service technician and controls installer. In 2010 he transitioned to management in charge of the Long Island service zone from 2010 to 2014. Today Pete heads up the EMS controls division for all offices and is a Project manager for the NY Office. 
AAA Refrigeration Education department Co-Chair in charge of setting the curriculum and student placement. Pete is also a member of the NASRC Education committee and Technical committee.

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David Serna

Senior Architect | Associate, Cushing Terrell

As an architect with more than 10 years of experience, I believe a disciplined, solutions-oriented approach helps navigate the complex intersection of client vision and jurisdictional reality. At Cushing Terrell, I specialize in translating a brand’s overarching design intent into built environments that meet the parameters of each jurisdiction, without losing what makes the brand distinct. What drives me is the challenge of making things work, not just aesthetically, but practically. I take pride in managing expectations with clarity: setting realistic timelines, planning for rollout, and proactively mitigating the unforeseen so projects stay on track and on purpose. Beyond the technical, I am passionate about the values that brands carry into the world. The story of where a brand comes from, what it stands for, and how it delivers on that promise is not just an exercise. It is a design opportunity. When those values are expressed consistently, from the physical environment to the broader community presence, they build the kind of trust that sustains long-standing relationships with consumers. As an AIA member, I stay connected to the evolving standards and thinking that shape the profession, bringing that knowledge directly to the clients and communities I serve.
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Senthilkumar K. Shanmugam

Senior Product Manager, Hillphoenix, a Dover Company

Senthilkumar K. Shanmugam currently serves as Senior Product Manager for Hillphoenix, a Dover Food Retail company located in Conyers, GA. Senthil has more than 18 years of refrigeration industry experience in Application and Product Engineering, New Product Development, Product Management, Business Development and Corporate Training. He has been involved in the development of CO2 Transcritical systems since the acquisition of Advansor in 2011. Senthil is responsible for supporting the adoption of natural refrigeration systems in North America in the Food Retail and Industrial Refrigeration Markets. Senthil holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Master’s degree in Business Development.
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Stephen Shapiro

Keynote Speaker

Stephen Shapiro has spent more than 30 years helping organizations get the most out of the people they already have. After studying industrial engineering at Cornell University, his career began not with growth, but with efficiency. Early on, he co-led Accenture’s process improvement practice. But when he saw that helping companies optimize their processes meant helping them downsize their workforce, he changed course. He no longer wanted to help companies shrink. He wanted to help them grow. So he went on to found and lead Accenture’s 20,000-person innovation practice. He is the author of eight books, including his latest, You’re Not Playing with a Full Deck: Why the Coworkers Who Drive You Crazy Are Your Unfair Advantage. He’s also the creator of Personality Poker®, an interactive experience played by more than 250,000 people worldwide. Stephen’s work has been featured on ABC News, CNBC, USA Network, and TLC. He serves as a Senior Research Fellow with The Conference Board, has spoken in over 50 countries, and was inducted into the Speaker Hall of Fame in 2015. Offstage, Stephen explores innovation through magic and music, two disciplines deeply connected to creative thinking. Magic gives him a chance to make the impossible possible, while playing the tenor sax lets him practice improvisational jazz, a form of innovation in real time.
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Vishal Sharma

Research and Development, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)

Vishaldeep Sharma is an experienced research and development professional with a career spanning academia and national laboratories, particularly in the field of building equipment research, energy efficiency, and refrigeration systems. He has held several positions at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and contributed significantly to advancements in energy-efficient technologies. His expertise includes work on low-global-warming-potential refrigerants, heat pumps, and refrigeration systems, as well as energy systems for buildings. Mr. Sharma’s contributions have led to numerous inventions and disclosures, particularly in CO2 refrigeration, low-GWP refrigerants, and HVAC technologies. His innovations are aimed at addressing environmental and safety challenges in the refrigeration industry.
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William Stordeur

Implementation and Presales Manager, Facilio, Inc.

Will Stordeur brings 30 years of experience spanning grocery retail, SaaS product management and software implementation. Before joining Facilio, he spent 19 years in grocery retail and nine years in SaaS product management. In his current role as Implementation and Presales Manager, Will draws on his operational and technical experience to help organizations use software to manage business processes, control costs and improve performance.
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Christopher Sullivan-Trainor

Managing Consultant, Guidehouse

Chris Sullivan-Trainor is a Managing Consultant in the Communities, Energy, and Infrastructure segment at Guidehouse. Chris has 6 years of experience in developing strategies to support the adoption of energy efficient solutions, including evaluation of emerging technologies and market assessments for utilities and government agencies. He has worked with R&D organizations, manufacturers, and utilities across the U.S. to evaluate the opportunities and challenges related to energy efficient opportunities for commercial and industrial buildings, including feasibility for different regions, climates, and customer segments. Additionally, Chris has several years of experience presenting and facilitating discussion among audiences with varying levels of expertise on energy efficiency technologies and solutions.

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Mark Talty

Special Counsel, Baker Botts L.L.P.

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Nico Tasch

Head of Sales and Marketing, Lumitech Lighting Solution GmbH

Nico Tasch is a strategic leader at Lumitech Lighting Solution GmbH, where he plays a key role in steering the company’s global commercial strategy and international growth.
Born in Austria in 1995, Nico holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.), earned in 2019. He began his career at Lumitech within the Intellectual Property and Patent Department, ensuring the legal protection of the company's high-end lighting innovations. After successfully transitioning into Marketing to align technical excellence with brand storytelling, he was appointed Head of Sales and Marketing in 2024.

Nico is currently spearheading Lumitech’s North American expansion, focused on introducing premium European lighting technology to the U.S. market. To support this growth, he completed an executive program in Disruptive Innovation at Harvard Business School in 2025, specializing in navigating rapidly evolving industries. Representing the next generation of this family-owned enterprise, Nico combines legal precision with a growth-oriented mindset to forge sustainable international partnerships and drive innovation in the lighting sector.
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Stefan Tasch

CEO, Lumitech Lighting Solution GmbH

Dr. Stefan Tasch is Co-Founder, Owner and CEO of LUMITECH, an Austrian lighting technology company specializing in advanced LED solutions. A physicist by training, he studied Technical Physics at Graz University of Technology, where he later worked as a scientific associate and lecturer in solid-state physics. His academic research focused on organic optoelectronics, semiconductor characterization and early LED technologies. He earned his doctorate in 1997 and expanded his international research experience through stays at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland and the University of California, Santa Barbara. In 1997, he co-founded LUMITECH as a spin-off from Graz University of Technology, turning scientific research into commercially successful lighting technologies. Among LUMITECH’s major innovations is its patented PI-LED technology, which received the Austrian State Prize for Innovation. Tasch’s entrepreneurial and technological achievements have also been recognized personally, including being named Burgenland’s “Manager of the Year.” Today, after nearly three decades in lighting innovation, his work focuses on advanced lighting solutions that improve energy efficiency, product quality and freshness while helping retailers reduce food waste.
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Dave Tingle

Director Of Solutions Engineering, LoweConex

David Tingle is Director of Operations at LoweConex, a software and services business helping large retail estates manage critical assets. With 14+ years in refrigeration, HVAC, and lighting, he specializes in energy management, remote connectivity, and facilities optimization. He holds qualifications from the Chartered Management Institute and in Building Services Engineering. David has led major connectivity rollouts for UK retailers, improving efficiency, cutting energy use, and aligning innovation with strategy. Known for combining technical insight with operational leadership, he is passionate about using data and connectivity to deliver sustainable, scalable outcomes in the built environment.
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Fritz Troller

Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Therm Solutions

Fritz brings over 25 years of senior management experience in both the industrial and electrical distribution markets. In his role at Therm, Fritz helps organizations accelerate the transition from climate-damaging refrigerants by monetizing the displaced carbon and making capital investments more tenable. Prior to Therm, Fritz served as Executive Vice President of Dalkia Energy Solutions (formerly Groom Energy Solutions) where he co-led operations and business development-related activities. Before Dalkia, Fritz was President of Poplar Consulting Group, Inc., providing strategic consulting services to manufacturers, distributors, and private equity firms in the supply chain markets. Earlier in his career, Fritz was a senior executive with WW Grainger. During his 10-year tenure with Grainger, he held several senior management positions in Integrated Supply, National Accounts, and the Industrial Supply Division. As Vice President of Grainger Integrated Supply, he co-founded and built the $240 M division into the industry’s leading Management Services outsourcing entity.
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Leia Waln

Refrigerant Compliance Program Manager, Refrigerant Management Solutions (RMS)

Leia Waln is a recognized refrigerant compliance and reporting expert with more than 15 years of experience supporting the food retail industry. As Program Manager for RMS, she has worked with some of the largest supermarket chains in the country, helping retailers navigate complex regulatory requirements and real‑world compliance challenges. Leia stays at the forefront of evolving refrigerant regulations and regularly delivers practical guidance, regulatory updates, and training to owners, contractors, and industry stakeholders.
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Scott Werhun

Vice President, Promolux Lighting

Scott Werhun is the Vice President at Promolux Lighting, where he has spent over two decades helping retailers across North America transform fresh food merchandising through specialized lighting solutions. Since joining Promolux in 2004, Scott has worked closely with national, regional, and independent grocery retailers to improve product presentation, reduce shrink, and optimize the overall in-store experience in perishable departments. His work has contributed to measurable results for retailers, with several projects gaining broader industry recognition. Scott’s expertise is rooted in both technical knowledge and real-world application. He has completed the Certified Energy Manager (CEM) training program in Canada and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Victoria. Earlier in his career, he spent over five years in Jamaica with Sandals Resorts, gaining international experience in hospitality operations and customer-focused service environments. A recognized voice in the industry, Scott has led breakout sessions and presented at major conferences including the AHR Expo, sharing practical insights on lighting, energy efficiency, and merchandising strategy. He continues to shape how retailers approach fresh food merchandising and brings a results-driven perspective to evolving retail environments.
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Allen Wicher

Senior Director Business Development, MSA Safety

Allen Wicher is an experienced, accomplished executive with background in: Sales and Marketing; Business Development; Product Development; Engineering; Materials; Purchasing and Government Relations.  Allen’s career has spanned multiple industries including: HVAC-R; Sensors & Controls; Aerospace & Defense; and Biotechnology. 
Throughout his career, Allen’s ability to work effectively across all company and customer boundaries is one of his most important strengths. He’s a published industry thought leadership expert with a passion for innovation and developing new products and new markets globally.

Allen’s employment history includes: MSA/Bacharach; Emerson; Rheem Manufacturing; STERIS Corporation; Parker Hannifin Corporation and United Technologies / Pratt & Whitney.

Allen holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Hartford and an MBA from Cleveland State University. Allen lives in the Baltimore, Maryland area.
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Craig Zablocki

Keynote Speaker

Making a profound difference for over 30 years, Craig Zablocki has spoken to 1.5 million people internationally and in all 50 states across industries that include: all branches of the military, hundreds of education groups, professional associations, Fortune 100 companies, start-ups, child and victim advocacy groups, from probation officers to gang members, realtors, surgeons, potato farmers …, and numerous national franchises. 
Craig works with groups that want (1) a culture of fun, (2) are open to creative innovation, and (3) don’t want to ride on their laurels. Craig finds that world-class organizations want to be challenged, to be called into their authenticity, to take their task seriously and themselves lightly. 

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