T. David Underwood, P.Eng., Fellow ASHRAE, Life Member, CPMP of Oakville, ON is the new president of ASHRAE. New officers and directors for 2015-16 were installed at ASHRAE’s annual meeting, which was held June 27 to July 1 in Atlanta, GA.
His theme, Making Connections, focuses on the first goal in ASHRAE’s Strategic Plan, which calls for connecting as a way to foster vibrant, informed and engaged ASHRAE and industry communities. The theme focuses not only on the connections of ASHRAE membership but extends to connecting with industry, communities, governments and globally.
At the 2015 annual conference President’s Luncheon, Underwood said, “My presidential theme will focus on an important goal of the ASHRAE strategic plan: Making Connections.
“As Nietzsche observed, human connections are the “invisible threads that are the strongest ties.’ Forging stronger connections amongst ASHRAE’s 54,000 members is a priority for me…especially when it comes to our volunteers and new members,” said Underwood.
Underwood has served ASHRAE for many years at the chapter, region and society and is a Fellow in ASHRAE and has received the Distinguished and Outstanding service awards and the William J. Collins award. A graduate of the University of Manitoba, Underwood was the founder of Isotherm Engineering Ltd. and Evaporative Tower Services Inc.
In his role on the Ontario Provincial Advisory Committee for the certified refrigeration trade, he developed the trade examination and courses for refrigeration apprentices and coauthored a safety manual for refrigeration mechanics. For many years Underwood was an active participant on the B-52 Mechanical Refrigerant Code committee for Canada. He also actively participated in developing the Refrigerant Management regulation for Ontario and serves on the Model National Building Code Committee.
Other Canadians installed to the board are: Region II Director and Region Chair: Douglas Cochrane, P.Eng., engineering sales manager, Carrier Enterprise Canada, Mississauga, ON and Director-at-Large: Erich Binder, president, Erich Binder Consulting, Calgary, AB. Cochrane and Binder will serve a three-year term from 2015-2018.
