Orlando, Florida IIAR Convention 

( IIAR convention 2004) What an eye opening event!!

  The experience of going to the IIAR convention is not one I will soon forget. I was excited with anticipation as soon as the tires hit the runway in Orlando Florida, the entire plane trip, Randy and I had talked about past conventions, equipment, and companies I would see represented. Also the professional manner in which the convention had always been held in his words, “the best convention you’ll ever go to!”

  Sunday was our first day of work, there were meetings being held for marketing, which Randy attended. Our two associates Joanna Meier and Rachel Williams sat in on the education committee, and I was fortunate enough to be part of the IIAR Guideline Task Force. The task force was working on guideline definitions so everyone in the Industry could basically have a standard to go by. The guideline was being established because there were too many questions about what operators, end users, and everyone in a facility involved in day to day operations should follow for safety. I was very fortunate to hear some very wise industry users giving their opinions and knowledge on this subject, some of them include George C. Briley, P.E., Tommy Jackson of Nestle, Doug Sweat of RSA, and Mike Chapman with Tyson leading conversations of each very delicate detail in the guideline. The guideline with approval will be implemented in the next year to all affected parties.

  Once my meeting adjourned around 3:30pm it was time to freshen up and get ready for the five o’clock meet and greet party that was sure to bring up interesting discussions. I had no way of knowing what to expect. It wasn’t long before several hundred people were all around the convention center talking about almost everything from A to Z. It was easy to meet people, because everyone was wearing large nametags that made it easy to see who you were and the company you represented. They even had a green ribbon on some nametags for new members like me! I met more interesting people at the social event such as Bob Briskie with Kraft, Calvin Ingram with Sakuma Bros., John Fountain with Atlas Cold Storage just to name a few along with several vendors and their wives. Everyone was enjoying the peel and eat shrimp, the terrific prime rib, and all the enjoyable food, wine, and conversation.

  It was on this evening where I met Larry Kelley and Dean Ellerbrock of Kelley Refrigeration Systems where I started to get a real feel of how passionate people in this industry are! I might make one quick note here “ a quote was made to me that as long as food has been kept cold with ammonia refrigeration somebody in this convention has worked on it, sold it, engineered it, or is related through family and has had something to do with most of it if not all of it!” I met interesting people from everywhere such as Tadashi Maekawa from Japan with Mycom, Dr. Karen Jahn from Germany with eurammmon, and Oreste Carlos Frontaloni and his wife from Argentina just to name a few. The atmosphere was electric with industry buzz all over the convention hall, this was truly a well planned event and a great kickoff for the convention. It became very clear to me why this association is called the International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration!

The second day of our adventure had an electrifying feel to it, that you only feel when you’re around an Industry that has pride.  We attended a seminar in the morning and listened to a keynote speaker named Colonel Mike Mullane known for being in the first group of Space Shuttle Astronauts aboard the shuttles Discovery and Atlantis. He had very good insight and hindsight, and something he stressed is a motto we all should take time to remember is this. “When it comes to safety every one of us has the right to say stop, this is not something we should do! We should have the strength not to let peer pressure make us do anything we will not be able to accept later in life!”

  Randy, Rachel, Joanna, and I then attended a meeting where there was a discussion that will probably be one of the hottest topics to come up in 2004. It was a panel discussion held in one of the side rooms about the new guideline and was open to the public. Vern Karman opened up the session and then each panel member gave a short introduction and then they opened up the mic and allowed for questions from the audience. Some of the questions asked were easily answered to the press and a few others, and then came the big one. A plant engineer from Grimmway Farms in California named Tom Mechaley asked the direct question. What makes a qualified trainer and a certified operator? I can tell you, I’ve seen people on the hot seat before and no one wanted to answer this one. It was passed around the panel and finally, a panel member answered the question this way. No one wants to ask the EPA. So when someone does, we will use that answer, and it will be the proverbial answer you are looking for! I looked around the room and the same look was on everyone’s face. What? Why? If you go to the code of federal regulations book it says in 1910.120, (e)(5). Qualifications for trainers. Trainers shall be qualified to instruct employees about the subject matter that is being presented in training. Such trainers shall have satisfactorily completed a training program for teaching the subjects they are expected to teach, or they shall have the academic credentials and instructional experience necessary for teaching the subjects. Instructors shall demonstrate competent instructional skills and knowledge of the applicable subject matter. Training certification.    Employees and supervisors that have received and successfully completed the training and field experience specified in their process shall be certified by their instructor or the head instructor and trained supervisor as having successfully completed the necessary training specified by their company. A written certificate shall be given to each person so certified. Simply stated, when a person has passed the certification tests and can demonstrate their knowledge and skills, they have the ability to perform this task.

 In conclusion the EPA and OSHA have both stated, they have, and they are willing to work with anyone. If you wish to remain anonymous and have any questions on CFR 29 or CFR 40 please free to give us a call and we will contact either agency until you are satisfied with the answer!

After the panel discussion I started visiting the vendor’s booths and taking in the conventions vendor part of the show. Lunch was served at the convention center and was provided by the IIAR. During the lunch, several awards were hand out and gratification was shown to the industry volunteers that have been involved with IIAR on many different levels. After the awards a speaker named Charles Petty spoke on family values and how they connect with everyday business life. He was very enjoyable and made us all think a little more about our choices. If you hear of him in your area you should go and attend his lecture.

After the luncheon I set out on my task of meeting the Industry. I soon discovered that most of the vendors had worked for their respective companies a long time. It seems once your involved in the industry your pretty much a lifer. The booths at the convention ranged in quite a few sizes. Obviously the bigger the product the more space you need. I took my time at each booth I went to, because I wanted to identify as much as I could with each vendor about the products that were being represented. There was a wide range of products from ammonia detection equipment, PLC programs, engineering, skid packages, labeling, compressors, evaporators, condensers, exhaust fans, hazmat training, and everything you would ever want that is associated with industrial ammonia.

One thing that is totally different in our school is the ability we have to promote specific products in the industry. Approximately 10 to 15% of the students that come through our program have input for future purchasing, or the design of the changes made in their industrial refrigeration system. Many of the vendors I spoke with will have demonstration models in our facility for the students to view and work with. One thing that almost always happens is, once new technologies and equipment is shown and demonstrated, operators and/or end users, could lean towards the purchasing of this equipment. We are very proud of the support from the vendors donations to our school.

Another thing that made the convention was the tech papers held in the side rooms of the convention center. Tech papers are very informative and reflect any part of today’s situations such as ammonia leak detection, integrating advanced controls into plant processes and management programs and so on. Some of the papers were in Spanish! There were a total of 14 different tech papers at this year’s convention.

Next year the convention is going to be held in Acapulco! It is in our plans to go a week early and teach a Spanish class for Operator I in the area. If I have shown you anything, I hope you too will want to attend the convention next year. It was quite an experience, and one I look very forward to next year!

Rachel and Joanna taking in some sun at the convention

Cliff Bone: 620-271-0037