January 2026 
Contents
- Greetings - Welcome to MN ASHRAE January 2026 Newsletter. Highlights in this newsletter.
- Upcoming Events - Jan 22 11:30AM - MN ASHRAE Event DL Lecture - Chris Taber: ceiling fan design as a tool for achieving cost-effective resilience and sustainability. / Rick Hermans Life Member Interview, Jan 20 MN Rochester Section 11:30 Dr. Patrick Tebbe; BPSA Simbuild 2026, 2026 ASHRAE Winter Conference, 2026 AHR Expo, Feb 17, 2026 - 2026 MN ASHRAE Refrigeration Seminar, Feb 19, 2026 ASHRAE Day on the Hill, 2026 Women in ASHRAE Leadership Symposium-
- Recent Events - ASHRAE MN Holiday Party & Tech Awards - Dec 16, 2026 ; MN ASHRAE YEA Nov 20 Anderson Arena Tour at the Univ. of St. Thomas.
- Committee Spotlight - House Committee, Honors & Awards Committee, Young Engineers in ASHRAE (YEA), Historical
- Job Board - Advertise Your Internships and Entry-Level Positions for Free on MNASHRAE.org!
- 2025-2026 MN ASHRAE Board of Directors - Listing of Board of Directors and Committee Chairs
- This Month in HVAC History - R-22 Banned!
- Newsletter Submission Deadline - Due the first Wednesday of each month!
Section Links
- Contents
Greetings
Upcoming Events
Recent Events
Committee Spotlight
Historical Committee
Job Board
2025-2026 Board of Directors
This Month in History
Newsletter Submissions Deadline
Greetings
Welcome to the MN ASHRAE newsletter for January 2026! The newsletter this month has some great features on upcoming events like the January 22 Chapter Meeting on 90.1 and historical interview of past MN chapter President and former DRC Region VI / DAL Rick Hermans. Highlights of the Recent Technology Awards / Research Donors Recognition / Holiday Banquet is reviewed! Thank you for your participation and support of ASHRAE and the ASHRAE Minnesota Chapter and ASHRAE Rochester MN Region!
Submitted by Mike Pouchak
Upcoming Events
January 22, 2026
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Roseville Skating Center & John Rose MN OVAL
2661 Civic Center Drive
Roseville, MN 55113
Directions
Join us for a unique learning experience with ASHRAE Distinguished Lecturer Chris Taber, focusing on ceiling fan design as a tool for achieving cost-effective resilience and sustainability. This session will explore how air movement can be intentionally integrated into HVAC system design to enhance occupant thermal comfort, reduce material use, and improve overall building efficiency. Attendees will gain practical guidance on ceiling fan selection, layout, and coordination with air distribution systems, along with insights on incorporating air movement into load calculations and equipment sizing.
The program also features our Chapter’s Interview with Rick Hermans, PE, Life Member and past Region VI DRC.
Lunch provided by The Tipsy Steer.
Agenda
| 11:30 | Welcome from Rolf and food served |
| 11:40 | History Committee interview with Rick Hermans |
| 12:00 | Distinguished lecturer Chris Taber - Destrat fans |
| 1:00 | Adjourn |
| 1:30 | Optional open skate |
Registration cost is $25 per person.
Register Nowhttps://mnashrae.starchapter.com/meetinginfo.php?id=406&ts=1765993986
Volunteer Opportunity | Painting at the Dwelling Place
1:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Add to Calendar
The Dwelling Place,North Metro,Directions
Register Now
Volunteer Event: Painting and priming walls at The Dwelling Place’s New Office Space
2026 ASHRAE Winter Conference
January 31 - February 4, 2026
Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas, NV
Learn More
The 2026 ASHRAE Winter Conference and co-sponsored AHR Expo will take place in Las Vegas January 31 – February 4, and feature:
- 9 technical tracks
- 20 ASHRAE Learning Institute courses
- Hundreds of business and technical committee meetings
- Networking, social events, and tours
Happy Hour for Region 6 is planned for the Winter Conference on Sunday Evening , February 1!
Region VI Gathering
2026 ASHRAE WINTER MEETING GATHERING
When: Sunday, February 1, 2026, 6pm - 8pm
What: Happy Hour / Gathering. All purchases on your own.
This is a drop-in event with no set menu. Meet up outside True Food Kitchen to grab food or drinks at True Food Kitchen or meet up with fellow ASHRAE members and find food or libations at another nearby establishment in the Forum Shops at Caesars. Bring cash or card for all your food and drink needs.
Where: True Food Kitchen at the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, 3500 S. Las Vegas Blvd, Suite R15A, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Find the True Food Kitchen Menu Here https://www.truefoodkitchen.com/locations/lasvegas/
Join us for an evening of socializing with members of Region VI.
Questions or concerns about locating our group please contact Liz Zakelj,
2026 AHR Expo
February 2 - 4, 2026
Las Vegas, NV 89109
Free Registration | About AHR Expo
AHR Expo is your place to connect, explore, engage, and experience everything HVACR with over 1,800 exhibitors over 500,000+ sq. ft. of exhibit space featuring exhibits, hands-on product demonstrations, building automation & controls showcase, software center, podcast pavilions, new product theaters and more.
Refrigeration Seminar February 17 at brookview 8am-130pm
316 Brookview Pkwy S
Golden Valley, MN 55426
https://www.brookviewgolf.com/
Directions
Register Now
The 2026 MN ASHRAE Refrigeration Seminar will be held on Tuesday, February 17th at Brookview Golf Course and Lawn Bowling in Golden Valley.
Non-Member | $150
Student | $50
Vendor | $350
4 vendor spots are available for this event. Vendor registration is $350 and includes a tabletop space and registration for one person.
Register Now
$100.00 Member Attendee
$150.00 Non-Member Attendee
$50.00 Student Attendee
$350.00 Vendor Sponsorship
Feb 19, 2026 -ASHRAE Day on the hill at the Mn state capitol
February 19, 2026
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
MN State Capitol
75 Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
St. Paul, MN 55155
Directions
ASHRAE Day on the Hill provides members with an opportunity to engage directly with Minnesota state leaders and staff to share ASHRAE’s mission and expertise. Participants will help raise awareness of the Society’s role in advancing building energy efficiency, sustainability, indoor air quality, and resilient design. This event strengthens relationships with policymakers and positions ASHRAE MN as a trusted technical resource for current and future building-related legislation.
Exact time to be determined. More details to come.
https://mnashrae.starchapter.com/meetinginfo.php?id=407&ts=1765995333
2026 Women in ASHRAE Leadership Symposium
April 13-14, 2026
Los Angeles, CA
Register Now
After a sold-out debut, the Women in ASHRAE Leadership Symposium returns—bigger, bolder, and more empowering than ever!
Join us for two full days of connection, inspiration, and leadership growth with women from across the HVACR industry—from students and early-career professionals to seasoned veterans. This isn’t just for engineers—it’s for every woman making an impact on the built environment.
Empower, Elevate, Lead. Belong!
IBPSA SIMBUILD 2026
May 20 - 22, 2026
Hyatt Regency Minneapolis
https://simbuild.ibpsa.us/
What Is SimBuild?
From Models to Reality: Bridging Simulation and Operational Performance
SimBuild is the preeminent event for building performance simulation in the US. It provides a forum for sharing and publishing scientific work, announcing breakthroughs in research and software development, informing policymakers, and bridging research and practice. It is a place where building performance simulation practitioners, researchers, and students can network with peers, clients, and employers.
Recent Events
ASHRAE MN Holiday Party & Technology Awards
December 16, 2026, Brit's Pub - The Long Room 110 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, MN 55403 4pm - 8pm. The meeting showcased generous donors who support ASHRAE Research. A wonderful holiday dinner was served. Also featured was a program on Chapter’s 4th Annual Excellence in Engineering Technology Award winners. HVAC design engineers Ned Rector from CMTA gave a presentation on the NDSU Sugihara Hall Technology Award winner and John Maust from Leo A. Daly gave a presentation on the Hennepin County Sheriffs Office in Plymouth. 1 PDH is offered for this session.
MN ASHRAE YEA Event - Lee & Penny Anderson Arena at the university of Saint thomas - november 20, 2025
Committee Spotlight
House Committee
The House Committee is appointed by the President-Elect. The responsibilities of this committee typically include:
F. Keeping a record of all members and all guests attending chapter meetings and submitting a report to the Secretary and to the Membership Promotion Committee Chair
Honors & Awards Committee
MN Young Engineers in ASHRAE (YEA)
The MN Young Engineers in ASHRAE (YEA) Committee had our first facility tour of the year this past November, when approximately (15) of our members visited the newly-constructed Lee & Penny Anderson Arena, at the University of St. Thomas (UST). The tour was only about a month after the arena was open to the public, so it was an exciting opportunity to be able to be some of its first visitors. This multi-use facility is home to UST’s men’s and women’s hockey and basketball teams, as well as a concert venue, so the HVAC demands of the building are quite unique.
Historical Committee
The Historical committee has complete three history interviews. This month, Past MN ASHRAE chapter President, DAL/DRC Rick Hermans will be interviewed live at the next ASHRAE Meeting January 22. Historical committee volunteer John Flanagan has been assisting and participating in the interview process . Additional information on historical MN chapter committees was upload to the MN ASHRAE Minutes internal pages archive. The Historical committee has been archiving photos from recent Holiday Party and Events at the internal storage page for the chapter.
Submitted by Mike Pouchak
Job Board
Advertise Your Internships and Entry-Level Positions for Free on MNASHRAE.org!
Are you looking to bring fresh talent into your company? MNASHRAE is committed to helping students and young professionals kick-start their careers in the HVAC&R industry. We are offering free advertising for internships and entry-level positions on our website, MNASHRAE.org. This is a great opportunity for companies to connect with eager students and recent graduates who are passionate about HVAC&R and ready to contribute to the industry. To post a position or learn more, please submit an ad on the website, https://mnashrae.org/jobs, or contact Rolf directly at [email protected] Let’s work together to build the next generation of HVAC&R professionals!
2025-2026 Board of Directors
https://mnashrae.org/board
Committee Chairs
Rochester Section President
Rochester Section Treasurer
Student Activities Co-Chair
[email protected]
Nathan Kegel
Sustainability Chair
[email protected]
Allison Peterson
Volunteer Outreach Chair
[email protected]
Anthony James Hughes
Young Engineers in ASHRAE Co-Chair
[email protected]
Jake Strawhecker
Young Engineers in ASHRAE Co-Chair
[email protected]
Ryan Traeger
Young Engineers in ASHRAE Co-Chair
[email protected]
This Month in History
January 1, 2020: The official ban on R-22 refrigerant production and import took effect in the United States, transitioning the industry toward more environmentally friendly options like R-410a.
Submitted by Mike Pouchak
Newsletter Submissions Deadline
Mar: Refrigeration,
Apr: Sustainability
May: Golf
