Two years from now, Stephen Yurek, CEO of the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute, is poised to become the next leader of a super-sized trade group, with $20 million in revenue and a full-size lobbying force, representing air conditioning and heating manufacturers. A pending merger agreement between ARI and the Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association will make Yurek the CEO of the new trade group, the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute, after a two-year transition period, according to Yurek and executives in the organization. The membership is set to complete their vote on the merger by Dec. 19. The merger would become effective Jan. 1, 2008.… Read More