Summit Speakers

“I love contributing to another leader’s growth on their journey, and everyone is a leader in some capacity. There nothing like the excitement of witnessing someone else’s success, especially when you saw the efforts they made to get there.”

John has worked in the HVAC industry since 1994 and has been partnering with NCI since 2011.

Some of team Lakeside’s accomplishments that John is most proud of include.

• 1998 Carrier Distinguished Dealer Award
• 2010-2024 Carrier President’s Award
• 2013 NCI Contractor of the Year
• 2016 NCI Implementation Excellence Award
• 2022 NCI Scott Johnson Training Excellence Award

Dustin Cole owns Cole Air, Inc. in Lake Charles, LA. The company dates back to 1985, though Dustin will tell you he began saving the world one air conditioner at a time in 1998 at the young age of 15 years working in his father’s HVAC company. Cole Aire provides complete heating and cooling services to their market area surrounding Lake Charles. These services include air conditioning, heating, refrigeration, building envelope testing, IAQ, duct tightness testing, as well as preventive maintenance, and others. He says that he believes buildings are intricate systems and should be treated as such with thoughtful mechanical design. He is proficient in system diagnostics, system designs, Manual J, Manual D, and is certified to perform duct envelope and building envelope tests. Cole also strongly believes in continuous education, especially in HVACR & building performance work.

I began working in the PHVAC industry in 1983 primarily in residential, new construction as an installation mechanic. I eventually moved into the add on/replacement segment as well as service work. It was during this time period that I took my first Jim Davis combustion course, a course that changed the way I viewed combustion appliances forever. This is also when I developed a passion for hydronic heating systems, steam, hot water and radiant. From 2002 to 2007, I was self-employed, most of my work being in custom homes, designing and installing PHVAC systems, specializing in radiant heating.

In 2007 I went to work for a pump manufacturer as their national trainer and spent the next 8 years doing technical presentations to engineers, contractors and facilities personnel. A strong emphasis was placed on the potential energy savings that could be realized using circulators equipped with ECM technology. After leaving the pump company, I went to work for an American boiler manufacturer, again working with contractors and engineers doing both training and field assistance.

Ben joined NCI in 2015 to help provide management and technical direction for our California utility energy efficiency and training programs. He now directs utility and manufacturer-funded programs nationwide, provides technical oversight for curriculum development, and manages NCI’s software products and partnerships.

Ben is a licensed mechanical engineer in three states, specializing in commercial and residential HVAC energy efficiency. His professional experience ranges from energy efficiency program design and implementation, to policy and regulatory consultation, measurement and verification consultation, laboratory and field research, application of codes and standards, and HVAC system Design/Build projects.

Dawn grew up in her family business to become the Comfort Specialist at GVs Heating and Cooling in Buffalo Grove, IL. In 2007, she moved into the sales position. She is certified in Commercial Air Balancing, Duct System Optimization, and was recognized as one of the ‘Wonderful Women in HVAC Sales’. She is also the 2020 recipient of NCI’s High-Performance Sales Excellence Award.

“Working in a male-dominated industry has its challenges, but it’s all worth it when we can provide our clients with the best service possible.”

At GVs, they don’t just sell boxes – they focus on providing true value for their clients. That’s why they joined the National Comfort Institute in 2010 and started implementing static pressure and temperature testing on every sales call.

HVAC started in Adam’s family with his Grandpa Joe, who was the chief Engineer at several notable buildings in Chicago, including the historic Palmer House Hotel. Adam’s father, Ralph Mufich, started working for Trane’s Comfort Corps in the 1970’s. Ralph opened a residential HVAC company in the early 1990s.

Adam worked for the family business until the year 2012, when the company was sold. This was the birth of A-Team Heating and Air. A-Team aimed to solve their customer’s comfort issues while delivering the best craftsmanship possible.

Adam holds or has held certifications with N.A.T.E., National Comfort Institute, Geothermal Alliance of Illinois and ACCA. Adam has also been trained by measureQuick, The Energy Conservatory, and Daikin. Adam is a Cohost for the HVAC Overtime and Cooler Heads podcast. He works with the social media team at HVAC School and has written for ESCO and National Comfort Institute.

Bryan Orr is co-founder and President of Kalos Services, a Commercial/
Residential HVAC and Refrigeration in Central Florida with more than 250 employees.

Bryan has been involved in HVAC training for over 13 years. He
started HVAC School to be free training HVAC/R across many mediums,
or Techs, By Techs.

David joined National Comfort Institute full time in 2010 as a curriculum developer and trainer and now as vice president of training. In this role, he guides practical, real-world training focused on the HVAC and Home Performance industries.

He has been involved in High-Performance Contracting™ since 2001. This experience allowed him the opportunity to diagnose and correct many HVAC and Home Performance issues over the past two decades.

In addition, David writes monthly columns for various industry publications to help increase awareness on the importance of performance testing. David is a regular presenter at many industry conferences working to spread the message of High-Performance HVAC.

Besides holding all NCI certifications, David has held certifications as a HERS rater, BPI building analyst, and BPI field and written exam proctor.

Chuck Worley owns Worley Home Services of Yorktown, VA, a full-service home services provider established in 2016. The company focuses on HVAC, Plumbing, and Electrical contracting services. They have 75 employees who provide customers with what Chuck calls “ONE-STOP” solutions to their comfort issues. Worley’s team is in the process of embracing the High-Performance HVAC™ approach to contracting and specializing in designing, engineering, and installing complete comfort systems for owners of existing homes and buildings. Chuck takes great pride in the craftsmen they train and employ. They believe in being professionals who deliver service first.