ACCA members from Tennessee and Virginia have won the association’s residential and commercial Contractor of the Year awards.

Franklin, Tennessee-based Lee Co. was named the Air Conditioning Contractors of America’s 2017 Residential Contractor of the Year.

“Each year many of the best residential contractors in the industry apply for this award, and share the unique business practices that make them so successful,” said Paul T. Stalknecht, ACCA president and CEO. “It is always a difficult decision for our panel of judges to choose who they consider the 'best of the best' from the group. This year’s winner, Lee Company, is an extremely deserving company that truly exemplifies the qualities that all of the best companies in the industry share.”

Lee’s use of technology and commitment to training made it a standout, officials added.

Dan Kalman, Lee Co.’s vice president of home services, thanked the association for the award.

“Very few companies receive this honor, and we are both thrilled and humbled to now be part of that esteemed group," Kalman said. “Lee Company works hard every day to set a standard of excellence that best represents our industry and ACCA. This award reflects the value of their dedication, and truly belongs to each and every member of our team.”

Winning the commercial award was James River Air Conditioning in Richmond, Virginia.

“James River Air Conditioning thanks ACCA for this recognition and we are deeply honored to be selected for this award," said Hugh A. Joyce, president of James River Air Conditioning. “We are proud of every team member whose efforts allow us to do what we do. What a great way to start off our 50th year of doing business by being chosen as the ACCA Commercial Contractor of the Year. We are thankful and proud.”

The company’s outreach and marketing efforts to attract women and young people to the HVAC industry were among the reasons that James River was given the award, Stalknecht said.

“This year we had many innovative commercial contractors apply for this award, which made judging particularly tough," he said. “This year’s winner, James River Air Conditioning, illustrates the characteristics that all the best commercial contractors in the country have in common, and their dedication to growing and diversifying the workplace, make them an excellent choice for this award.”

The companies were recognized during the ACCA’s March conference in Nashville, Tennessee.