AUSTIN, Texas - The Air Conditioning Contractors of America is hoping the saying about "Texas size" applies to conventions. The group will hold its 37th annual convention March 9-12 at the Renaissance hotel in Austin, the state's capital city. To match the locale, ACCA officials say they are offering members a bigger convention program: 42 educational seminars, a round-table discussion and keynote speeches from Travelocity.com founder Terrell B. Jones and New Mexico State University Professor Lowell Catlett, Ph.D. The convention's trade show, the Indoor Air Expo, has sold all available booth space, and officials say there is a waiting list for cancellations. Between the seminars and trade show, Austin offers plenty to do. The city is famous for it's music scene and nightlife, both of which have been featured on the Public Broadcasting Service television show "Austin City Limits." Here is a list of some of this year's events. At 1:30 p.m. March 9, these seminars and workshops are planned:
Seminars
"Transitions in the Air-Conditioning Market." Hosted by Tim Fletcher and Geoff Godwin of Emerson Electric Co., this seminar will explain the impact of the new 13 seasonal-energy-efficiency-ratio standard transition to environmentally friendly R-410A refrigerant and modulated-systems technology. The "Commercial Refrigeration Issues" workshop will explain the current challenges facing HVAC contractors. Insurance company Equiguard will offer advice on "Selling Extended Warranties." The ACCA and Equiguard offer members a private-label risk-management designed especially for them. This seminar will discuss the program. Al Roach of Callahan/Roach & Garofalo will present "Effective Problem Solving." This workshop will challenge the "traditional" ways many company officials attempt to solve problems. According to the ACCA, this seminar will offer more efficient and effective problem-solving techniques, allowing managers to do their jobs instead of solving others' problems. Credit card-processing company Nova Information Systems will present a "Frank Talk About Credit Card Processing." Almost all businesses now work with credit cards, whether using them for purchases or accepting them for payment. This seminar will teach about credit authorization, settlement, qualification, e-commerce, phone orders, and preventing fraud and returned charges.