AirRite Air-Conditioning Co. in Fort Worth, Texas, and K & M Shillingford in Tulsa, Okla., have been named 2012 Contractors of the Year by the ACCA.

“Each year the best contractors in the country apply for this award and share their unique business practices and dedication to our industry’s success,” said Paul T. Stalknecht, president and CEO of the Air Conditioning Contractors of America. “Our panel of judges always has a difficult task when they have to choose the recipient of these awards. This year, they have again selected two very deserving companies that exemplify the qualities that all the best companies share.”

AirRite Air-Conditioning Company will be presented the Residential Contractor of the Year Award on March 5 at the ACCA conference’s opening general session in Las Vegas.

"Being selected Residential Contractor of the Year is a great honor," said Larry Taylor, president of AirRite Air-Conditioning Co. "We have an amazing team that serves and satisfies our customers each and every day. Without them we would simply be another contractor in the great sea of sameness in the marketplace. They make AirRite right. I also want to congratulate the other contractors that applied for this award for helping to raise the bar for all contractors."

K & M Shillingford Inc. will be presented the Commercial Contractor of the Year Award during the closing general session of the ACCA conference on March 7. According to the ACCA, the company is one of the oldest geothermal contracting companies in the U.S.

"Receiving this award is like winning the Superbowl," said Peter Shillingford, vice president of K & M Shillingford. "Every player strives for that moment and plays hard for years waiting for that recognition, that superbowl ring. This is our ring."