The Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors National Association has awarded its HVAC Contractor of the Year award to Scott Kellam, owner of Kellam Mechanical in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

The award recognizes excellence in the HVAC and refrigeration industry, and acknowledges a contractor who best demonstrates professionalism, merchandising and management skills, innovative techniques, trade involvement and community service.

Kellam’s 20-year-old company employs 25 people and offers HVAC, electrical and indoor air quality services to customers in the area of Hampton Roads, Virginia. In an industry with high employee turnover, he said he’s proud of his long-term employees and believes his company’s employee retention is a result of owner involvement and providing good benefits.

“I am accessible, and I am very strict,” Kellam said. “I really believe both my employees and my clients are my customers, and I try to treat them that way.”

Kellam helped the Air Conditioning Contractors of America Hampton Roads Chapter convert its membership to PHCC of Virginia in 2015. Since then, he’s chaired the association’s golf outing, participated in identifying membership and chapter programs, and helped develop a scholarship program for local HVAC apprentices.