2024 Election Slate
CFESA is pleased to present the following nominees for the 2024 elections. These elections will occur during the membership meeting at the national conference on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, in Savannah, GA. During this meeting, the associations Voting members will vote for their new board members.
To be considered for nomination, each individual must complete an interest form. The following question is from this form; each candidate’s answers are below.
Question to candidates: Can you provide examples of how your industry exposure, business background and experience with CFESA will benefit the board and, ultimately, the membership?
Presidential Candidates
Dan Dibeler, Service Advisory Council
Unlimited Service Group
I grew up in this industry; I am a third-generation owner of my business. That being said it was never put to me that I was supposed to do that. So, for ten years prior to taking an active role in my family business, I was a financial consultant for some of the largest firms in the country. I have a heavy background in economics and financial forecasting. Because of my time outside the industry, I think I see things within our industry from a different perspective than most, and I am not set in my ways. I think one of the hardest things we deal with is change, and the phrase “because we have always done it that way” is probably one of the most detrimental things to business.
Steve Sliter, President
Commercial Parts & Service, Inc.
I have been with my company for 25 years, and have been President for 17 years. I have also been a Board member for 8 of those years. I believe that my time in our industry and serving on the Board and Committees has provided me with the knowledge to run a Board Meeting as well as represent CFESA on a National level. Over the years, I have experienced firsthand how CFESA impacts my service company, and it brings me great joy to see other service companies join our association and continue their own journey to success.
Shannon Sykes, President/CEO
Authorized Commercial Equipment Service
I have a lifetime of knowledge of this industry. Working in a family business teaches you more hands-on business practices than you can learn from a book. CFESA has been a part of my life for over 30 years. In my late 20s, I began attending meetings and was one of the original members of the YES committee. I have worked on the Marketing, Membership, Education, YPC, and task force committees. I have served on the board as a director for two terms and now as a Vice President. I am a proud sponsor of the” Women in Foodservice” segment at the conferences every year. I recently hosted a regional meeting in Charlotte for my region #4. I strongly believe in education. I sponsor and support the scholarships CFESA offers for our industry to help people better themselves. My network of people within this industry is vast. Being one of a few women in this country who owns a service business has been challenging but rewarding. I aim to help CFESA promote this trade we represent to more people and grow a new generation to carry on what a few men started 61 years ago in a Chicago parking lot.
Vice Presidential Candidates
TJ Coker, Director of Operations
Coker Service, Inc. (CSI)
I have spent the last six years navigating the board position I hold, attending committee meetings, providing guidance and support. My goals for the association are to improve our training offerings, availability, and improve the certification process so we have a solid foundation to promote our association and industry throughout the trades.
Robert Harris, Assistant Vice President Operations Support
Smart Care Solutions
My first introduction to this industry and CFESA was when I became a service technician. The technicians I looked up to wore a “Certified CFESA Master Technician” patch proudly. I was too new to know what that was, but if those I respected had one, I wanted one. I earned Master Certification a few years later. Since then, I have held increasing leadership positions throughout operations and support. My career has been enhanced by serving CFESA membership on committees, the board, and directly peer to peer. I am passionate about this industry and the opportunity it gave my family. I am passionate about helping our members grow and give new opportunities to others. This industry just feels different, and I love being part of it. I have demonstrated my commitment and value to our members in a few key areas: technician development, membership growth and engagement, and building relationships with “battle buddies” through community service. There is a lot of work to do, and I would like to continue leading in those areas by representing you as your Vice President.
Michael Hess, President
1-2-3 Equipment Solutions
The journey leading up to my current position as President for 123 Equipment Solutions, as well as previous owner and Mid Atlantic Regional Director for TECH24, has certainly been one filled with experience. I have personally worked basically every position within a service company both in the field and in the office. My passion for the industry and to help ensure its future success, drew me to join the CFESA Training Committee. Most important is the desire to share my knowledge. Some examples include speaking at the 2023 CFESA Regional meeting in Atlanta, co-hosting the 2024 regional meeting in SC, and being a Co-chairman for the 2024 RFMA Gives Project. I feel my experience both as a business owner and active member within our industry community will help make me an innovative Vice President who will help our Board to continue to grow and strengthen our industry, as well as inject a perspective that will spread our mission for setting the new level of excellence for service in our industry.
Nathan Miller, Vice President
Coastline Cooling LLC
My father has been in this business since he was in high school. I grew up in the Warehouse and because of this, have developed a strong network of channel partners. I am speaking to these folks on a weekly basis with the ultimate goal of improving our processes to make everyone better. My mission every day is to add value to those around me. From a business background, I am the Vice President of our company and directly oversee our three departments: Finance, Operations, and Marketing. From an EOS standpoint, I have acted as the Visionary & Integrator. Above all, I am a practitioner and an operator that has learned to get things done. Theories are nice… but I value action and results. I believe you can become an asset to ANYONE if you can be relied upon to solve problems. I believe this is me.
Secretary Candidate
Angela Petitti, Vice President
Gary's East Coast Service, Inc.
I have been involved in many task forces and active on two committees as well as the board. I think I understand the goals of the organization. I have been growing my company for 30 years and involved in other organizations as a board member.
Treasurer Candidate
Paul Morrison, President
TWC Services, Inc.
I've been in the industry for 28+ years. I'm a former CPA, carry an HVAC/R license, have served as a Director of CFESA, have led the Technology Committee and the Education Committee, have taught the Middle Management Course, and most recently, a personal finance session for YPC.
Director Candidates
Jeremy Allen, President
Vanco Commercial Service
I have been a BOD member for the past 2 years and really appreciate the insights to the Association, the Industry, and things even going on Internationally which all position CFESA very well into the future. I have helped provide leadership and input to move CFESA forward. To that end, I have helped champion the Young Professional Committee (formally YEC) from where we began to where it is now, as an official Association Committee with a growing participation rate. This group started years ago, when Bruce Hodge, volunteered to “teach” in a separate meeting at a conference. This group evolved to get a mission statement, take on tasks, and becoming what it is now. From an exposure standpoint, I grew up around this industry in a family business. I enjoy the knowledge and relationships that has afforded me. From a business background standpoint, I am 43-years old and have been running my business officially as the President that last 8+ years and the VP of Operations the previous 5 years before that. Some examples we are taking as a business to thrive in a post-Covid world are: I have started a Culture Committee, we are pouring into our lead technicians, we are working on an in-house career and development program for technicians, and more.
Glenn D Clark III, Vice President Logistics Operations
Clark Service Group, Inc
I have been in this industry for over 20 years and have learned a lot in that time. I have great relationships with the vendors that we do business with. I have earned my CFSP years ago and keep it active. I have attended numerous CFESA conferences along with NAFEM and NRA. In 2020, our company switched to a new ERP system. I was at the forefront of that change, and had to teach myself everything with that system to make our company be able to operate. At the beginning, I was only in charge of the logistics and inventory side of it. However, we had a few changes that happened and the brunt of other departments fell onto me as well. This was a very large undertaking with a lot of long days. I believe I gained extensive experience through that of team management and team building and operating under extreme pressure. With this system we have also made a large amount of customizations to make our operations run smoother. We also made this system work with our in house field management software. I believe that I have a lot to offer the board and membership of CFESA with my experience that I have, and am looking to gain even more knowledge and experience by serving on the board and serving the membership of CFESA.
Loretta Mealer, Administration/HR
Austin Mealer's Restaurant Equipment Service LLC
First, I will say that I am passionate about CFESA and what CFESA brings to the table for the membership. I remember very well the feeling of being overwhelmed, shell shocked, and lost at my first CFESA conference. All the information was great, I just didn’t see what our small business could do or even benefit from CFESA. I had not heard much about CFESA at that time. That first conference was in 2012. To be honest, it scared us off from attending another conference again until 2022. In 2017, I came back to work in the business full time. I had just resigned my position as CEO of Life Choices Dyersburg where I started as the Clinical Nurse Manager. I left the nursing field and devoted all my time and energy into our family-owned business. In 2021, Auston and I talked about sending our technicians to CFESA trainings. That became my passion! After the first set of technicians came back from NTT, I was sold! The first conference (I believe this is correct) that was able to be held after Covid, was the 2022 conference in Nashville. I went to that conference hungry for knowledge, looking for ways that I could help. Since training has become a passion for me, it was a no brainer to sit in for the Education and Training Committee meeting. I didn’t sit up against the wall, NO I sat at the table. I knew right then and there; this is the committee for me. I’m so glad that I joined. I have requested some of the other administors in our company to join the other committees – and they have. After being on the Education and Training Committee for a year, Rusty Parke emailed me and said he wanted me to co-chair the committee. I don’t know if he was looking for a “sucker” or if he believed in me enough to ask. I’ll flatter myself by believing the latter. I don’t have an agenda for our company with CFESA. It’s not about “what can we get from CFESA” for me, it’s how to grow CFESA. Just like in my answer for question 1 – I want the name CFESA to carry more weight than it already does and my answer to question 2 – it’s all about success for all. I love working with a team – no matter what I’m working on. I love to hear new ideas – even if they don’t make sense at the time. I love to feel like something worthwhile is being accomplished and is making a difference. I don’t like sitting on the side lines and watch other people do just enough – I want to be active, serve, help, and see what I am working on flourish. I have worked for a board, and I have worked on a board. Most of my experiences have been good ones. I recently was asked by Angela Petitti to be an ambassador for CFESA, and I jumped at the opportunity. My first time serving as an ambassador was this year at the Region 4 meeting in Fort Mill. I loved it! I want to help new members not feel that overwhelmed, shell shocked, lost feeling that I had my first conference. Regardless to whether I’m chosen to run for the Board of Directors or not, I will still proudly serve as an ambassador and on the Education and Training Committee.
Josh Zolin, CEO
Windy City Equipment Service, Inc (WCE)
I think my industry exposure has always been a strong suit of mine. I have given no less than 35 industry talks at trade shows, corporate events, industry events, etc. My social media following has a strong influence on business owners and frontline workers alike. My book has resonated with people in and out of the industry. And my podcast has provided a much-needed perspective on the blue-collar skilled trades. I have also aided internally at CFESA with selecting the marketing company, co-hosting the podcast, sitting on both the YPC & Marketing committees, and being a voice that the membership is comfortable listening to and sharing with.
