ASHRAE Region XII: Vision and Strategy for 2025-2028

By John Constantinide, DIRECTOR AND REGIONAL CHAIR, ASHRAE REGION XII

As ASHRAE Region XII transitions between two Directors and Regional Chairs (DRCs), the region is in a unique opportunity to update its vision and strategic plan for the coming three years (July 2025 through June 2028).

Coinciding with the new ASHRAE Strategic Plan adopted by the Society Board of Directors, which was revealed in the previous issue of Engineering Florida, my successor Jason Alphonso is cra ing his strategic plan and building on my work from the past three years.

Since the DRC position is very member-oriented, the work of the position revolves around the grassroots activities of the Region’s 16 ASHRAE Chapters, including Florida’s six ASHRAE chapters and their two ASHRAE sections. That is why my theme, “Strong Chapters Make a Strong Region,” focused on building up chapters in three areas: communication, leadership and region-to-chapter resources. These three areas have led to robust growth in the ASHRAE Florida membership, greater growth of Florida-based leaders serving in regional and Society (international) roles, and more reach by the chapters to continue that growth.

What did that translate to in numbers over the past three years?

• Over 30 young professionals from Florida sponsored in training, seminars, leadership weekends and conferences prepared to serve members

• Hosting two Society conferences, providing close access of technical education to Florida-based engineers and leadership opportunities for ASHRAE Florida leaders

• Four government outreach events in Tallahassee

With the closing of my term as DRC, Jason Alphonso is forming his strategic plan with the theme, “A Region with International Reach, Yet Within Reach.” His work will build on taking those chapter resources strengthened with Society and regional investment and building up three areas for chapters: augmenting member value, enhancing business opportunities and strengthening sponsorship return on investment (ROI).

Evolving from the primary focus on individual members that ASHRAE has relied on for over a century, my successor will empower chapters to pursue engagement more with companies while maintaining the technical integrity of the work of ASHRAE. Elements of his strategy are as follows:

• Rapid grassroots membership growth with a solid technical core

• Artificial intelligence (AI)-powered technical super tools

• Non-profit collaborations and partnerships

• Extending reach into markets in the global south, specifically the Caribbean and Central and South America

When individuals join a technical society, the value of membership is grounded not only in the connections made but the knowledge that is accessible and gained. In today’s world, information is accessible at our fingertips, but expertise behind that information is leaving the workforce in the thousands.

My efforts as DRC to create a recruitment drive that infused our international-level technical committees with Florida and international members maintains the level of expertise to provide current knowledge with today’s technologies and expand the diversity of experiences introduced to create comprehensive solutions. My successor will continue and expand that push.

Along with accessibility of knowledge is the leveraging of technologies, such as AI, to maximize efficiency and productivity. As a technical society, we are investigating and discussing how to bring value to building projects through technology and evolve the built environment to be more resilient, secure, sustainable and healthy.

Discussions among professionals at the local level are where the conversations start. That is why strengthening chapters was pivotal in my work as DRC, and my successor will build on that work to create impact in our Florida built environment and economies.

Beyond the built environment, community stakeholders play a variety of roles toward building occupant health and productivity. Infrastructure, logistics, communications and environment come to mind.

Our technical society does not work in a vacuum, so we need to reach out to professionals who work around the built environment to provide the public with holistic solutions. Not only will we have answers to the hardest technical questions, but we will generate resources for industries and business that can further grow and define Florida’s booming economies. Jason Alphonso will focus on that business aspect in his work as DRC.

As the gateway to the Americas, Florida is in a unique position to impact and touch every market in the Western Hemisphere. Although many may be tempted to only look inward in our state for growth, we have opportunities abounding when we look outward and see where our state’s professionals can expand their businesses and build bridges back to our state.

I have set the foundation and made steps towards that expansion to look outwards for our Florida ASHRAE members, and I look forward to the work my successor will accomplish in continuing this work.

I encourage you to keep up-to-date with our ASHRAE Region by going to our social media channels through our website, https://region12. ashraeregions.org/.