Mark Eatherton has assumed the position of Executive Director of the Radiant Professionals Alliance (RPA), taking over for Kathleen Mihelich, who will remain with the organization in an advisory capacity part time through at least October. A 36-year veteran of the radiant/hydronic industry and an RPA member since 1995, Eatherton was hired as the RPA's Technical Director in January.
“We have an extremely aggressive agenda at hand in developing the new Uniform Solar Energy and Hydronic Code and installation standard,” Eatherton said. “In order to make the transition to the new code in 2015 as smooth as possible for our members, we are having to develop training information, training programs, the actual codes, train the Authorities Having Jurisdiction, develop certification programs along with re-certification programs. Once the actual code is out, there will be a short lag of time between availability and actual adoption by the code authorities, and I don't want any of our members to be caught flat footed when these new standards hit the ground running.”
Prior to joining the RPA in January, Eatherton served the industry for years as an expert witness and consultant. The opportunity to help develop the first radiant code, however, played a significant role in his decision to join the RPA staff this year.
Eatherton will similarly oversee co-development of a “Beautiful Heat” campaign with the Hydronics Industry Alliance in conjunction with the Canadian Hydronics Council, which has run a successful model program for two years with measurable benefits to all participants.
“Our underlying message is that we want to 'Grow Radiant' in all aspects,” Eatherton said. “The organization is also reaching out to other like-minded organizations with the intent of not only co-developing training programs, but also gaining steam in our final goal of growing radiant. We are reaching out to the RSES family, the IGSHPA family, ASHRAE members, ACCA family members, Solar Energy Industries Association members and more in our effort to move the organization forward.”
Other initiatives include webinar-based training and education programs in support of face-to-face methods of assisting RPA members in achieving necessary certifications for approval as designers and installers.
“Mark is one of the foremost authorities on everything radiant and his engaging personality will no doubt serve us all well as he leads the RPA, its members and our industry into an era of unprecedented confidence and growth,” said RPA Chairman Mark Chaffee of Taco.
Joining Chaffee as new members on the RPA Board of Directors are Technical Committee Chairman Eric Aune, Aune Plumbing, LLC; Membership Committee Chairman Matt Michel, Service Roundtable; Education Committee Chairman Max Rohr, Shamrock Sales Inc.; and Hydronics Industry Alliance Committee Chairman A. Todd Romig, Heat Transfer Products, Inc.
For more information about the RPA and all of its associated activities, contact the executive director by email: Mark.Eatherton@radiantprofessionalsalliance.org; by phone: 708-995-3001; or at the RPA's headquarters located at IAPMO's Chicago regional office: 18927 Hickory Creek Drive, Suite 140, Mokena, IL 60448.
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