2007 Annual Distributor Conference

Chandler, Ariz. - With a theme of "The Power of the Alliance," the HVAC Advanced Products Division of Mitsubishi Electric, Suwanee, Ga., hosted more than 350 distributors, contractors, employees and their families, at the Sheraton Resort & Spa at Wild Horse Pass, Chandler, Ariz., for its annual Distributor Conference, February 6-9, 2007.

The conference provided Mitsubishi Electric HVAC the opportunity to honor distributors and manufacturer's representatives whose performance exceeded expectations in 2006, while the meeting content focused heavily on the alliance between Mitsubishi and these groups moving forward, according to William Rau, senior vice president and general manager.

In his opening remarks, Rau asked distributors to take a more active role in developing their own unique strategy for supporting Mitsubishi Electric HVAC's vision: a market with tremendous potential, fully developed by an alliance of dedicated distributors and contractors. Each distributor attendee received a Diamond Alliance Seminar Planning Workbook, to help them begin the process of achieving the vision described by Rau.

"From our distributors we need sales personnel in the market to make this vision a reality," said Rau. "We can do part of it, but we cannot succeed without the distributors' committed and aggressive effort to find, recruit, train and follow up with dedicated contractors and engineers."

The guest speaker for the event was Dr. Victor Davis Hanson, noted historian, author and editor of several books including The Soul of Battle, The Other Greeks and The Western Way of War. Hanson, a professor emeritus of classics at California State University, Fresno, Calif., is a frequent contributor to The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. Hanson wove his lecture around the alliance theme, citing practical, real-world examples.

Distributors also were able to attend three special breakout sessions focusing on fundamental business capabilities, which included presentations from guest contractors who expressed the importance of these capabilities to their business. Speaking at these sessions were Blain Guilette, owner, Guilette Heating and Air Conditioning, Sturgeon Bay, Wisc.; John Grigas, president, Dicksons Air Conditioning and Heating, Anaheim, Calif.; and Jeff Leone, president, Air Temp Mechanical Services, Inc., West Hartford, Conn.

About Mitsubishi Electric HVAC Advanced Products Division

For more than 25 years, Mitsubishi Electric HVAC Advanced Products Division, headquartered in Suwanee, Ga., has been a leading marketer of intelligent air-conditioning and heating technology, manufactured by its parent corporation, Mitsubishi Electric. The Division's market distribution includes North America, Latin America, the Caribbean and Bermuda. Mitsubishi Electric HVAC continues to build brand loyalty, increase its market position and deliver exceptional customer service through the Mitsubishi Diamond Alliance^™ program. This program is a strategic platform of training-based achievement programs designed to synergize the efforts of Mitsubishi Electric, distributors, contractors and design engineering firms. For more information on the Mitsubishi Diamond Alliance, Mr. Slim^® split-ductless cooling and heating systems, CITY MULTI^® Variable Refrigerant Flow Zoning (VRFZ) technology, compressors, PlasmaPure^™ room air purification systems, a full line of accessories for the Mr. Slim product line, including Line-Hide^™ line-set covers and the Mitsubishi Electric HVAC Advanced Products Division, call 800/687-1966 or visit www.mehvac.com.

Accomplishments

A 2006 survey by ACH&R News listed Mitsubishi Electric as contractors' most preferred ductless manufacturer and the number one brand in price/value, availability, reliability and performance specifications. In 2004, Mr. Slim received a Bronze Award in ACH&R News' Dealer Design Awards contest and CITY MULTI received a Bronze Award in the HVAC product category in 2005 for Consulting Specifying Engineer's Product of the Year contest. Additionally, in 2003 and 2004, the Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration Institute (ARI) recognized Mitsubishi Electric HVAC for achieving a 100 percent success rate for the Mr. Slim product for three consecutive years. In 2005, CITY MULTI was named as one of the top 100 smart products for buildings by Buildings Magazine.

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