Introducing ACCA’s next President and CEO

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A message from Kurt Hudson, ACCA’s 2026-2027 Chair

I’m pleased to share some big news. The ACCA Board of Directors has named Laura Demarse, Ed.D., as ACCA’s next President and CEO.

We know workforce is top of mind for you. In ACCA’s 2025 Contractor of the Future Study, 48% of HVAC contractors said employee onboarding and retention is their biggest challenge. That’s why we’re so excited about Laura.

Laura has spent her career connecting people to rewarding technical careers and connecting employers to the talent they need. Here’s a quick look at her background:

• Founder of the Accelerate to Industry Program (A2i), a workforce development model now used at more than 30 institutions worldwide.
• Workforce development leader at Ford Motor Company, where she directed the STEM Office for Outreach and Engagement and helped grow the technician economy.
• Vice President for Future of Work at the Charles Koch Foundation, where she led a national portfolio supporting economic growth and mobility.
• Award-winning work, including a National Science Foundation (NSF) award, the 2020 Blackburn Award for Excellence, and the 2019 NAGAP Exemplary Programs Award.

Finding, training, and keeping skilled technicians is the defining challenge facing HVACR contractors today, and it touches every part of our businesses, from customer service to growth. Laura has spent her career building pathways that connect people to rewarding careers and connect employers to the talent they need. This workforce experience is exactly what ACCA needs in its top staff leader at this moment.

Laura will lead ACCA’s staff and work closely with the Board of Directors to advance our mission of supporting you through education, advocacy, technical standards, and industry partnerships.

From our very first conversations, her energy, her curiosity about our industry, and her commitment to the people who do this work stood out. I think you’re going to love working with her.

Laura will start on Monday, November 9.

Please join me in welcoming Laura to the ACCA family!

A word from Laura Demarse

“It is an absolute honor to join ACCA. ACCA and its HVACR members represent the backbone of the skilled trades and the professionals whose expertise keeps our nation running. My commitment is to champion your work, amplify your voices, and ensure ACCA delivers the advocacy, training, and partnerships that empower every contractor to thrive in a future defined by innovation and excellence.”

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