HRAI Contractor Division Board Sets Course for Growth, Engagement[TS1.1] and Membership Modernizatio
The HRAI Contractor Division Board met on March 24, 2026, in Toronto at CMPX, bringing together board members from across the country to review current performance and set priorities for the year ahead.
A significant portion of the discussion focused on planning for the 2026–27 fiscal year. The Board reviewed a series of assumptions and targets aimed at supporting continued growth and long-term sustainability. This will be supported by expanded events, increased investment in education and new internal teams focused on revenue generation and growth.
Membership remains a central focus with the Board setting ambitious but achievable targets, including 5% growth in both membership and revenue, maintaining satisfaction scores above 80% and sustaining renewal rates in the 94-95% range. These metrics reflect HRAI’s strong position within the association landscape and the continued emphasis on delivering value to members.
The Board also addressed how best to engage members and gather feedback. Recognizing declining participation in traditional virtual Town Hall meetings, the board approved a shift toward a continuous feedback model that integrates digital tools with in-person chapter engagement. This new approach will allow members to share input more regularly through surveys, chapter discussions and interactive polling; helping members be heard across the country and for HRAI to better understand and respond to evolving industry needs.
In addition, the Board approved a series of recommendations from the Chapter Task Team aimed at modernizing chapter operations and improving member experience at the local level. These include optimizing chapter geography, reviewing fee structures to ensure fairness, piloting centralized financial management for smaller chapters, strengthening volunteer engagement, and updating bylaws to improve consistency and reduce administrative barriers.
The Membership Task Team also provided an update on its ongoing work to modernize HRAI’s membership framework in response to evolving industry business models. The group has been reviewing criteria across all divisions and developing a new business model “grid” to better reflect how companies operate across the HVACR supply chain. Early findings highlight the need for clearer definitions and more flexibility, particularly as some existing members do not fit neatly into current categories. The Board discussed the importance of maintaining strong standards while ensuring the association remains inclusive of emerging business models and supported further work to refine classification approaches, address edge cases and explore opportunities for future membership growth.
Overall, the meeting reflected a strong and forward-looking organization. With continued growth, high member satisfaction and a clear strategic direction, HRAI is well-positioned to expand its impact and support the evolving needs of the HVACR industry in the year ahead.
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