Stephen R. Yurek has been named general counsel at the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI). Yurek has provided guidance in the areas of antitrust, association, education, energy, corporate, public interest, and regulatory law. Prior to joining ARI, he was the vice president of Business Development and Public Affairs at Compass Learning, Inc. His responsibilities included development of strategic alliances with corporations and associations and representing the interests of Compass Learning before Congress, the U.S. Department of Education and state governments. Yurek's previous experience includes being the general counsel and chief operating officer for the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the International Confederation of Principals and the Trust to Reach Educational Excellence, where he was responsible for the legal, finance, government affairs, and information systems activities. Yurek has participated in administrative and regulatory proceedings before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Federal Trade Commission, the Federal Communications Commission, the United States Civil Rights Commission and state regulatory agencies in more than 25 states.