Heating, Airconditioning and Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) announces the addition of Jonathan Melchi to its staff as manager of government affairs. Melchi will augment and grow HARDI's government affairs activities that began just four years ago with the sole objective of representing, promoting and advancing the interests and concerns of HARDI's more than 400 HVACR wholesale distributor member companies. Melchi joins HARDI during a time of unprecedented uncertainty regarding energy-efficiency, environmental, tax, labor and small business policy. First and foremost, Melchi will focus on securing an extension of the $1,500 residential tax credit for high-efficiency HVAC retrofits.
To that end, Melchi will manage the new industry website, www.savehvacjobs.com, and will lead much of HARDI's policy coordination with industry partner organizations such as ACCA and AHRI. He comes to HARDI after eight years of service with the Franklin County Recorder (Columbus, OH). During his time there, Melchi directed government affairs and public relations initiatives. He has served as a representative to the Ohio Recorders Association alongside numerous political and governmental figures. As a member of the Franklin County Combined Charity Steering Committee, Melchi helped establish policies and procedure for the annual combined charitable campaign. His efforts as an Ambassador for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Franklin County, an organization that provides a voice in court for child victims of abuse and neglect, have been far reaching in the community. A graduate of The Ohio State University, he started with HARDI on Sept. 23, 2010.
“Jon is the perfect person to take HARDI's government affairs efforts to the next level,” says HARDI Vice President Talbot Gee. “There are simply too many things affecting our members in the short term and in the long term, regardless of who is in office in Washington, that HARDI needs to be leading or influencing to make sure our distributor members can continue to operate and grow profitable and successful HVACR distribution businesses for a long time to come. Melchi will be instrumental in raising HARDI's profile in Washington, in state legislatures and within the industry's advocacy efforts.”