The 2026 RACCA Awards and Installation Banquet was a Magical Event!
The 59th Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractors Association (RACCA) of Tampa Bay Annual Awards and Installation Banquet held on January 22, 2026, was a magical evening. It was held at Banquet Masters in Clearwater, with members and their guests gathering for an evening of celebration, recognition, and astonishment.
A lively cocktail reception preceded the formalities and fun, setting the tone for a memorable night. Following a welcoming address by President Renee Pagan, the guests enjoyed dinner, then settled in for a captivating show by Magician/Mentalist Ben Corey. His exciting exhibition of quick-witted comedy, interactive magic, card tricks and moments of wonder had the room buzzing. His feat of levitating a prone Tyler McWilliams of Air Zero at the conclusion of the show was very effective, leading the crowd to ask how it could be.
The evening continued with the recognition of individuals and companies for their outstanding contributions to RACCA and the HVAC industry in the Tampa Bay area.
The prestigious 2025 CJ Dillard Award was presented to Garrett Lingerfelt of JP Griffin. Named in honor of RACCA’s first president, the award recognizes exceptional leadership, participation, and support for the HVAC industry.
Bryan Wade of Griffin Service was honored with the 2025 RACCA Legacy Award for his invaluable contributions to the association.
2025 Awards of Excellence
The Award of Excellence to an Organization (Associate Member) for outstanding participation & contributions to the industry was presented to the Brandon, Clearwater and Port Richey branches of Johnstone Supply.
Anytime Air Heating and Air Conditioning received the Award of Excellence to an Organization (Contractor Member) for outstanding participation & contributions to the industry.
The 2025 President’s Award of Excellence for an Individual was presented to Robert Wasilewski of Anytime Air Heating and Air Conditioning and Jason Hofmann of Gulf Coast Air Systems.
Keane Bismarck, the longest-tenured executive director of RACCA and current Apprenticeship Program Administrator, announced his retirement and conducted the swearing-in of the 2026 officers and board of directors as his last official duty.
The incoming leadership includes:
President: Bryan Wade (Griffin Service), Vice President: Jason Hofmann (Gulf Coast Air Systems), President Elect: Robert Wasilewski (Anytime Air Air Conditioning and Heating), Ex-Officio: Renee Pagan (Pelican Aire Commercial Service)) and Secretary/Treasurer: Shanna Pettys (Gulf Coast Air Systems).
Associate Director Paula DeSantis-Tarris (Trane Supply) joins Contractor Directors Troy Dal and (Air Zero Air Conditioning), Paul Keller (Service-Tech Corporation), Brendan Fuller (French’s Air Conditioning) and Garrett Lingerfelt (JP Griffin) on the board.
The 2026 Awards and Installation Banquet was a resounding success, celebrating the achievements of RACCA members while setting the stage for a promising year ahead.
View and download photos from the banquet here: https://acprosite.com/photos/. Search for “2026 01 RACCA Installation”.
