Business Ethics for the HVAC Professional (03 Jun 2026)

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Hello everyone,

For our May ASHRAE meeting our guest speaker Patricia Graef, PE will be delivering their presentation on: Business Ethics for the HVAC Professional.

Synopsis:

ASHRAE’s code of ethics prescribes “we pledge to act with honesty, fairness, courtesy, competence, integrity and respect for others….” It goes on to list specific examples of ethical behavior for its members to follow. Engineering laws also prescribe certain ethics criteria. Ethics for business is not easily defined and, in many cases, is not governed by laws. Ethics must be part of the business culture, starting at the top and filtering down through supervisors and employees. Leaders who make a commitment to be ethical and socially responsible find that their employees will follow. They will strengthen and grow their businesses by improving customer and employee trust and loyalty. This session will discuss engineering ethics and then go on with several examples and case studies illustrating how business ethics improved or conversely ruined some companies. The audience will have a chance to participate in some “what would you do?” scenarios.

About the Speaker

Patricia Graef, P.E., Fellow ASHRAE, LEED GA, retired from Munters Corp., Fort Myers, Fla. Patricia Graef has spent more than 40 years focusing on engineering and developing products that control temperature and moisture in building air as well as the water associated with the processes. Graef received her Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from the University of Florida. In the time Graef has worked for Munters, she has served as a Scientist in the cooling tower division, was the Director of Core Technology for Humidification and Engineering and Development Manager for the HumiCool division. She has more than a dozen international patents in her name.

Graef is a distinguished 50-year member of ASHRAE. Graef has shared with the VHVAC industry her knowledge by contributing to ASHRAE Handbooks, standards writing, monitoring research projects, and program presentations. Graef is a recipient of ASHRAE’s Distinguished Service Award, Exceptional Service Award and the Award for Distinguished Public Service.

Graef previously served as Society Vice President. Her other recent service includes five years in leadership positions for the ASHRAE Rules Committee, chair of Technology Council, member of the Advanced Energy Design Guide Steering Committee, member of Finance Committee, Standards Committee and Standards Appeals Board. She also served on the Board of Governors of her local ASHRAE Chapter.

Graef’s comprehensive design and operational portfolio covers manufacturing, testing and application of heat and mass transfer media, application of humidity control in commercial and industrial spaces, adiabatic cooling for agriculture, residential, commercial and industrial spaces.

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Business Ethics for the HVAC Professional (03 Jun 2026)