Mike Radio Brings Fresh Ideas to Professional Industry Group

Ballinger Associate Principal Michael Radio, PE, CEM, BEMP, LEED AP served as president of the ASHRAE Philadelphia Chapter for the 2018-2019 term. As president, he increased meeting attendance by 75% by introducing new programming, and varying monthly meeting times and locations. Citing ASHRAE members’ focus on work-life balance, he introduced lunchtime instead of dinnertime meetings. Meeting topics centered around big-picture technology innovations and data usage trends that are revolutionizing the field and he invited a variety of professionals to present, including Dr. Stephanie Taylor, a former physician scientist who consults on safety in healthcare environments, and Gary Fechter, General Manager at UGI Performance Solutions.

Reflecting on the end of his term as president, Mike described his family’s reaction when he told them he would pursue MEP engineering. “When I graduated from Drexel University and decided to enter the MEP consulting field, my mom looked outside at the air conditioning unit and said, ‘That’s what you’re going to be doing for a living?’  I laughed, and explained that the HVAC field is so much more than that. I’m proud that my work as president of the ASHRAE Philadelphia chapter has advanced understanding of our field.”

ASHRAE, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, is a global society advancing human well-being through sustainable technology for the built environment. Members focus on building systems, energy efficiency, indoor air quality, refrigeration and sustainability within the industry. Several Ballinger staff members serve on the board of governors and ASHRAE Philadelphia committees.