Schaumburg, Ill. – RETA-RSES is pleased to announce that Vern M. Sanderson has been appointed the Association’s new Executive Director. The official announcement was made to more than 1,300 attendees during the Annual Business Meeting at the 2025 RETA Annual Conference, the news of which was met with eager applause.

Sanderson brings more than 37 years of dedicated experience in the industrial and commercial refrigeration industry, along with a deep commitment to training, safety and industry best practices. He is a highly respected figure in the field and has a strong history of leadership. A former RETA National Board Member, he has held every nationally elected office including National President. His technical expertise is matched by his passion for education: he is a RETA Authorized Instructor (RAI), known for his ability to teach complex refrigeration systems in any setting.

A prolific author and presenter, Sanderson has published nearly 200 articles as well as the book, Functional Standard Operating Procedures for the Ammonia Refrigeration Industry. He has shared his knowledge at numerous industry conferences, including IIAR, RSES and RETA.

When asked about some of his plans for the organization in this pivotal role, Sanderson said, “The first order of business is to understand the roles of staff at each office to determine their strengths and weaknesses. In the coming year, it is my goal to provide industry professionals with the ability to learn, test and certify across the entire HVACR industry. Providing more industry news, more training opportunities, more Chapter meeting options and more affinity benefits maximizes our value.”

He is also eager to enhance the already successful Annual Conference by amplifying value to our industry partners. “For example, exhibitors will be able to market a larger portion of their product line to our combined membership, enhancing the value of their exhibition investment. Similarly, sponsors will benefit from increased exposure across a broader spectrum of the HVACR industry.

Finally, advertisers will receive enhanced value due to the increased size and scope of the readership

of our respective publications.”

Having worked with the RETA-RSES Merge Committee for more than nine months, Sanderson brings with him the knowledge required to properly meld the two associations, which was already apparent at the RETA-RSES booth at the Annual Conference.

Interim Executive Director Don Tragethon took the role while the Executive Committee worked to interview and hire for this role. In addition to working with the team in Albany, Oregon, Tragethon was instrumental in making the business and Board meetings a success in Spokane, Washington. He will work alongside Sanderson, as the role is transitioned over the next few weeks.

“After watching Vern observe the processes and procedures these past couple of weeks, I have no doubt he will bring our Association to the next level of success,” said Tragethon. “In addition to his

 

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technical expertise, he has business ownership experience and leadership skills that enable both offices to cohesively streamline the day-to-day work and better service our Members and the industry.”

Sanderson’s passions for the industry ensures he is the ideal person to continue RETA-RSES stature as the gold standard in training and education for industrial, commercial and residential HVACR.

The RETA-RSES staff is looking forward to helping him achieve the short- and long-term Board goals for all the Association’s Members and affiliates. Additional updates and announcements are forthcoming.