Ed Grey

Q. What was the initial attraction for you to engineering?
A. In high school, science classes always appealed to me. Further, the experiences I had in summer work while in school combined with the interest generated in school led me to a career in engineering.

Q. In general, how did a person aspiring to an engineering career get an education 40 years ago?
A. In the middle to late 50's a person usually gained entry into the engineering fields through a college that offered an engineering degree. In those days, most engineering degrees were 4 year courses that were very heavy in mathematics and the technical aspects, with very little humanities. Also, there were still many opportunities available through on-the-job training. Many young aspiring engineers started as technicians working for a company whose business was heavily engineering services. Very often these people worked in R and D or in the field, learning their profession from the older, experienced engineers. As they gained experience, knowledge, and opportunity, they would progress to engineering positions.

Q. Initially, what were your work-related duties? What products or systems did you work on?
A. Initial work assignments tended to be closely supervised and advancement was often influenced by seniority as opposed to results and productivity. Later in the 1960's demand for engineers increased as a result of the space agency build-up and Vietnam War effort advancement for young engineers greatly improved in all sectors of industry. Spin-offs from space agency technology opened numerous opportunities for people entering the industry.

Q. Describe the industry at that time. What were the challenges that you and your colleagues were facing?
A. My entry into the HVAC industry came in 1978. At that time our biggest challenge was in getting a new manufacturer's representative agency (Florida Hydronics) started. We were involved with finding related product lines to represent, understanding the engineering involved in application of those products, and getting ourselves known and accepted in an established market.

Q. You moved into the Jacksonville area and got into you own company. Who were some of your clients?
A. Our approach to the industry has been through systems as opposed to selling commodities. Our client base is located in Northern and Central Florida, and includes the major contractors. We also pay particular attention to the engineering community in this area. We service our clients through these offices and warehouses in Jacksonville, Orlando, and Tampa.

Q. What was the major breakthrough in our industry that affected the public?
A. The major changes in the industry that we have observed have been related to the increased emphasis on high energy efficiency in products and the restrictions by governmental environmental controls.

Q. When did you join ASHRAE? Tell me about your involvement with ASHRAE. What are the memorable events of you membership?
A. My association with ASHRAE began in 1978. Initially, my involvement was to meet other people in the industry. Very soon after joining, I began participating in committee assignments and chapter activities after recognizing the beneficial effects that the society has on our industry. The most memorable time in my association with ASHRAE was the year I served as the local chapter president. The opportunity to work with many other volunteers for the benefit of our industry was most gratifying.

Q. What people from our industry stand out?
A. The people that standout in our industry are those that continually give more back to the industry than they take from it. ASHRAE has many members that fit into that category. It has been my privilege to know many such in our chapter, and those in Orlando and Tampa, who have been involved professionally and through ASHRAE for the last 20 years.

Q. Tell me about you hobbies.
A. My hobbies tend to be sports or boating. I am not a collector of memorabilia. I have been fortunate enough to be able to own a boat, and have had opportunities to enjoy it in company with many of my ASHRAE friends.

Q. What advise would you give a young person thinking of becoming an engineer in our industry?
A. A young engineer coming into the HVAC industry should strive to listen and learn from those who have been in the workplace before making radical decisions and changes.

Q. What is your proudest accomplishment?
A. My proudest accomplishment has been to participate in the building of a new business in our industry and helping others develop professionally.

Q. What has ASHRAE meant to the industry's growth?
A. ASHRAE has provided the forum for technical discussion and innovative approaches to solving the problem of our industry and society in general.

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