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OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – About 100 exhibitors and 500 attendees filled the Oklahoma City Convention Center this year for the 2024 Oklahoma HVAC and Plumbing Expo, a joint effort between the Oklahoma Chapter of the American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE) and the Central Oklahoma Chapter of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). In addition to the product expo, classes were offered in everything from basic plumbing design to hydronics – all of which earned valuable Continuing Education Units (for participants.
Among the dedicated professionals who worked to make the Expo a success this and every year is John Parks, a Senior Technical Specialist with LDG’s Federal Architecture & Engineering team. John became the first president of the Oklahoma Satellite Chapter of ASPE beginning in 2012 and continued to serve as president through 2019. In 2016, he was successful in bringing the Satellites of Tulsa and Oklahoma City into what is now known as the ASPE Oklahoma Chapter (ASPE-OK).
A Growing Success
The chapter continued to grow, eventually bringing it to a level where John believed it could host an expo-style event in the city for HVAC professionals, engineers and company reps. In 2021, he reached out to the Central Oklahoma Chapter of ASHRAE (ASHRAE-COK) and proposed that, as two groups whose professions align, they collaborate on just such an event.
The partnership produced the first Expo in 2022, and the following years have seen increased reach and attendance. John believes its success was a factor in ASPE’s national leadership choosing Oklahoma City to host its ASPE Convention & Expo in 2026.
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Rich Content, Free
There is no entrance fee for attendees, a unique aspect of the Expo that is made possible by exhibitors and sponsors covering most of the costs. John said that ASPE-OK and ASHRAE-COK voted to approve free admission when planning the first Expo.
“We wanted to have these resources in our area and to offer as many incentives as possible to access them,” John said. “It can encourage a company to get their engineers in the door and take advantage of the educational and networking opportunities an event like this offers.”
A Career Worth Recognizing
John has remained heavily involved in the planning and execution of the Expo each year since its inception, and this commitment to ASPE and the Expo reflects his longtime dedication to guiding others through personal and professional growth.
This past October, John was recognized during the national ASPE Convention and Expo ‘24 where he received a Special Award of Achievement “for his contributions to growing the Society and advancing the profession through the establishment of new ASPE Chapters.”
LDG’s John Parks (left) received a Special Award of Achievement at the 2024 ASPE National Convention and Expo for his dedication to his local ASPE chapter.
As he nears retirement, John plans to pursue mentoring opportunities through ASPE and other organizations, offering the education and insight he’s always valued and endeavors to share with others.
“I want to leave my mark through helping others, and my involvement with ASPE and the Expo has been a great way to do that,” John said.
ABOUT LDG
Founded in 1986, LDG is an award-winning, employee-owned architecture, engineering, and consulting firm offering full-service capabilities and a national reach. For more than 30 years, we have been providing an extraordinary breadth and depth of value-driven solutions to our diverse client base and investing in the sustainable business practices and innovative technologies that allow us to pursue our shared vision: creatively shaping our world. For more information, visit About – Larson Design Group.