ASHRAE Miami Newsletter August 2026
Chapter Announcements
CRC 2026 - Region XII
ASHRAE Jacksonville hosted this year’s Region XII Chapters Regional Conference, bringing together strong participation from all 16 chapters across the region. The 2026 CRC reflected ASHRAE’s commitment to chapter development while celebrating the professional camaraderie that defines this annual gathering.
The ASHRAE Miami Chapter and several board members received multiple recognitions for their contributions during the 2025–2026 society year. These honors included, among others:
- Largest membership growth in Region XII for the 2025–2026 society year
- Achievement certificates for the 2025–2026 Research Promotion Campaign
- Recognition for chapter history compilation
ASHRAE Miami closed out a strong 2025–2026 society year, marking what has been one of the chapter’s most successful years to date. As we look ahead, we remain committed to building on this momentum and continuing to raise the bar for chapter excellence.
Chapter Announcements
Meet the Chapter’s 2026 - 2027 Board of Governors & Committee Chairs
Society Announcements
Meet the 2026 - 2027 ASHRAE President: Sarah E. Maston, P.E., BCxP, LEED AP
Soccer holds a special place in our city’s culture and across ASHRAE Region XII. As a diverse region that includes Florida, Central and South America, and the Caribbean, we are connected not only by ASHRAE, but also by a shared appreciation for the world’s most popular sport. With that in mind, we were delighted to learn that our current ASHRAE President, Sarah E. Marston, P.E., BCxP, LEED AP, shares that same soccer spirit.
While many view children’s and youth sports leagues as hobbies, they also play an important role in developing essential soft skills, including teamwork, communication, discipline, leadership, and resilience. These qualities are reflected in Marston’s successful career, which spans more than 25 years in mechanical and HVAC systems evaluation, troubleshooting, design, startup, and commissioning across a wide range of project types.
It is fitting that Marston’s theme for the 2026–2027 Society Year is “Changing the Game: Retrofitting for Resilience.” The theme focuses on how the building industry can work together to improve the efficiency, performance, and resilience of existing buildings amid growing climate and infrastructure challenges. Marston compares retrofitting buildings to developing a winning game plan, emphasizing the importance of modern building codes, retro-commissioning, and collaboration among owners, operators, engineers, manufacturers, code officials, and commissioning providers.
Marston’s theme has also inspired education through gamification. HVAC Hero is an interactive simulation and training video game where players can test their HVAC problem-solving skills alongside Muggy while seeing how many kWh they can save as they navigate a building.
Upcoming Chapter Events
ASHRAE Miami Kicks Off the 2026 - 2027 Society Year
September 8, First Technical Lunch: Significant changes in the 9th Florida Mechanical Code (2026)
Join us on Tuesday, September 8 for our first Technical Lunch for the 26-27 Society year.
The 2026 Florida Mechanical Code, Ninth Edition, becomes statewide effective on December 31, 2026. A presentation by Rolando Soto, P.E. and Mechanical Chief Code Compliance Officer at Broward County Government that will inform on changes to base code alignment.
With a Bachelor’s in thermo-physics from the Moscow Energy Institute, Rolando has been a Florida P.E. since 2003. Presently he is the Mechanical Chief Code Compliance Officer, Broward County Board of Rules and Appeals. Rolando is licensed in Florida as a Mechanical Inspector, Mechanical Plans Examiner and Building Code Administrator. He is also a NFPA Certified Fire Plans Examiner and Fire Inspector and Floodplain Manager. Rolando has also served as Mechanical Inspector & Plans Examiner for the Building Code Services Department at Broward County. Privately, before his fruitful career as a public servant, Rolando managed mechanical aspects of various construction projects, including power plants, multistory residential projects, commercial, educational, and hospital projects.
Changing the Game: Retrofitting for Resilience
