the world's leader in high technology heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration solutions and a unit  of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX), presented Crystal River, Fla. resident and business owner David Hutchins with its prestigious Dealer Hall of Fame Award at the 2011 Carrier^® Factory Authorized Dealer (FAD) conference in Las Vegas on April 1. Hutchins owns and operates Bay Area Air Conditioning & Heating, a Carrier FAD dealership.

 The coveted lifetime achievement award is presented annually to a select few industry-leading contractors chosen by a Carrier management committee. Nominees must have a minimum 20 years association with Carrier as their primary brand. They must also be a FAD and be far enough along in their careers to warrant the recognition of lifetime achievement.

 "The Carrier Dealer Hall of Fame was created to recognize and honor dealers who exhibit enthusiasm, loyalty and courage in their work and who embody the same leadership philosophy as Willis Carrier, the founder of our company and the inventor of modern air conditioning," said Bob McDonough, president, Carrier Residential and Commercial Systems. "David Hutchins exemplifies compassion and commitment to his employees, his community, his loyal customers and to Carrier. It is our honor to recognize him with this award." 

 Other noted qualities among recipients are vision to seize opportunity, a focus on continuous improvement and personal and professional integrity. Although thousands of dealers across the country represent Carrier brand products, fewer than 1,500 surpass the high standards defined by the company to qualify as a FAD, and among those, Hutchins is one of only three dealers to be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year. 

 Hutchins started Bay Area Air Conditioning & Heating in 1975 with a small home equity line of credit, one employee and one truck. During the past 36 years, he has grown his business to become one of the leading HVAC dealerships in Florida. He currently employs a team of 52 employees and manages a fleet of 30 trucks. 

Hutchins attributes much of his success to taking care of his customers, employees and his community. Hutchins humbly follows the principles of former President Harry Truman and states, "If you make a good living in your community, you owe something back to that community." 

To date, Hutchins and his employees have logged numerous hours of local and national community service. The National Home Builders Association, Relay for Life, Scouts of America, Key Training Center and local Chamber of Commerce are just a sampling of the organizations supported by the Bay Area Air Conditioning & Heating team. 

Hutchins' business practices, community involvement and loyalty to his employees have made him a true Carrier dealer- and local business - success story and a great role model  for HVAC dealers nationwide. 

For more information about the Carrier Hall of Fame Award and the other 2011 dealer recipients, visit http://www.residential.carrier.com/dealers/index.shtml.

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