Early Bird Registration ends: February 27, 2026 | Hotel Discount ends: March 16, 2026
Speakers
Chris Ahne, CAFS
Vice President of Sales
Genesis Air
ASHRAE Committee 234 Update: Advancing Filtration Performance Standards
Thursday, April 9 | 2:45 pm - 3:15 pm
Chris Ahne, a member of ASHRAE Committee 234, will provide an update on the committee’s ongoing work and its relevance to the air filtration industry. The session will highlight current activities, emerging considerations, and how Committee 234’s efforts support the evaluation and advancement of filtration performance within ASHRAE standards. Attendees will gain insight into how this work may influence future guidance, testing, and application of air filtration solutions, as well as why engagement with standards development remains critical to advancing clean air.
Michael Burton
Coach Michael Burton
Activate Your Prey Drive: How to Win in a Competitive, Technical Industry
Friday, April 10 | 9:00 am - 10:00 am
In today’s filtration market, expertise alone isn’t enough. Margins are tight. Competition is aggressive. Customers expect more. In this high-energy keynote, Coach Burt challenges NAFA members to activate their “Prey Drive” — the instinct to pursue opportunity with intensity and discipline. Designed sales professionals, technical leaders, and business owners alike, this session will show you how to turn industry knowledge into competitive advantage, build urgency inside your organization, and win in a market that rewards speed, confidence, and execution.
Richard Corsi, PhD, PE (TX)
Dean, College of Engineering
University of California, Davis
Bio
Dr. Richard Corsi is Dean of the College of Engineering and a Distinguished Professor at the University of California, Davis. He spent most of his career at the University of Texas at Austin, where he was an endowed research chair and a member of the prestigious Academy of Distinguished Teachers. Dr. Corsi’s team has researched a range of indoor air quality issues, including indoor pollutant sources, pollutant interactions with indoor materials, and innovative control technologies. He recently chaired a National Academies consensus study report on Health Risks of Indoor Exposure to Fine Particulate Matter and Practical Mitigation Solutions. Dr. Corsi is a past President of the Academy of Fellows of the International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate and President of Indoor Air 2011. He has been honored as a Distinguished Alumnus of Cal Poly Humboldt and Distinguished Engineering Alumnus of the College of Engineering at UC Davis. His work has been featured in The Economist, New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Smithsonian Magazine, National Geographic, Business Week, and more.
A Cost-Accessible and DIY Air Cleaner - How a Simple Filtration Concept is Protecting, Teaching, and Empowering
Thursday, April 9 | 9:15 am - 10:45 am
Dr. Richard Corsi, Dean of the College of Engineering at the University of California, Davis, will present research on the Corsi–Rosenthal (CR) Box, a cost-accessible, do-it-yourself air cleaner shown to effectively remove indoor airborne particles. Drawing on mechanistic analyses and research findings, the session will explain how CR Boxes perform across a range of indoor air quality challenges, from wildfire smoke to respiratory aerosols. Dr. Corsi will also discuss real-world applications in K–12 schools, where CR Boxes improve air quality while serving as hands-on educational tools that help students understand airborne particles and the role of filtration.
Andrew Duncan, CAFS, NCT II
NAFA NCT II Instructor
NAFA Technical & Certification Committee Vice Chair
Product Manager, High Purity Equipment
AAF Flanders
Bio
Andrew Duncan AAF International - 2007-current Product Manager, High Purity Equipment Past Positions : Regional Sales Manager, Technical Inside Sales Manager, Technical Inside Sales Representative Certified Air Filtration Specialist - National Air Filtration Association (NAFA) NAFA Certified Technician Level II - National Air Filtration Association (NAFA) Vice Chair, Technical & Certification Committee - National Air Filtration Association (NAFA) Instructor - NAFA Certified Technician Level II - National Air Filtration Association (NAFA) Member: American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Controlled Environment Testing Association (CETA) Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology (IEST) International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineers (ISPE) National Air Filtration Association (NAFA)
NCT II Training
Wednesday, April 8 | 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
NAFA’s NCTII Certification: Advancing Industry Standards and Professional Growth
Thursday, April 9 | 10:55 am - 11:15 am
This session will highlight NAFA’s NCTII Certification and the value it delivers to both the air filtration industry and individual careers. The presentation will explore how the certification strengthens technical competency, supports consistent application of best practices, and reinforces NAFA’s role as the industry’s education and certification authority. Attendees will gain insight into how the NCTII Certification enhances professional credibility, supports career advancement, and contributes to higher standards of clean air across the industry.
Elliott T. Gall, PhD.
Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering
Portland State University, Healthy Buildings Research Lab
Bio
Dr. Elliott Gall is an Associate Professor at Portland State University (PSU) in the department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering. He received in Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. At PSU, Dr. Gall leads the Healthy Buildings Research Laboratory, where he and his research team conduct fundamental and applied research exploring the many factors that impact our exposure to air pollution inside buildings. Current research areas include characterizing indoor sources of organic compounds, developing mitigation methods for reducing air pollution exposures during and after wildfires, and evaluation of air cleaning technologies. Dr. Gall’s research has been supported by federal, state, and local agencies, including the National Science Foundation, the U.S. EPA, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, ASHRAE, NAFA, and the American Lung Association. He is an active member of the International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate (ISIAQ). He was acknowledged by ISIAQ with the 2018 Yaglou Award for his work on indoor ozone chemistry and as the 2025 PSU Public Impact Award.
Filtration for Healthier Indoor Air and Surfaces: Developing New Approaches For Evaluating Molecular and Particle Filtration in Realistic Chamber Testing
Friday, April 10 | 10:20 am - 10:50 am
Air cleaning is increasingly important in response to pressing issues like wildfire smoke events, which elevate harmful particles and gases indoors. Indoor spaces also have large surface areas where deposition and partitioning of air pollution occur in tandem with air cleaning. Here, we discuss how surface interactions can impact testing and real-world operation of molecular and particle filters. We introduce a new test method for molecular filters which accounts for partitioning of gases to and from chamber surfaces, yielding more accurate estimates of air cleaning strength. We also demonstrate that effective air cleaning can prevent contamination of surfaces by removing pollution from the air, limiting the rate of uptake of particles and gases to indoor materials.
Johnny Guidry
Executive Coach
Something Major
Bio
A 16-year HR veteran of companies like Bloomingdale’s and Sofitel, Johnny is Something Major’s Director of Career Coaching. Wise, fun, generous in spirit, and a believer that life is an adventure, Johnny has worked extensively with clients in high-performing organizations. He empowers clients to discover their authentic leadership calling: helping them navigate the path to achieving their goals, releasing their limiting beliefs, and building a career that is aligned with their aspirations, talents, and values—all while hitting KPIs. Johnny holds dual degrees in Spanish Literature & French Literature from Louisiana State University. Johnny completed his coaching training with CTI and resides in the District of Columbia.
Empowered by Change
Thursday, April 9 | 3:45 pm - 4:45 pm
Empowered by Change: Leading Through Learning and Innovation
Change has always been a driver of progress in the air filtration industry. In 2026, as NAFA advances its education-focused strategy, the ability to lead through change has never been more important.
Johnny Guidry brings this message to life in Empowered by Change, an engaging keynote aligned with NAFA’s theme: Built on Innovation. Driven by Education. Drawing on more than 16 years of experience in human resources, leadership development, and change management, Johnny helps professionals understand how learning, adaptability, and intentional leadership fuel long-term success.
A trusted advisor to organizations ranging from global hospitality brands to technology companies and industry associations, Johnny has led change initiatives at companies including Bloomingdale’s and Accor Hotels. His work focuses on helping leaders cut through complexity, apply practical tools, and build momentum during periods of transformation.
In his keynote, attendees will learn how to:
- Find clarity and focus amid constant change
- Recognize how small, strategic shifts can drive meaningful results
- Turn uncertainty into opportunity through continuous learning
- In addition to delivering the opening keynote, Johnny will serve as emcee for the 2026 NAFA Technical Seminar, guiding attendees through the program and reinforcing the seminar’s emphasis on education, engagement, and professional growth.
Jeffrey Siegel, Ph.D
Professor, Bahen/Tanenbaum Chair in Civil Engineering
Department of Civil & Mineral Engineering
University of Toronto
Bio
Jeffrey Siegel, Ph.D., is a Professor of Civil and Mineral Engineering and a member of the Hub for Advancing Buildings at the University of Toronto and a Bahen/Tanenbaum Chair in Civil Engineering. Michelle Wu is an MASc student, Rafsan Nahian is a PhD student, and David Kormos, PhD, is a post-doc working with Prof. Siegel on this project.
Real-world Performance of HVAC Filters/Air Cleaners in Commercial and Institutional Buildings
Thursday, April 9 | 11:15 am - 12:15 pm
Methods
Michelle Wu
MASc Student
Results
Rafsan Nahian
PhD Student
Biological Sampling
David Kormos
PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow
Laboratory testing such as ASHRAE Standard 52.2 provides critical benchmarks for HVAC filters, but real-world performance depends on building characteristics, system operation, filter age, and other dynamic factors. This study evaluated four HVAC filter types and a portable air cleaner across multiple commercial and institutional air handling units to assess performance under actual operating conditions. Results offer practical insight into how filtration products perform beyond the lab.
Marwa Zaatari, PhD.
VP Building Solutions
Aeroseal/Poppy
Associate Member, ASHRAE
Bio
Dr. Marwa Zaatari, Ph.D., is an internationally recognized leader in indoor air quality, decarbonization, and performance-based building design, with more than a decade of experience translating science into scalable industry solutions. She serves on the Board of Directors of Montana Technologies, supporting the development of atmospheric energy and water harvesting systems and strategic partnerships with national laboratories and global industry leaders. Dr. Zaatari is Vice President of Building Solutions at AeroSeal, advancing building performance and occupant health, and Chief Engineer at Poppy, developing real-time airflow and bioaerosol sensing to optimize ventilation. She leads risk assessment for the ARPA-H BREATHE program, building open-source decision-engine models that connect real-time air quality data to health outcomes and smart building responses. An ASHRAE Distinguished Lecturer and 2024 recipient of the ASHRAE Standards Achievement Award, she serves as Vice Chair of SSPC 62.1 and ex-Chair of the Environmental Health Committee, and lead the risk assessment group of ASHRAE Standard 241. She also serves on the U.S. Green Building Council Board of Directors.
ASHRAE 62.1 - Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality
Thursday, April 9 | 1:45 pm - 2:45 pm
This presentation reviews key updates to ASHRAE Standard 62.1 relevant to 2025 and their implications for ventilation and indoor air quality in commercial buildings. Core requirements of the standard are summarized to provide context for how ventilation systems are designed and evaluated for compliance. The session then focuses on applying the Indoor Air Quality Procedure (IAQP) to achieve IAQ goals while balancing energy use and carbon considerations. Finally, the course explains how ASHRAE Standard 241 and Guideline 44 complement Standard 62.1 by supporting enhanced filtration, air cleaning, and risk-based IAQ strategies.
Gas Phase Filtration: Indoor Air Quality Beyond the Particulates
Friday, April 10 | 10:50 am - 11:35 am
This presentation explores gas phase filtration as an essential complement to traditional particulate filtration, addressing invisible gaseous contaminants—such as VOCs, odors, acid gases, and corrosives—that pass through standard MERV/HEPA filters unchanged. Attendees will learn the core mechanisms, common media types, and measurable benefits to achieve superior indoor air quality, protection of sensitive electronics and assets, and enhanced occupant health and comfort. The session highlights real-world applications across commercial buildings, healthcare facilities, data centers, museums, wastewater treatment plants, and industrial processes, while outlining implementation considerations, performance monitoring, and ROI. These presenters will demonstrate how gas phase filtration delivers comprehensive clean air, process reliability, and long-term value in demanding environments.
Paula Levasseur, CAFS
NAFA Past President
NAFA Foundation Board of Directors
Owner/Consultant
LMF Services LLC
Bio
Paula Levasseur has been Involved in molecular Filtration for over 40 years. NAFA Past President and current member of ASHRAE SGPC10 and TC 2.3.
David Schaaf
NAFA Technical & Certification Committee Chair
Owner/Consultant
David Schaaf Co.
Bio
Dave is currently a consultant in the filtration Industry, with prior product development and management experience with Mann+Hummel, AAF, Freudenberg Filtration, MeadWestvaco, and Purafil. Dave is the chair of the Technical and Certification Committee as well as a voting member on several ASHRAE committees. Prior to his work in filtration, Dave spent 18 years in designing commercial and industrial air handling units for Trane and York International.