ASHB Board of Directors

Julie Petrone is the Director of Global Marketing at ABB Building Solutions, Americas, Electrification, based in Zurich, Switzerland. Julie is a dynamic C-suite leader with more than two decades of experience in global marketing, sales, customer success, strategy, operations, and digital transformation in public and private companies, with proven success optimizing marketing’s role in the commercial achievements of businesses. With a unique mix of high-level B2B and B2C marketing, including IoT, Building Energy Management, Building Automation and Controls, and Smart Power, she is an agile innovator with a track record as an inspiring leader who champions teams, leading brands through incredible periods of marketplace volatility and change, including a global pandemic. Julie is a Board Director for the El Dorado Hills, CA Community District and acted as the Marketing Chair for the Building Intelligence Group (BIG), a national organization dedicated to delivering intelligent commercial building solutions and energy efficiency by helping design and implement advanced building systems with integrated controls. She graduated magna cum laude from Cal State University, Bakersfield, with a degree in Marketing Communications and an MFA in Journalism. She also graduated from The Fuqua School of Business Master of Business Administration program with a concentration on strategy.

David Eckell has been Graybar’s National Market Manager for CIG and Data Communications solutions since 2018. In this role he develops marketing and sales enablement strategies across commercial, institutional and government markets. As well, he helps set strategic direction for technical solutions such as IoT, AV, Security, Data Centers and Wireless. David is currently a member of the CompTIA IoT Advisory Council as well as the Communications Cable and Connectivity Data Center committee. Before working for Graybar, David spent 19 years in the telecommunications industry in a variety of roles ranging from network engineer and program manager to channel sales and ultimately market strategy. He enjoys helping companies navigate new technologies to gain tangible competitive advantages from them. David holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and an MBA from East Carolina University.

Brian Oswald joined Cochrane Supply & Engineering in May 2024 as the General Manager. Founded in 1967, Cochrane Supply & Engineering has evolved into an award-winning, internationally recognized Smart Building Controls Distributor. Mr. Oswald oversees daily business operations, strategic planning, market expansion, and optimization.

Mr. Oswald brings over 20 years of experience in smart building technology and implementation to his new role, with a proven track record of successfully delivering multi-site, enterprise Smart Building applications. As the former Senior Managing Director at CBRE|ESI, he played a pivotal role in achieving ongoing effectiveness, profitability, and growth. His responsibilities included formulating comprehensive company policies, setting strategic objectives, and developing plans to achieve them. Additionally, Mr. Oswald effectively represented the company to clients, industry stakeholders, government entities, and civic groups.

Before assuming the position of Senior Managing Director at CBRE|ESI, Mr. Oswald served as the Executive Vice President at Environmental Systems Inc. (ESI). Throughout his tenure, he held various assignments, each with increasing levels of responsibility. His areas of expertise spanned system application design, application engineering, project management, program management, and account executive roles

Tom Daenzer is Manager of Digital Business Development for Belimo Americas since 2018. He leads a team responsible for supporting the growth of HVAC valves and actuators that harness smart and/or connected capabilities. One of Tom’s primary roles is to guide development of the services and APIs that compliment these connected products through relationships with industry peers and technology partners. He leads the Belimo Americas IoT Committee, and is a member of the global IoT Core and IoT steering committees. Prior to his Digital role, he was Business Development Manager for Belimo’s Shared Logic line of intelligent actuator solutions. Before working for Belimo, Tom spent 17 years on the construction side of the building automation industry, with roles ranging from software engineer and project manager to department manager. He is passionate about leveraging technology to improve occupant comfort while reducing a building’s energy footprint. Tom holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Northwestern University.

Darryl DeAngelis is Director of Business Development for EBTRON since 2018, a well-known pioneer in thermal dispersion airflow measurement and control technology. He is on the leadership team spearheading the company's business development and execution strategy.

Darryl graduated from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy with a B.S. in Marine Engineering and has spent over 40 years in the HVAC industry as a contractor, system designer, consulting engineer, product development engineer, sales manager, product manager, and market intelligence manager. He has four HVAC related patents and obtained LEED AP in 2003.

As a member of ASHRAE for over 20 years, Darryl has actively participated in many technical and standard committees in the development of standards and guidelines, such as 62.1, 90.1, 11, 207, and 180, focused on indoor air quality (IAQ), energy and sustainability, controls, fault detection and diagnostics (FDD), and maintenance. He is currently chair of TC 7.7 Testing and Balancing and a voting member of 62.1 Ventilation subcommittee.

Darryl is a participating voting member in ASTM, and a member of BCxA, ISIAQ, and I2SL. He represents EBTRON as a member of the board of directors for ASHB, a partner of IFMA, AABC, NASECO.

Charlie Derk is the Vice President of Strategy for Legrand’s Building Controls Division. His responsibilities include mergers and acquisitions as well as focusing on the strategic direction for residential and commercial lighting control products including Wattstopper, Encelium and Vantage. Charlie has been working with lighting and shading control products for the past 25 years holding positions in engineering, product management, marketing and sales at Lutron and Crestron. Charlie holds a degree in Computer Science and is currently based in eastern Pennsylvania.

Mark Fernandes is the President & CEO of Functional Devices, Inc. which manufactures a broad range of products to serve multiple industries including building automation, HVAC, lighting, electrical, panel shops, and fire & safety. Functional Devices is best known for its RIB® (Relay in a Box®) brand product lines. Mark has over 20 years of experience in the building automation industry, all with FDI where he started his career as an engineer, designing and developing products and supporting manufacturing efforts. He has held multiple management positions, including Engineering Manager and VP of Manufacturing and Engineering before assuming the role of President in 2014. He earned a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering Technology with highest distinction from Purdue University.

Babak Haghayeghi is a visionary product executive with a distinguished track record of driving innovation at the intersection of hardware, software, and data-driven strategies on a global scale. With over a decade of expertise in product management and a high-tech MBA, he specializes in translating complex market dynamics into high-impact product strategies that accelerate growth and transform industries.

As a senior product management leader at Johnson Controls, Babak orchestrates the strategic evolution of the company’s building automation system portfolio, spanning small-scale to highly complex environments. He leads a high-performing team of product managers and product owners, fostering a culture of excellence in market intelligence, product prescription, pricing optimization, and go-to-market execution. With a keen understanding of install-base behavior and new product adoption patterns, Babak ensures a seamless balance between legacy system continuity and forward-looking innovation.

Driven by a passion for leveraging emerging technologies and innovative business models, Babak continuously identifies new avenues for accelerating growth and market expansion. His approach is deeply rooted in a data-driven and customer-centric mindset, enabling the alignment of product roadmaps with evolving industry trends in building performance, cybersecurity, and intelligent automation.

Committed to redefining how buildings enhance human experiences, operational efficiency, and sustainability, Babak is dedicated to shaping the future of smart infrastructure with precision, insight, and transformative leadership.

Stephen Holicky is the Director of Product Management at Tridium and is responsible for overall strategy, product planning, marketing, and financials for all products built on the Niagara Framework. He works closely with customers, engineering teams, and business stakeholders to define, manage and deliver a product roadmap and vision which impacts over 1 million instances worldwide. Prior to joining Tridium, Stephen worked with the Niagara Framework as a System Integrator and Commissioning Agent, while specifying its use for smart building integrations.

As the Smart Buildings and Services Marketing Leader at Trane, Jane brings bold thinking to the convergence of building automation, AI, SaaS, and smart services. She oversees a team of marketers focused on product launches and integrated marketing strategies that propel the company's vision. Throughout her tenure, Jane has directed marketing and communication strategies for numerous SaaS companies, solutions, and services designed to optimize the built environment. She holds a bachelor's degree in visual communication from the University of Kansas and an MBA from Kaplan University. She and her family reside in Wisconsin.

Drew Markway currently serves as the Vice President of National Accounts at Kele, Inc. He leads the strategic direction and execution of Kele's commercial distribution national accounts business, specializing in peripheral components required by building automation contractors.

Prior to joining Kele, Drew was the Director of Major Projects at Johnson Controls, where he honed his expertise in the buildings industry. With more than 20 years in the industry, Drew has held diverse roles spanning sales, sales management, and general management. He has deep knowledge of building automation, mechanical systems, commercial construction, and integrated systems design and implementation.

Drew holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Southern Methodist University and is based in Memphis, TN

David Kaufman is a Director of Business Development for Resideo Technologies Inc. He has over 30 years of experience in automation holding various executive sales, marketing, and general management roles consistently achieving organic business growth totally over $500M. He is currently the primary Resideo representative for any Internet of Things (IoT)-related standard or alliance. He has held key positions in the Wireless Industrial Network Alliance, the HART Communications Foundation, and the Open Connectivity Foundation. David was a charter board member of the Wireless Compliance Institute, the Energy Information Standards Alliance, and the OpenADR Alliance. He has been recognized with numerous awards for his industry contributions including 2 awards from the US National Institute of Technology (NIST). He has a B.S. degree in Industrial Engineering from Iowa State University, an MBA from St. Joseph’s University in Pennsylvania, and a Six Sigma Black Belt certification from Honeywell. David also holds multiple US patents. He is a published author on wireless technologies and a recent 3 time All American Triathlete. David currently resides in the Phoenix, Arizona area with wife and children.

Shannon Kell joined Schneider Electric in January 2023 as EBO Offer Manager. She is responsible for collaborating with global product leaders to ensure that EcoStruxure product roadmap delivers features, technology and engineering efficiencies required by the North American market. Shannon began her career with Johnson Controls in 1997 and held a variety of marketing and operations management roles. She spent six years with Honeywell Building Solutions as Regional Marketing Leader and then US Marketing Leader for Energy Services. In 2016, she transitioned to the Honeywell’s Industrial Safety business to lead their global marketing operations team. She was promoted to the Director of Product Marketing in 2018 for a Honeywell business focused on providing Software as a Service (SAAS) solutions to the healthcare market. Most recently, Shannon led Johnson Controls, Digital Transformation effort, focused on the Connected Chiller platform. Shannon holds a Bachelor of Science, Journalism from University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh. She and her husband currently reside in Hendersonville, TN.

Roberto Torres conducts market analysis and engages in strategy development in the Buildings division of Siemens. At the company since 2007, he has observed and analyzed developments in the buildings sector—including the remarkable technological progress and structural changes in the industry and competitive environment—over the period, studying their implications for Siemens. In a prior role, Roberto oversaw the Energy practice at the market research company, Frost & Sullivan. Roberto resides in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Chris Megede serves as the CTO at Delta Controls where he leads the company’s strategic vision, oversees product management, and directs technology research. Chris joined Delta Controls in 2023, bringing 25 years of international building automation experience. Throughout his career, Chris has maintained a commitment to enhancing building efficiency and productivity, delivering innovative products and services to markets worldwide. Chris holds a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree from Texas A&M University.

Charles Pelletier began his career with Distech Controls over 20 years ago, gaining unparalleled experience in the Building Management System market, while also establishing himself as a respected leader in the industry. Currently, as Vice-President of Product Management, Charles is widely known for leading the product vision & strategy of the business and focusing on innovation that drives people and businesses to become more successful.

Erika Shaughnessy is the Product Manager for Low Voltage and Innovative Technologies at Southwire. In this role, Erika investigates new and transformative developments in the areas of power and data transmission. Before joining Southwire, Erika worked at Legrand both within the Sales team and as a Product Manager for Furniture Power and Innovative Technologies. She has participated in multiple Women’s groups, charitable committees, and mentor programs within Legrand and Southwire. She holds a BA in Organizational Communications with a Minor in Marketing from Central Connecticut State University.

Andrew Herman is the Chief Technology Officer at DwyerOmega. With over 26 years in the transportation and industrial market verticals, Andrew has contributed to companies of all sizes. His expertise spans from systems and systems integration to core sensing and actuation functions, also covering a wide range of software applications—both connected and embedded. Andrew has led global Engineering and R&D teams to develop innovative solutions that align with business and market needs. He is a named inventor on 16 patents and has co-authored 5 published papers, underscoring his passion for technology and its applications. Andrew holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering with high honors from Michigan State University and an M.S. in System Architecting and Engineering from the University of Southern California. He is currently based in the Detroit area.

As head of the residential business unit for Crestron, John is responsible for driving sales and marketing strategies, dealer and end-user programs and product and software development strategies specific to the residential market. Using his over 20-years of experience in this channel, with experience not only in custom integration, but in the 12V, and retail markets. John joined Crestron in March 2009 as a Regional Sales Manager for southern California and has held various roles of increasing responsibility on both the commercial and Residential sides of the business.

Prior to Crestron, John held various sales and management roles at Vudu, Kaleidescape, and Polk Audio.

John studied Electrical Engineering at California State University Northridge. He has lived his entire life in southern California and in his spare time, he enjoys car racing, rock climbing, parkour, and other high-energy sports.

Kevin joined Daikin Applied Americas in February 2022 and has been serving as the Senior Director of Solutions Offerings since October 2022. Prior to joining Daikin Applied, Kevin held various positions, including founding a management consulting business, Executive Recruiter for Russell Reynolds, Senior Director of Global Commercial Building Offerings for Honeywell, and leader of Cummins Inc's Global Waste to Energy Solutions product line.

Kevin holds an MBA from Butler University and a B.S. in Industrial Systems Automation from the University of Wisconsin Platteville.

Outside of work, Kevin enjoys spending time with his family, mountain biking, water sports, is a professional downhill ski instructor, and serves with the Excelsior MN Rotary Club.

Hilary Giggs is the Vice President of Sales - North America at Lutron Electronics, the leading global manufacturer of lighting controls, motorized window treatments, and intelligent architectural lighting. In this role, Hilary manages the sales of the company’s Luxury Residential product portfolio across the United States and Canada.

Joining Lutron in 2000, Hilary played a key role in developing the residential business in Canada, earning a reputation as a results-driven leader and a trusted brand advocate. In her current role, Hilary has demonstrated a strong commitment to excellence and innovation and has been instrumental in driving sales strategies and fostering client relationships across North America.

Hilary has a BA in History from Carleton University and resides in Toronto, Ontario.