From Kit Cartwright, April 2014:

I’m a homegrown Iowa boy. Growing up in Marshalltown, my father was an engineer for Fisher Controls, so I guess his career choice stuck with me. In 1998, I graduated with a Mechanical Engineering degree from Iowa State, and started working for Trane almost immediately after graduation. I spent 6 months living in La Crosse, Wisconsin in an intensive learning program known as the Graduate Training Program (GTP). After graduating from the GTP, I moved to Appleton, Wisconsin to work as a Sales Engineer. Four years, a wedding, and two kids later, we decided to move closer to family and transfer to the Des Moines Trane Commercial Sales Office. That was in 2002, and we’ve been here ever since. In 2010, I changed positions from a New Equipment Sales person to a Comprehensive Solutions Sales person. Instead of working with contractors and engineers, I now generate new value-based projects directly with building owners.

My wife, Alexa, and my two daughters, Kiersten (16) and Breanne (11) have lived in Johnston ever since we moved back in 2002. We are a sports-loving family, fanatically rooting on our favorite teams: the Iowa State Cyclones and the Green Bay Packers (Go Pack Go!!). We also love the outdoors and camping, but we have a full plate with the girls’ activities (softball, volleyball, track, show choir, dance, etc.) which keeps us hopping.

ASHRAE Experience:

During my tenure as chapter President, we were neck-deep in planning the 2009 CRC being held in Des Moines. It was a fantastic experience and an awesome display of chapter teamwork to successfully pull the thing off. In addition to planning the CRC, we also held seven well-attended programs, one technical session, two golf outings, and multiple activities with our Student Chapter.  In November 2008, we had the exceptional honor of a visit by the ASHRAE Society President at the time, Bill Harrison, for our chapter meeting.

I’ve been a member of the Iowa Chapter Board of Governors since 2002 (has it been that long?!), so all of the great experiences with ASHRAE tend to blend together. The one thing that always stands out is the Iowa Chapter’s presence at the CRC. We always travel in vast numbers and definitely make our presence known. The CRC that stands out the most in my mind is the 2005 conference in Moline, IL. I won’t divulge any details, but let’s just say that the “please stay off the tractor” signs were not respected.