History of Helping
The South Carolina Association of Heating and AC Contractors (SCAHACC) actually began as the South Carolina Heat Pump Association in 1989. The original concept was created by the major utilities in the state, at the time, that wanted to help educate consumers on value of heat pumps as the preferred choice of “HVAC engine” for homes in South Carolina. The utility members based the new association on other similar associations found across the country. The founding group of leaders included equipment distributors in the governance of the newly formed association. The focus of membership was the HVAC contractor who had a direct rapport with the end-user, everyone’s customer.
Soon the leadership saw the need to add a contractor’s perspective to its planning and strategy sessions. An at-large position was created for a contractor to join the board of directors.
Over the years, the association has morphed with the changing times and changing industry. Transitions included another name change before becoming the SC Association of Heating and AC Contractors and developing a leadership model that includes contractors from the association’s local chapters. Among other reasons, it was changed to represent an organization of “people” and “not equipment.”
Since early 2000’s the association focused its legislative efforts on the licensing law for HVAC Contractors. This law went into effect July 1, 2003 and its passage began a new phase for the association. The association has since been focused on raising the level of professionalism for licensed HVAC Contractors. This emphasis makes the associations next transition an easy one to make.
In November 2019 the association opened its membership to all licensed trades ( individuals within a business that have taken and passed a skilled trade licensing exam in the state of South Carolina.) and changed its name to the South Carolina Association of Licensed Trades.
The updated objective for the association will be to elevate the levels of competence, professionalism and success of businesses and their employees that operate within the licensed trades industry in South Carolina to the benefit of the consumer.
The association will continue to change/morph as it reacts to the changing needs of the trades community it represents.
