Meeting/Event Information

Joe Bliss
Vice-president, Senior Project Manager, and Mechanical Design Engineer 
B2Q Associates

Joe Bliss has been with B2Q Associates for the past 13 years, specializing in energy efficient HVAC design, building automation system design, and recommissioning. He has recently taken a leadership role in B2Q's Decarbonization Center of Excellence, establishing a process to guide customers through the electrification process from auditing, feasibility analysis, budgeting, and infrastructure planning, through to final design, construction, and commissioning. In 2023, Joe was awarded the AEE Energy Engineer of the Year award for the Northeast US Region.

Mark LaFrance
Principal
HTS New England 

Mark LaFrance oversees business operations and leads the HTS Engineering group that provides equipment design support for Consulting Engineers. His passion for engineering led him to pursue a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of New Hampshire, which resulted in his first industry role as a Design Engineer and Test Engineer in the renewable energy industry. Mark joined HTS in 2012, where he worked with engineers, contractors, and owners, overseeing the complete cycle of HVAC equipment application from design to operation. Mark enjoys exploring and qualifying new equipment technologies that HTS can bring to the market. He brings strong attention to detail, upbeat energy, new ideas, and big-picture goals to his role as an HTS New England Principal.

JS Rancourt
Principal
HTS and DXS New England

JS Rancourt studied mechanical engineering at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada.  In 2012, he co-founded DXS Ontario, based in Toronto, Canada. JS has been applying ASHPs and VRV technology in cold climates for 13 years. He spearheaded the largest VRV project in North America at the time with over 1,400 VRV units. JS moved to New England in 2016 and founded DXS New England out of Peabody, MA, where he now focuses on VRV and ASHPS. He primarily works with consulting engineers and building owners, and prides himself on educating the industry on topics such as ASHPs, VRV, refrigerants and strategic electrification of HVAC. JS is also a proud member of multiple manufacturer’s North America rep councils, and is a voting council member of the Massachusetts Grid Modernization Advisory Council.

Chris Ouellette
Northeast Business Development Manager
Mitsubishi Electric Heating & Cooling

Chris Ouellette has spent the last 20+ years working with and guiding HVAC design professionals including architects, consulting engineers, contractors and building owners. Chris combines his industry knowledge and enthusiasm to educate and promote proper VRF and split-zoning heat pump applications for commercial and residential projects.  A graduate of the University of Rhode Island, Chris has enjoyed his career at Mitsubishi for the past 10 years.