Published: 05/14/2026
Exceptional Members Recognized at 2026 Spring Conference
By: Linda Nguyen Skoglund, Communications Director
linda@narsa.org
Several NARSA members were honored during the award ceremony at the 2026 Spring Conference in Duluth, Minnesota.
Chesapeake Cooling Solutions was named the 2026 “Shop of the Year.” This award is given to service shops in recognition of outstanding community engagement, strong team building, and a commitment to advancing the radiator service industry.
Chesapeake Cooling Solutions was nominated by a fellow NARSA member who said, “Chesapeake is an innovative and fast-growing radiator service company known for thinking outside the box. With 25 employees, they focus on safety and employee training, demonstrating they are role models for other service companies. Their leadership team has incorporated the I.A.E model (Inception, Adoption, and Evaluation), a core process that guides their management team’s direction while allowing them to pivot or double down quickly when needed. They use a custom POS/CRM system to manage incoming RFQs and orders, track inventory, generate real-time reports, manage bills of materials, and provide real-time pricing, which helps create accurate monthly P&L statements. Chesapeake has made notable investments in cutting-edge technologies that will support its I.A.E. model. This visionary leadership, combined with the stellar drive and work ethic, places them in good company with past recipients of this award.“
“We are honored to receive the 2025 Service Shop of the Year award from NARSA,” said Nick Slater, Chesapeake Cooling Solutions CEO. “The most meaningful part is that it was an award from our peers. This award will definitely motivate us to keep pushing the company in an upward trajectory. We would like to thank our management team, customers, vendors, our employees, and NARSA for all the support and hard work that helped us win this award. Our door is always open.”
Ulf Anvin of Anvin International was also recognized with the 2026 Distinguished Service Award in recognition for his initiative, resourcefulness, and actions, which have greatly impacted NARSA and the cooling systems industry.
Anvin’s incredible career spans more than 50 years. After receiving an MBA from Uppsala University in 1969 and serving in the Swedish Army, Anvin met a man on a train who pushed him to find his future in the metal industry, and he accepted a job at Svenska Metallverken in Vasteras, Sweden as a junior export manager in the Aluminium division.
Anvin eventually moved to the US in 1987. “I participated in my first NARSA convention in Atlanta in 1987, and since then, I have not missed one,” said Anvin. “It has been an amazing journey to meet many interesting people on many continents in companies from a 10-man shop to the big guys.”
Anvin was nominated by a fellow NARSA member who said, “Ulf has played a key role in opening global supply channels for mission-critical raw materials. He has helped numerous companies access reliable, high-quality materials, strengthening the entire supply base and the industry. He’s recognized for an exceptional ability to build and maintain trusted relationships with customers, suppliers, and industry stakeholders across continents. Ulf has a reputation for integrity, reliability, and partnership-minded business conduct. More generally, Ulf has helped to cultivate a culture of partnership, consistency, and professionalism across borders. This is very much aligned with NARSA's mission.”
Johnson Manufacturing was given this year’s Impact of the Year award, which is presented to manufacturers and distributors who are providing value through innovation, education, and overall support to the industry.
Johnson was nominated by a fellow NARSA member who said, “Johnson stands behind their product. They work together with their customers for solutions and are very easy to do business with. They are very easy to do business with, and their expertise in this industry makes them a great resource to NARSA. They have been a strong supporter of NARSA for decades, including most recently hosting the 2025 Spring Heavy Duty Conference in Iowa.”
Aaron Morrow, Johnson Mfg’s General Manager, accepted the award on the company’s behalf. “Johnson Manufacturing is truly honored to receive the Impact of the Year Award,” said Morrow. “We have been active members of NARSA since nearly its inception, and the heat exchanger industry has always felt like home to us. A large portion of our products—from solders and fluxes to tools and supplies—are designed to support NARSA members, from Copper/Brass OEMs through every stage of a heat exchanger’s life cycle, including service, repair, and replacement.”
Having the opportunity to host the HD Conference in 2025 was a particular highlight for our team. Each in-person event feels like a family reunion, and we are grateful for the many customers, suppliers, and friends we have connected with through the organization. Every one of those relationships is important to us and reinforces our commitment to supporting NARSA’s mission through advertising, sponsorship, and service.
L&M Radiator received the Industry Award for hosting the 2026 Spring Conference in Minnesota. This award is presented to member companies for service to NARSA and the industry by hosting the Heavy-Duty Spring Conference and supporting the association's mission of One Idea, One Opportunity, and One Connection.
Yetsan, Kale Oto, and Panoto received the International Award in recognition of hosting the 2025 International Tour in Turkey.
Johnson Manufacturing received the Impact of the Year Award.
Other notable highlights include Martin “Marty” Newell, Jr., who received the Lifetime Achievement Award, and Mark Taylor, who received NARSA’s highest award, the Hall of Fame.