Congressman Cory Gardner Presented with HARDI Small Business Champion Award

WASHINGTON - May 23, 2014 - PRLog -- Heating, Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) has presented the HARDI Small Business Champion Award to Colorado Congressman Cory Gardner. The Small Business Champion award, given to elected officials who promote and protect the interests of small businesses, was presented to Rep. Gardner by HARDI President Royce Henderson, a Colorado Springs resident, during the HARDI 2014 Congressional Fly-In in Washington, DC.

Henderson, who is also President of Charles D. Jones Company, stated that HARDI selected Gardner for the award due to his bipartisan efforts to promote energy efficiency, his work to limit the impact of regulations on small businesses,  and his efforts to fix the healthcare system. “At a time when Americans are frustrated with the gridlock in Washington, Cory Gardner stands out as someone who cares first and foremost about delivering for the people of Colorado and small businesses across this country,” said Henderson.

HARDI Executive Vice-President and C.O.O Talbot Gee stated, “Congressman Gardner has talked the talk and walked the walk when it comes to working across the aisle to develop smart policies regarding energy and natural resources. He also understands the importance of fixing our broken tax code so businesses can continue to invest and workers can take home a little more of their hard earned money.”

“I’m honored to accept the Small Business Champion award,” said Gardner. “HARDI has done great work advocating for their companies, most of which are small businesses who are struggling under the weight of overly burdensome regulations from this Administration. I look forward to continuing my work with HARDI to keep America’s small businesses thriving.”

HARDI is a trade association comprised of nearly 1,000 member companies, over 475 of which are U.S.–based wholesale companies. More than 80% of HARDI’s distributor members are classified as small businesses that collectively employ over 35,000 U.S. workers, representing over $30 billion in annual sales and an estimated 90% of the U.S. wholesale distribution market of HVACR equipment, supplies and controls.