Mr. Garrabrant is uniquely qualified to bring gas absorption heating into the mainstream, combining world-class absorption technology development with executive leadership in the high-volume water and space heating appliance manufacturing industry. He served as Director, Engineering for A.O. Smith residential products and brands (including State, Kenmore, Reliance and Whirlpool), representing 50% of residential water heater sales in the United States. Mr. Garrabrant was VP Engineering for American Water Heater Company before it was acquired by A.O. Smith. Previously, as VP Engineering for Cooling Technologies, Inc., Mr. Garrabrant led the development of a high efficiency gas-fired absorption cooling product, which was a spin-off from technology developed at Ohio State University.
Mr. Garrabrant earned his BS and MS degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Ohio State, is a registered Professional Engineer (Ohio), and has earned twelve U.S. patents. He served as the Chairman of the Gas Appliance Manufacturing Association (GAMA) Residential Water Heater Efficiency Test Harmonization Working Group, and served on the Air-Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) Certification Programs & Policy Committee. Mr. Garrabrant was awarded the 2008 AHRI Richard C. Schulze Award for distinguished service and commitment to AHRI’s goals and objectives.