meet the board
2021-2022
Our Board of Governors
Barnabas Path
President
Barnabas is an energy consultant working with K12, University, Municipal, and Special District customers advising on strategic energy positioning as well as evaluating energy performance at portfolio, site, and operator levels. Barnabas has owned an HVAC contracting business; designed, built, operated, and maintained a micro-turbine co-generation plant, supported a District Energy plant, and has been in sales with many ESCO’s including Honeywell, Siemens, and Johnson Controls. Barnabas has been the ASHRAE Sustainability Chair and received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering Technology from Cal Poly Pomona.
Sierra Spitulski
President-elect
Registered professional engineer with experience designing HVAC/R systems in both new and remodeled healthcare facilities (both OSHPD and non-OSHPD), office TIs, and university/K-12 school districts. Engineering education from Fresno State (Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering, minor in Mathematics and Physics) and UC Davis (Masters of Science in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering).
Rafi Karim
Secretary
Rafi Karim is the Building Performance Market Leader at Affiliated Engineers, Inc in Pasadena. He is a licensed Mechanical Engineer with a passion for the sustainable built environment. Rafi has served numerous grassroots positions in ASHRAE SoCal and ASHRAE San Diego during the last 8 years including the Director of Chapter Technology Transfer Committee (CTTC), Sustainability and GAC (SoCal), Director of Student Activities & YEA (SoCal) and Chairman of Government Affairs Committee (San Diego). In January 2018, Rafi was appointed to the ASHRAE Technical Committee 2.8 (Building Environmental Impacts and Sustainability) as the chairman of Water Energy Nexus Subcommittee
Nick Rosner
Past President
Nicolas Rosner is a Variable Frequency Drive-Lead Sales Engineer at Eaton. Nick’s VFD focus at Eaton is consulting engineer specifying support, contractor service, facilities training, and distributor sales. Prior to Eaton, Nick spent 7 years of his HVAC career at USAir Conditioning Distributors in both Southern California and Arizona. Nick Rosner is a licensed Mechanical Professional Engineer (CA & AZ). He holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. And, Nick has held officer and chair positions at Southern California, Central Arizona, and Tri-County ASHRAE chapters.
Nelson Echeverry
BOG- Public relations & Correspondance
Nelson Echeverry is a senior mechanical engineer at Donald F Dickerson Associates, with experience in mixed use high-rise & low-rise residential design. He has previously served as the YEA Chair and CTTC Chair for ASHRAE SoCal Chapter. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in HVAC&R from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
Elyse Johnson
BOG- CTTC & Sustainability
Elyse Johnson, PE is a mechanical engineer at Infrastructure Factor Consulting, Inc. She has experience with K-12 schools, hospitals, and commercial building design. She has previously served on the Tri-County ASHRAE board before moving to the SoCal ASHRAE region. She received her bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Cal Poly Pomona.
Matt Sittel
BOG- Director of membership and retention
Matt Sittel is a New Equipment Sales Engineer for R.F. MacDonald Co., supporting clients with equipment and design assistance for hot water and steam boilers, pumps, and other commercial HVAC and industrial equipment. Matt covers West LA County through Santa Barbara. Since obtaining his B.S. in Environmental Engineering from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, he’s had nine years of experience as a sales engineer in the SoCal HVAC market, with experience in nearly all types of commercial HVAC equipment and systems. He has a passion for learning about and sharing new technology and energy-saving equipment and designs, as well as helping to solve complex problems with clients.