Richard Harshaw

Richard “Dick” Harshaw started Lodestar Consulting Systems, Inc. in 2003 after a thirteen-year career with the Carrier Corporation. He launched Lodestar as the fulfillment of a long-time dream of offering the highest caliber of consulting and training services to professionals in the HVAC industry. Lodestar specializes in sales rep development for distributors, and also conducts contractor-oriented training.

While at Carrier, he produced the Market Forecasting Model (a powerful software-based market forecasting program), the Financial Management Workshop for Carrier and Bryant dealers, and a consulting department which specialized in helping Carrier and Bryant contractors and distributors on a one-on-one basis. He is a frequent contributor to trade publications and has been featured as a presenter at Carrier’s Business Transition Seminar, Comfortech ‘96, ‘97,’98, and ‘99, and the 1998 SMACNA National Convention, as well as numerous state contractor associations. He is also the developer of the key measurements of throughput for the HVAC business. Through these various paths, Dick has shared his business expertise with thousands of contractors across America.

Prior to joining Carrier, Dick worked ten years for an independent Carrier distributor in Missouri where he served as service engineer, instructor, salesman and branch manager.

Dick holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Education (Mathematics) from Central Missouri State University. After teaching high school mathematics and physics for three years, he worked for an electric utility in the Kansas City area as a sales representative, during which time he met many HVAC contractors, one of which he joined as salesman and service manager.

Dick resides in Phoenix, Arizona with Loretta, his wife of 36 years. He has two married daughters and two wonderful grandchildren.

Dick’s varied personal interests include astronomy (he has been published in various international astronomical periodicals and has a new book on astronomy), bicycling, and the U. S. Civil War. He is active in his church and is also an avid reader and enjoys music.