Arnold ‘Arnie’ Meyer Takes Helm as Thermostat Recycling Corp.’s New Board Chairman

Arnold “Arnie” Meyer is Thermostat Recycling Corp.’s (TRC) new chairman of the board, which became effective April 15. Meyer, a comfort industry veteran, spent nearly 20 years with Honeywell, and is now a product manager with Resideo, a spin-off from Honeywell that occurred in October 2018.

Resideo describes itself as the leader in the new wave of technology for the “smart home,” that encompasses home comfort, safety, security and energy efficiency.

In a recent interview, Meyer demonstrated the friendly yet straightforward style of a Midwesterner with his roots in Minnesota. He graduated from St. Cloud State University with a bachelor’s degree in Energy and Industrial Management, and then worked at NBC Products before ultimately leading the North America Technical Support Teams and Inside Sales with Resideo.

He views his transition to the chairman’s position as crossing a familiar, sturdy bridge because of the 15 years he spent working in tandem with former board chairman Dan O’Donnell.

“I remember all those green boxes, and we supported the TRC technical support line,” Meyer said. “I worked with Dan, who was the product director for Resideo’s Honeywell Home thermostats and new product development.” Meyer said he interacted constantly with O’Donnell and TRC on a wide range of issues.  

He describes the transition to his new role as “comfortable.”

Honeywell, White Rogers and General Electric were the founding members of TRC. Today, 30 manufacturers, including Resideo which assumed Honeywell’s role, support the program. “Dan provided the detail and background, and we had a history of working together for a significant time, so it allows for a smooth transition,” he said.

During an interview, Meyer spoke about TRC’s mission and how he views its activities contributing to the “larger picture.”

“I think this (TRC’s) program is significant to consumers, to the industry and to ensuring we protect our planet,” he said. “We want to make sure that we’re doing the right thing for the environment, not just for today but for the future.”

Any leadership transition includes the ubiquitous question of what will be the new executive’s leadership style.

“My leadership style is very ‘open door’ and open communications, going both ways,” Meyer said. “The thread I always look for is continuous improvement.

“I’m not one to make a quick change. I dislike jumping to a hasty conclusion because it’s the first thing I hear. I like to really understand all the moving parts before arriving at a decision. I’m a good listener and want to receive information from multiple team members and listen to their positions before making a decision. When you do it this way, it allows the key people to provide their input, and just as important, it gives the team a sense that they’re an essential part of the decision-making process.

“In a nutshell, I’m a consensus builder. My leadership style is one of obtaining feedback. I enjoy the input, whether it’s from the leadership side or the front-line people. I like mulling over an idea once I have the information, judging whether it has merit and then moving forward if it makes sense. Once I have the information I need, I’ll make the decision, and I’m willing to go to bat for the idea.”

Given the nature of TRC’s charter and an unpredictable deadline for its mission, the inevitable question arises about how long TRC will remain committed to the task of recycling mercury-containing thermostats. Meyer’s answer is direct.

“My intent is to continue to maintain and follow the high standards we have at TRC,” Meyer said. “I don’t see ending the program until we, as a group, feel as though we’ve fulfilled our commitment.”

When Meyer isn’t thinking about the comfort and related industry business, how does he relax?  He enjoys spending time with his family and enjoying the outdoors.

“I’ve been married for 22 years and have two sons, 15 and 12,” he said. “We enjoy the outdoors, especially mountain biking. Being outdoors always helps with your perspective on other things.”