Session Overview
Master Systems Integrators (MSIs) have moved far beyond being “controls contractors on steroids.” Today, they serve as trusted advisors, consulting with owners, guiding technology decisions, and ensuring seamless integration across mechanical, electrical, and IT systems. This session explores the MSI’s evolution into a professional service that saves owners millions through smarter collaboration, coordination, and avoidance costs. Learn how MSIs are shaping digital building strategies, bridging silos, and delivering long-term value through consultation and expertise.
SPEAKERS
Scott Cochrane, President & CEO, Cochrane Supply
Scott Cochrane is President and CEO of Cochrane Supply & Engineering, a leading Smart Building Controls Supplier with locations throughout Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and Texas, as well as an affiliate in Ontario called Canada Controls. Scott earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business with minors in Marketing and Finance from Eastern Michigan University and holds an additional minor in HVAC Technologies from Macomb Community College. In 2000, he took over the business from his father, Donald Cochrane, Sr., who founded the company in 1967. Scott is an IBcon Digital Impact Award Winner for going above and beyond to positively impact the smart building industry, as well as a winner of the ControlTrends Impact Person of the Year Award and Distributor Executive of the Year Award for his contributions to the industry.
Nathan Kehr, Sr Sales Director, Wesco
For nearly 15 years, Nate has led sales and marketing teams at premiere organizations in the smart buildings space such as KMC Controls, Honeywell Tridium, CBRE Smart FM Solutions, and Wesco’s IoT, Platform, and Services group. During this time, Nate has had the privilege to work closely with many Fortune 500 clients, consultants, manufacturers, distributors, and systems integrators in the Americas and Europe as the industry has grown and transformed. These experiences have afforded him a unique perspective on the evolution of client needs, technology, and service offerings across the market. Nate resides near South Bend, Indiana with his family.
Ed Merwin, Director of Strategic Business, Tridium
Ed Merwin has over 50 years of experience in the building automation industry in field operations, sales, marketing, and management. Ed is the Director of Strategic Business working with Tridium marketing, engineering, and sales teams to support Tridium’s long term business strategy in various markets. He also works with end users, owners, consultants, and system integrators daily to help understand the technology needs of these valued customers.
Erin Defrieze, Studio Lead, Stantec
Erin DeFrieze is a seasoned Senior Project Manager and Studio Lead with 28 years of experience in Building Automation. With a background as a control’s programmer and professional services manager for a leading Tridium OEM, Erin brings extensive expertise to the current position. Certified in multiple product lines, Erin also serves as a Tridium TCP instructor for a prestigious apprenticeship program. In the current role, Erin leverages experience to deliver unparalleled value to clients, utilizing the latest advancements in Intelligent Building technologies. Erin crafts innovative designs and applications tailored to each project’s unique needs, optimizing clients’ Operational Technology (OT) strategies for efficiency and performance. Throughout the career, Erin has demonstrated a commitment to excellence, earning recognition for exceptional leadership, technical prowess, and dedication to client satisfaction. Erin continues to shape the future of Building Automation with cutting-edge solutions that redefine industry standards.
Sarah Cole, Owner, Software & Hardware Expertise
As owner of Software & Hardware Expertise (SHE) Sarah is known for pragmatic modernization—meeting existing assets where they are, aligning stakeholders, and delivering outcomes operators can trust: healthier buildings, resilient infrastructure, and actionable data with clear semantics. At AHR, her talk “Navigating Complexity. Escalating Opportunity. Today, Tomorrow & The Future” shows how to turn today’s integration challenges into durable wins: clearer semantics, interoperable architectures, and operator-first workflows that scale from one building to a portfolio.
