1. National EditionPage 8A 1st Quarter 2016
Takes Great Pleasure in HonoringTakes Great Pleasure in Honoring
Bill JacksonBill JacksonPresident,President, Building Efficiency,Building Efficiency,
Johnson ControlsJohnson Controls
Our 2015Our 2015
Man of the YearMan of the Year
In Recognition of hisIn Recognition of his
Outstanding LeadershipOutstanding Leadership
and Achievements inand Achievements in
the HVAC Industrythe HVAC Industry

2. National Edition Page 9A1st Quarter 2016
A father’s advice
leads to an unforgettable
year for Johnson Controls
When Bill Jackson – president of the Building Efficiency business
at Johnson Controls – graduated from high school, he decided his
college major would be history.
“Wrong answer,” his father said flatly. “If you want to study history,
then read books about history. College is about having a vocation,
not just an education.”
The young Jackson was told he had two choices if his father was
going to pay for it: business or engineering. He chose engineering
and enrolled at the University of Illinois, where he earned both a
bachelor’s and master’s degree in mechanical engineering. He
later received his MBA from the University of Chicago.
Looking back at the powerful impact that Johnson Controls made
on the HVACR industry last year, his father’s advice appears pre-
scient. Jackson still loves learning about history – and even quotes
past U.S. presidents in employee meetings – but under his leader-
ship the company has done much more than recall history.
In 2015, Johnson Controls made history.
“I’m not sure that any business has ever had a busier year or done
more, honestly,” he says. “And it’s really due to the unparalleled
passion and expertise of our people and our teams serving cus-
tomers every day. This award is one that I received, but all of my
colleagues in the Building Efficiency business earned it. I’m sure
2015 was a foundational year that none of us will soon forget.”
For years, Johnson Controls has excelled as a world leader in
chillers and control systems for complex buildings – think the Empire
State building, Stanford University or the San Francisco 49ers new
stadium (all long-term customers of JCI) – earning a reputation for
exceeding customer expectations at every turn. What was missing,
however, were ways to serve less-complex markets, expanding the
company’s reach around the globe.
“When we acquired Air Distribution, that gave our entire business
such a shot in the arm when you talk about the air systems space,”
says Jackson. “To add brands like Ruskin, Titus and PennBarry to
the top brands we have already – like YORK®
– gives our custom-
ers so many options and so many ways to enhance their buildings.
It was transformational as we moved to a multi-brand and multi-
channel position.”
Integrating this family of new offerings – like the thriving product
lines mentioned above – seems like it would be more than enough
for most businesses to handle in one year, but the Building Effi-
ciency team is not an average business. Which brings us to last
year’s monumental joint venture with Hitachi Air Conditioning.
After serving as the chief negotiator on a historic international part-
nership with Hitachi, Jackson and Johnson Controls can now add
industry-leading variable refrigerant flow (VRF) building solutions
to their already-potent arsenal of products. “Our VRF position is
world-class with a strong position in China and a growing position
in North America,” adds Jackson.
“When you step back and think about it, the amount of positive
change that we went through in 2015 is pretty astounding,” says
Marta Newhart, vice president of global communications for the
Johnson Controls Building Efficiency business. “And every step of
the way, Bill has been the one leading the charge. He has been
the one casting a vision for how Johnson Controls can honor our
rich heritage of serving customers while also demanding excel-
lence in operations, product development and innovation like never
before.”
When asked to describe Jackson, his colleagues regularly mention
his unstoppable energy and “execution, execution, execution.”
“He can’t stand the status quo and he can’t stand still,” adds Mike
Wysong, chief financial officer for the business. “Bill is always
searching for how we can deliver more value for customers, en-
hance our products or better motivate employees.”
And with the announcement of a potential merger with Tyco – a
complementary fire & security powerhouse – Jackson and his team
are nowhere close to being finished enhancing building offerings
for Johnson Controls.
“I believe in our people, our products and our potential to do great
things,” he says. “I look at 2015 as the beginning – not the end –
of Johnson Controls helping facility owners, building contractors,
distributors, architects, engineers and others better than we ever
have before.”
Thanks to his father’s advice, the past isn’t the only thing worth
celebrating for Bill Jackson and Johnson Controls. The future is
brighter than ever. 
Bill Jackson and Johnson Controls
employees at the AHR Booth in Orlando.
Employees in Warsaw, Poland, heard
Bill’s vision for the business last year.
Bill reacts to an employee presentation in Poland.