Kaishi Zhang, Johnson Controls, newly elected to the board; Dennis Swoboda, Belimo Americas; Robert Hemmerdinger, Delta Intelligent Building Technologies (Canada), Inc.; and Salvatore Cataldi, Belimo Americas, reelected.
Marietta, GA – March 4, 2026 – BACnet International announced the results of its most recent Board of Directors election. Kaishi Zhang, Vice President of Products for Global Building Automation Systems and Controls at Johnson Controls, will begin his first term this year. Zhang leads global product strategy and the full product lifecycle for Johnson Controls building automation portfolio, guiding the company’s focus on open platforms that enable precision performance, improve energy efficiency and advance decarbonization across mission‑critical buildings.
Prior to joining Johnson Controls in January 2023, Zhang held leadership positions at Schneider Electric and Rockwell Automation, where he worked across industrial software and controls. He holds a master’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering with a minor in Innovation and Entrepreneurship from Zhejiang University in China. He is also a graduate of executive leadership programs at INSEAD and MIT.
“I’m honored to join the BACnet International Board and help advance open, interoperable standards that shape how buildings perform today and into the future,” said Zhang. “At Johnson Controls, we have long led the industry in advancing BACnet to help customers operate more efficiently, reduce emissions, and ensure reliable performance across complex, mission‑critical environments. BACnet is foundational to how modern buildings work, and its continued evolution is essential to industry collaboration and real‑world outcomes.”
Dennis Swoboda, District Sales Manager, Belimo Americas; Robert Hemmerdinger, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, Delta Intelligent Building Technologies (Canada), Inc.; and Salvatore Cataldi, Senior Product Lead, Belimo Americas, were reelected to the board and will begin new terms this year.
Dennis Swoboda has over 20 years of lighting control experience and gives frequent talks and presentations on energy codes, lighting, and BACnet. He has been a member of the BACnet International Board of Directors for over a decade and has previously served as the BACnet International Marketing Committee chair. He currently serves as a District Sales Manager at Belimo Americas.
Salvatore Cataldi is the Global Standards & Regulations Lead at Belimo, bridging technology strategy, standardization, and the regulatory landscape to enable resilient, interoperable building automation. Active in international committees and industry groups, he helps accelerate real-world BACnet adoption and strengthen trust in connected building systems.
Robert Hemmerdinger is the Chief Sales and Marketing Officer for Delta Controls, Inc., and a member of the executive management team. Robert’s role includes global responsibility for sales growth and driving brand awareness. Robert is an award-winning senior leader with an impressive record of success in developing and implementing highly effective global strategic business initiatives that drive substantial revenue growth and profitability. He has established a strong reputation as an earnings optimizer through extensive international experience analyzing the needs of Fortune 500 organizations, designing, and directing strategies to secure productive long-term relationships, expand market share, boost visibility, marketing, and worldwide presence.
Salvatore Cataldi is the Global Standards & Regulations Lead at Belimo, bridging technology strategy, standardization, and the regulatory landscape to enable resilient, interoperable building automation. Active in international committees and industry groups, he helps accelerate real-world BACnet adoption and strengthen trust in connected building systems.
The following individuals will also continue to serve on the 2026 BACnet International Board of Directors:
Andy McMillan,BACnet InternationalPresident & Managing Director
Michael R. Wilson, Board Chair, Director of Marketing, Nlyte Software
Paul L. Bartunek, III, Chief Development and Marketing Officer for Mechanical Sales, Inc.
James Burke, Vice President of HVAC Construction Sales, North America, Johnson Controls
Brad Hill, Senior Director of Engineering Operations and Transformation, Honeywell International
Todd Lash, Segment Head for Siemens Building Automation Products, Siemens
About BACnet International:
BACnet International is an industry association that facilitates the successful use of the BACnet protocol in building automation and control systems through interoperability testing, educational programs and promotional activities. BACnet International oversees operation of the BACnet Testing Laboratories (BTL) and maintains a global listing of tested products database. The BACnet standard was developed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and has been made publicly available so that manufacturers can create interoperable systems of products. BACnet International complements the work of the ASHRAE standards committee and BACnet-related interest groups worldwide. BACnet International members include building owners, consulting engineers, and facility managers, as well as companies involved in the design, manufacture, installation, commissioning, and maintenance of control equipment that uses BACnet for communication.