Training and Education for Contractors

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When the Steamfitters United Association (UA) Local No. 602 Mechanical Trades School needed equipment to use in its apprenticeship program, a major industrial and mechanical equipment distributor fulfilled the entire wish list through manufacturer donations.

As homeowners become increasingly aware of home performance and the benefits it offers, home-performance contractors must continue to find ways to promote and differentiate themselves from their competitors. Training and certification is a crucial differentiator, and it has the added bonus of making contractors more trustworthy to prospective customers.

Larry Taylor, whose career in the industry exceeds five decades, was honored as an inaugural Legend of HVACR Award winner during the 2017 Service World Expo, Sept. 7-8 at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

HVAC manufacturers are in an interesting position when it comes to training and educating the industry’s next generation. While there is no black-and-white solution when it comes to addressing the technician shortage and ensuring there are enough people coming into the industry to satisfy demand, many manufacturers are doing their part by providing training opportunities wherever and whenever possible.

Joe Carone, an instructor for the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers (SMART) Local 265, in Carol Stream, Illinois, was chosen as The NEWS’ 2017 Best Instructor.

In the skilled trades, qualified workers are as valuable as ever before. The skills gap and labor shortage the trades are experiencing are widespread and well-covered, but when dissecting the specific skill sets required to succeed in the HVACR industry, sheet metal training is one area that can, at times, be overlooked.

If you’re a technician working in the Northwestern U.S., you’ve likely heard of David Norman. Chances are you may even have his phone number. The 58-year-old instructor has built quite a reputation as the go-to guy for HVACR technical problems in the region.

I was born in Manhattan. When I was young and starting out in this business, I typed a quote from Carnegie on good paper and put it in a frame. I hung it on the wall just above my typewriter and read it again and again.

Many HVACR contractors, manufacturers, and distributors will arrive at the 2017 Service World Expo, taking place Sept. 7-8 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, but only super heroes will leave.