Fast-track to successful careers in Sarasota and Manatee Counties

Based upon annual statewide averages, Florida is the hottest state in the country. Unsurprisingly, a lot of local companies specialize in HVAC installation and maintenance. Surprisingly, however, the number of knowledgeable, qualified employment candidates in the area is sparse.

Thanks to innovative fast-track training programs created by CareerEdge Funders Collaborative and supported by local employers and philanthropists, the days of labor shortages in high-demand technical fields may be numbered.

Tuition-free training

Through the CareerEdge HVAC fast-track program, for example, candidates complete a six-week, tuition-free course taught by volunteers of Manatee Technical College and employees from various Sarasota-area companies. They come out on the other end ready to work for one of the very companies that helped train them.

Longtime resident Walt Eppard has been an integral piece of the puzzle that has allowed the program to take off.

“I saw a need on the technical end of things, as opposed to college,” said Eppard. He made his own livelihood in the trades and was instrumental in working with area companies to find out where employee knowledge and training was lacking.

“More hands-on [training] is what it really comes down to,” he said. Eppard was also one of the key financial contributors for the program, through his fund at Gulf Coast Community Foundation.

The inaugural HVAC fast-track class received more than 450 applications and was narrowed down to 12 participants. In April, 11 of those students graduated from the program—many of whom had already received job offers.

“They’ve been outstanding,” says Jeff Markey, founder and owner of Ultimate Air, who has volunteered his time and expertise to the program. “They show up on time, they show up with the equipment they’re supposed to have, they’re eager to learn, they work hard, they don’t ask for breaks, and they just keep going."

“It kind of takes people back to the old days, where you’re developing skills through repetition; you’re working on your skills over and over and over,” adds Markey. Employers like Ultimate Air also donate equipment to the program.

Learning by doing

Erick Guzman, a recent graduate of the program, says the knowledgeable instructors and hands-on environment helped the class feel like real in-the-field training.

“Overall it’s been a really good experience,” says Guzman. “I’d say I’ve learned a lot. I don’t think anybody really knew anything going in. It’s a good environment, the people are cool, and the teachers are great.”

Guzman was interested in making a career change and took an interest in air conditioning prior to learning about the program. “Two months after I made up my mind I saw that CareerEdge was offering the program and I was like, If I’ve ever seen a sign, this is it!”

The inaugural program was so successful, another installment has been set to run May through August in Newtown.

And HVAC installation is just one field being targeted by CareerEdge with its fast-track training model. CareerEdge and Eppard have also partnered on an express automotive technician training program. Last fall, CareerEdge earned a $150,000 grant from the National Fund for Workforce Solutions to create fast-track programs in several high-demand fields.