head to Peterman Brothers was the news last year that the company had graduated its first class of 10 new techs wh had gone through the paces at the Peterman Top Tech Academy. Chad opened the academy last year in the company's former headquarters just a short drive away from the current Greenwood HQ. (And once completed, the new addition to the HQ will offer a bigger new home to the academy.) "We were growing at such a fast rate that we knew we needed to create our own steady supply of new talent," Chad explains. "And we also knew that we had to seriously train them from the start. We couldn't just provide some basic instruction for a couple of weeks, send them off to a service call and hope for the best." Students attending the academy learn plumbing and HVAC skills in a program that combines classroom training with hands-on learning in lab built in the old bulding's former warehouse. Plumbing students receive training in drain systems, vents, water lines and fixture installation and learn about troubleshooting, hydronic and solar water heating systems, private wells and septic systems and plumbing system design and installation. HVAC students learn about tools, equipment and materials needed for a career in HVACin addition to training in furnace and A/C system maintenance, troubleshooting and installation. The students learn from two full- time instructors: Drew Gomez, plumbing instructor, has 30 years' experience and, in fact, helped build out Peterman Brothers' initial foray into plumbing services. Alan Richardson, another Peterman Brothers veteran, has 12 years of experience and heads up HVAC instruction. The program is a paid program with an initial two months in the classroom followed by another four months in the field with senior Peterman Brothers techs, and then another month back in the classroom. Students who keep at it are offered jobs at Peterman Brothers. Plumbing student then head to a four-year apprentice program at Mechanical Skills, a top destination to learn the plumbing trades in Indiana. HVAC students then go on to be NATE-certified. "Young people looking for rewarding career opportunities have been given the wrong message about the skilled trades for too many years," Chad explains. "We're committed to spreading the word about the great job opportunities available in the trades and lowering the barriers to entering the field through our academy." To gain acceptance into the program, applicants undertake an extensive four-step interview process consisting of a phone interview, in-person interview, a full day of shadowing with a senior technician and a final interview with Chad. "With over 900 applicants and only a limited number of seats, the admission process is incredibly competitive," Peterman said. "It's
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phc January 2022 www.phcppros.com The Peterman Top Tech Academy features traditional classrooms, plus a lab for hands-on training. Plumbing students at Peterman Top Tech Academy receive training in drain systems, vents, water lines and fixture installation and learn about troubleshooting, hydronic and solar water heating systems, private wells and septic systems and plumbing system design and installation.
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