Special to
Realty/Builder Connection
Don Higgins is a man on a mission.
As instructor for the St. Johns River Community College and Northeast Florida Builders Association’s Apprenticeship Program in air conditioning and heating, he pushes his students to learn not only the technical job skills they need but also stresses professionalism and customer service.
“Who is your boss?” Higgins asks the class. The students answer immediately: “The customer.”
The customer service angle is clear in Higgins‚ teaching technique. As he brainstorms with the class, this theme arises again and again.
“How many people will your customer tell if you do a bad job?” Higgins asks.
“Everyone they know,” answers a student.
“And how many will they tell if you do a good job?”
“Maybe 10,” answers another student.
This highly technical program is taught in St. Augustine at the SJRCC campus.
“Reaching out into the community with our apprenticeship program gives us an opportunity to better train tomorrow’s workforce and leaders in the construction industry. We are pleased to be working with educational institutions like St. Johns River Community College to offer this important training and work opportunities,” said Jonny Moore, training vice president for the builders association.
The class recently participated in a hands-on training experience at Powell Heating and Air, also in St. Augustine. Owned by air conditioning and heating veteran David Powell, the class put their skills to the task for two weeks practicing on real equipment.
Powell has owned this business since 1984. The NEFBA member employs several of the apprentices and hopes they will stay with him full time after they complete the program.
“This is the third year I have had students working as apprentices. I am totally excited and very grateful to support the program. If I play my cards right, the students working for me now will stay,” he said.
The students meet twice a week for three-hour classes after working a full day with various NEFBA member companies.
Their reasons for enrolling in the challenging program range from wanting to broaden their horizons by expanding their knowledge, to a desire to climb to the top in a trade that can pay up to $15-$25 per hour, depending on where they work.
Powell confirms the success rate after attending a program such as the one at SJRCC.
“With this training the chances of advanced promotion are much improved,” he said.
The students range in age from 20 to well into their 40s.
Among their ranks is one female student, Debbie Johnson, a rarity in a male-dominated trade. Johnson says the other students treat her equally.
“They make me feel like one of the guys,” she said.
Johnson is in her third year of the educational portion of the program. She has worked for Powell for two of those doing installation work. She hopes to stay at Powell and says this is a good job to raise her three children on.
Jeff Gwaltney is a service technician at Powell.
“I have been in the trade for over eight years,” says Gwaltney. “I have already taken the Journeyman Exam and passed it, but I wanted the extra education this program provides.”
He adds that it is extremely rewarding to him when he is able to repair machinery that is broken.
The 13 students all echo the benefits the NEFBA Apprenticeship Program provides, despite the challenges of the long hours and technically demanding curriculum.
Higgins works hard to inspire them, and says at the end of one class, “I got you thinking. That’s what it’s all about,” he said.
St. Johns River Community College and the Northeast Florida Builders Association will take new applications for the apprenticeship program during the month of March.
NEFBA offers apprenticeship training in the carpentry, plumbing, electrical, sheet metal and heating and air conditioning trades.