Working for the Future of HVAC Education and Community Building

As the founder of HVAC School and the HVACR Training Symposium, I’ve seen firsthand how real education and community can transform our industry.

What started as a simple idea — to create a space where HVAC professionals could learn from one another — has grown into a movement focused on craftsmanship, curiosity, and connection.

Community Over Content

One thing I’ve learned is that information is cheap, but community is priceless.

You can find manuals, videos, and tutorials anywhere online, but information itself isn’t what makes us better. What matters is context — connecting knowledge to the real-world experiences of technicians in the field.

That’s been my goal with HVAC School from the start: to help technicians learn from technicians. The HVACR Training Symposium takes that same philosophy off the internet and into real life where people can shake hands, share stories, and build relationships that last far beyond a training session.

How It All Began

The idea for the HVACR Training Symposium didn’t come from within HVAC — it came from the Westford Building Science Symposium, hosted by Joe Lstiburek and Betsy Pettit.

I loved how that event blurred the line between presenters and attendees. Everyone there was both teacher and student, sharing insights in an open, collaborative atmosphere.

When the AHR Expo was coming to Orlando, I thought, Why not do something like that for our industry? A smaller, more personal event where we could focus on learning, collaboration, and connection. That’s how the Symposium started, and it’s grown from a handful of “HVAC nerds” into a must-attend event for people serious about craftsmanship and performance.

We even joke that it’s the “Woodstock of HVAC.”

What Makes Symposium Different

The Symposium isn’t a trade show or a sales pitch. It’s a space where people who love HVAC come together to learn from one another.

You’ll see people like Tim DeStasio, John Semelhack, and Allison Bailes presenting — not because they’re professional speakers, but because they’re practitioners who care deeply about their craft. They’re out there in the field every day learning, testing, and sharing what works.

That authenticity — real people teaching real solutions — is what makes this event special. It’s about doing good work together.

In my mind, the HVAC industry doesn’t need more hype. There’s already plenty of that. What we need is more humility, curiosity, and craftsmanship.

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