Time to Get Schooled: CoolSys Technician Training Returns in Full Force
October 25, 2022
After a three-year absence brought on by the Covid pandemic, technician training at CoolSys has roared back to life this month — and it’s just the beginning of great things to come. The first round of live, in-person training classes took place during the week of October 10, with 32 techs from all over the U.S. participating. At the same time, 14 techs embarked on a nine-week online training course.
Both Ryan Herda, director PMO — Learning and Development, HR and Integration, and Brett Wetzel, manager of Technical Troubleshooting and Training, said there was a high level of excitement from the first group of techs who took part in the online and in-person classes. “So many technicians have already been asking about additional training opportunities, and they have been looking forward to getting back into training,” Ryan says.
Live and In-Person
The weeklong in-person classes took place at CoolSys training centers in Jacksonville, Florida; Houston, Texas; and Fullerton, California. Each course included instruction from hand-picked CoolSys technicians who have earned level 5 or 6 certification and have demonstrated an ability to teach others. Students also got hands-on experience with simulation exercises. Each course ended with a written exam. In addition to passing that exam, students must successfully complete a field evaluation by an experienced tech in their home area to achieve the next level of certification.
A special word of thanks goes to our instructors for this first round of classes, including Scott Morgan, who led the level 3 training in Houston; Steve Starling, who led the level 2 training in Jacksonville; Aaron Zimmer, who led a level 3 training in Fullerton; and Brett Wetzel, who led a level 6A training, also in Fullerton.
A highlight for our Fullerton participants was a visit from CoolSys CEO Anesa Chaibi, who had a roundtable discussion with each of the training classes then ate lunch with the group. “She talked about how important training is to everyone at CoolSys and that we’re going full steam ahead with our training program,” Brett says. “The guys appreciated her taking time out of her day to come over, meet everyone and answer questions.”
Another week of in-person training is scheduled for the week of November 14 in Fullerton and in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.
Online Training Gets an Upgrade
To add value to the online training course, each participant is paired with a technical training coach who is an experienced CoolSys service manager or a level 5 or 6 technician. Throughout the nine weeklong modules, the coaches are available to answer questions, provide guidance and offer encouragement to trainees. After they finish the online portion of the course and pass the final exam, participants will go out solo on service calls for the next three weeks, with their technical training coach standing by to help, as needed. Afterward, there will be a field evaluation, and those who pass will move a grade level up.
We appreciate the skills, insight and support our technical training coaches are providing to this first class of online participants. Our coaches include Patrick Gibbons, Stephen (Doug) Haynes, Jorge Irribarren, Dan Lan, Hilario (Juan) Mendoza, Benjamin Padilla and Steve Starling.
CoolSys service managers, regional directors and general supervisors: We want to hear about your techs (current levels 1 through 5) who are ready to move up in the company through an online learning experience. Please use this form to nominate your candidates for online training.
Later this month, the third element of the CoolSys training initiative will premiere: Our mentorship program. Watch for more information about that program in an upcoming issue of CoolTimes. If you’re interested in participating in an online or in-person class or the mentorship program, please speak with your supervisor or team lead.
