From Resi Tech to Industry Leading Refrigeration Trainer w/ Brett Wetzel

Brett Wetzel joins the podcast to talk about his journey from resi tech to industry-leading refrigeration trainer.

Brett is best known for his educational content, but he is also the manager of technical troubleshooting and training at CoolSys. The skills gap is widening, and CoolSys was inspired to create a solution to that problem. Brett’s goal is to offer training that provides education and a sense of community all at once. Since he likes to keep his training simple and establish a solid foundation for his students, one of Brett’s favorite training practices includes going over a system’s P&ID diagram with his students before even looking at it. He focuses on classroom engagement and keeping trainees interested.

Brett does regional training sessions and has written technical documentation to help technicians. As he has shifted from a field role to a full-time educator role, he has noticed that he has had more time at home. CoolSys focuses on commercial and industrial refrigeration, including system components, racks, and controls.

The transition from residential HVAC to commercial HVAC and refrigeration requires an inquisitive mind and a drive to keep learning. Independent learners tend to do particularly well. There is an additional step that people will have to take when they move from fieldwork to education; communication skills and the ability to keep students engaged are crucial.

Brett and Bryan also cover:

• CoolSys’s training plans
• First lessons for refrigeration and HVAC trainees
• Keep It Simple, Stupid (KISS) in training
• New technologies and energy efficiency in CoolSys training
• Reading and independent learning
• The ever-changing nature of the HVAC/R trade
• Mentorship
• Practical skills and training
• CoolSys technical library

Check out CoolSys at https://coolsys.com/ to learn about the company and some job opportunities. You can also email Brett at bwetzel@coolsys.com or listen to the Advanced Refrigeration Podcast (YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@advancedrefrigerationpodca9389).

Learn more about the HVACR Training Symposium or buy a virtual ticket today at https://www.hvacrschool.com/symposium.

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