Breaking Boundaries and Building Careers: Resideo's College Partnership Program Supports the Professional Services Industry

By: Jamie Quanrud, Training Offering Leader at Resideo

Working in the professional home services industry for more than 10 years, I've witnessed tremendous change: from smart home integration and adoption, to shifts in home buying trends and remodeling following the global pandemic. One aspect that has remained crucial over the past decade is the need for qualified technicians. Arguably, the need for more qualified technicians is becoming more urgent. And over the years, companies have looked beyond the usual suspects to recruit that talent.

As older generations retire from the industry, it's important to train and attract new talent into this exciting field. To help close the gap, Resideo developed a College Partnership Program several years ago that supports technical students and faculty by providing them with up to date Resideo equipment, technical documentation, ready-made lab activities, along with job placement assistance through our collaboration with Building Talent Foundation. Through this partnership:

• Resideo's professional service customers can obtain knowledgeable new employees;
• Technical and community colleges receive fresh equipment and well-deserved support; and,
• The next generation of professionals has the skills and resources needed to embark on a rewarding career. (Most importantly)

Recently, Resideo partnered with several schools to support and empower the next generation of professionals: Tulsa Welding School (TWS) in Houston, Florida Technical College (FTC) located in Deland, Palm Beach State in Florida, The Refrigeration School (RSI) in Phoenix, Horry Georgetown Technical College in South Carolina, and Lone Star College in Texas (pictured at the top of this article).  

I've seen industry leaders make significant strides in their training and recruiting efforts, and as a result we’re seeing more women in these classrooms and more women join professional services companies. These success stories, along with countless others, highlight the growing importance of diversity in the HVAC, Plumbing and Security trade industries.

A Spotlight on our Future

Through these collective partnerships, Resideo met with many students, and four students stood out to me as they capture the heritage of the past and the promise of the future professional. As a leader in this space with a diverse perspective, I'm keen to share other unique voices and stories with the hopes of inspiring new talent to join the field; here is a brief look at their thoughts and aspirations:

Edith Dubon has always looked up to her dad and seeing him excel in the construction field inspired her to enter the trades: "My dad has always been a leader, and I want to be just like him." Dubon is an HVAC student at Florida Technical College in Deland, who plans to continue her education by getting her bachelor's degree in construction management and obtaining her general contractor's license.

"If you are a hands-on learner and like helping people, this is the field for you," said Leah Ackerman, a recent Residential HVAC graduate from Horry Georgetown Technical College in Myrtle Beach.

"The trades are always going to be needed. This is a field with high demand," explained Bridgette (Gabby) Castro, an Electrical Mechanical Trades graduate from RSI and employed as a Service Technician at George Brazil. She's thriving in the role: "I love being out in the field working with customers."

Alexius Atchison shared, "When you learn a trade, you get something that will be with you for the rest of your life." Atchison, an Electrical student at Palm Beach State College, chose the Electrical field because she wanted to work with her hands. She loves that the trades offer endless opportunities to learn and grow. Atchison's future is bright; one day, she wants to own her own electrical business.She advised women who were considering a career in the trades to take a chance: "Don't let someone's opinion take you away from something you might end up loving."

Inspiring Others to Dream

These recent graduates are part of the growing number of women excelling in the professional services industry, joining the likes of successful women like Monica Landry, an HVAC Instructor at TWS. Landry found stability and opportunity in HVAC as a second career.

"As a single parent with three kids, I needed a reliable schedule. I've always been good with my hands, so HVAC was a natural fit," explains. As the first woman to graduate from her school in the field of air conditioning, she's been teaching for twenty years while actively working in the industry. She encourages others to, "explore the multitude of opportunities in this field."

Landry herself shares that the highlight of her educational career has been seeing her students succeed. "I have so many students who have accomplished a lot and changed their lives."

Dubon agrees that her degree can be life changing and life affirming. She said, "At the end of the day, you are accomplishing something that not a lot of women do. But that is something to be proud of. Don't give up on your dreams!"

By Jamie Quanrud
Jamie leads Resideo Academy, the company's training program that focuses on everything from hands-on training, demonstrations, online learning, and webinars. Designed to offer professionals the tools to make installations easier and faster, the trainings provide strategic support and training for HVAC professionals, plumbers, security installers, distributors, and dealers.

Jamie has been with Resideo / Honeywell International since 2013 and has helped shape the sales training strategy across the U.S., for Resideo's customers. She also is passionate about training the next generation of professional by providing opportunities to support the future of our industry with partnerships that deliver results for Resideo and its customers.

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Resideo Supports Next Generation of Professionals