2023 Top 40 Under 40: Danielle Wernert
Danielle Wernert
Danielle Wernert’s first job at Peterman Brothers was executive assistant to the company’s president. Just a few years later, she’s become a leader in the company and the industry.
Wernert is co-founder and program manager of Peterman’s Top Tech Academy, an internal trade school that helps turn new hires into full-time HVAC technicians in four months. She oversees the program, from working with the Peterman recruiting team to graduation, supporting students as they learn and then transition to their professional careers. More than 150 Top Tech Academy graduates enter the HVAC and plumbing industries each year.
“My biggest HVAC accomplishment by far is launching the Top Tech Academy, but more than that, it's that I have had such an in-depth role of helping others find a passion in their new careers,” Wernert said. “Getting to meet the families of these students and know that this has been such an impactful piece of their lives is an incredibly rewarding experience. I am so proud of each and every student that goes through our program.”
Wernert did not necessary plan on making HVAC her career.
“Prior to this, I had no industry experience,” she said. “Chad Peterman took a chance on me and over time, with the support of the rest of the team, I fell in love with the trades and learned all about the residential HVAC world. My background is actually in exercise science, so I never envisioned myself working in the trades, but I am so grateful for the opportunities they have given me so far.”
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