On April 21, Eagle Pipe Heating & Air of Poulsbo, Washington, teamed up with ServiceTitan’s Power the Nation initiative to install an HVAC system at Community Works, a program at the Short’s Family Farm that supports hands-on training programs for teens and young adults entering the trades. 

Eagle Pipe Heating & Air is no stranger to advocating for skilled labor. Lori Tschohl, owner of Eagle Pipe Heating & Air, has spoken at trade schools and other institutions to inform students about the opportunities in HVAC and plumbing. She is also president of the Jefferson County Builders Association as part of her goal to create a pipeline for more tradespeople. 

“I've spent time speaking to the class about what it's like to not only be an HVAC/plumbing owner, but taking technicians to say, ‘Hey, this is some of the cool things we work with. These are gauges. These are our tools. This is what we do,’ hoping to generate some interest with these 16-17 year olds, so that by the time they leave, they don't have to think about, ‘Am I going to college? What am I going to do?’” she said. 

INSPIRING OUTREACH: Eagle Pipe Heating & Air Owner Lori Tschohl meets with a representative from Dove House, a women’s shelter in Washington. (Courtesy of ServiceTitan)

Part of that outreach includes supporting the trades beyond HVAC. In Chimacum, Washington, Community Works provides hands-on learning and civic engagement for students from local schools, mainly focused on boat making and constructing tiny houses. Unlike traditional facilities, it operates out of a former barn, including a concrete structure that becomes intolerable in cold weather. 

When Tschohl learned that their facility needed HVAC work, it was a perfect opportunity to showcase community outreach and the essential nature of HVAC work. 

“This is where we could really make a difference by not only financially, but spending time with this organization, with their folks,” said Tschohl.  

She reached out to companies like Thermal Supply and Daikin, which provided aid for the project. Eagle Pipe Heating & Air installed the system, including bells and whistles such as a thermostat that the program director can control to manage energy efficiency. 

The donation reinforces the civil engagement taught by Community Works. A local women’s shelter, Dove House, has been the recipient of pantries and other projects built by Community Works students. Eagle Pipe Heating & Air previously put in a system at the shelter. 

“If you’re a high school student, and you’ve been able to build something to put into another organization to help them out, I think it gives them great pride,” Tschohl said. 

Appealing to the Next Generation 

Jennifer Roberts, senior director of integrated marketing at ServiceTitan, said highlighting efforts from contractors like Eagle Pipe Heating & Air through Power the Nation shows the viability of a career in the trades. 

“This is not about ServiceTitan. This is about the trades. And so as a part of the effort and talking to customers, we know they're essential, we realize how much they're doing for their communities from donating their time and supplies … to going to trade schools and talking to folks and making it accessible and attractive to get into the trades, and it just became this story we wanted to tell.” 

Tschohl said through Power the Nation, her company could not only increase its financial donations but also spread them out to multiple organizations. 

“They’re used to getting smaller checks, and so when we do check presentations for them this time by Power the Nation, they’re going to be blown away by how much it will help them with their day-to-day operations and be able to attract more folks into the industry,” she said. 

As a ServiceTitan customer using the company’s artificial intelligence tools, Tschohl said, in addition to exposing students to the trades, it’s become essential to highlight how HVAC companies are making use of tech like AI. 

“When we go out, we speak at the schools, like the trade schools. It's not just turning a wrench or learning about refrigerants. It's like what's up and coming,” Tschohl said. “And this industry right now is at the absolute best position to be in to not only utilize AI, but explore the future on how we're going to make all of our systems and processes better than ever based on using the features that ServiceTitan and AI can offer.” 

Roberts said it’s not about replacing skilled labor with AI, either. Instead, it’s about enhancing what the workforce can do. For instance, a company can have AI agents that answer phone calls during busy times or after hours, or can assist newer workers with generating estimates. 

“Skilled labor is here to stay, but now it's this cool question of like, ‘Well, then how does skilled labor partner with AI?’” she said. “I'm also hoping as we think about this industry and the growth of it, how this can play a role in really attracting students, young folks, veterans, whomever, back to the trades, right, because of that element?”