Why He’s Tech of the Month: Raymond Rodriguez got into HVAC right out of high school.

Russ Miller learned as he worked — his experience was all gained from on-the-job training. After about 10 years at that business, a large, 60-plus-person commercial company, he switched jobs to a smaller place that ultimately ended up getting bought out to become AirComfort Heating & Cooling, serving Columbus and Fremont, Nebraska.

Cecil Williams got his first job in heating and air conditioning 13 years ago, while he was still a high school student attending Kiamichi Technology Centers in southeastern Oklahoma.

Shane Stepps grew up in the building and construction trades; his adoptive father owned a construction company in Oklahoma City for 30-plus years.

Bailey started off as a salesman, working for two different HVAC suppliers before switching to the service side.

When Clay Kennard launched his career in the trades, he didn’t start as a technician. Kennard went to school for accounting, and he worked as an accountant at a mechanical contractor, back in ’79. Then he realized that life behind the desk just wasn’t for him — so he decided to switch over and become a service tech.

Why He’s Tech of the Month: For Daniel Mayer, every day working in HVAC is a thrill.

Why He’s Tech of the Month: Hesch got into heating and cooling because of a friend in the industry.

Jacobs got his HVAC certification from Offday Careers, then went to Delaware County Community College for his degree in applied science/HVAC. He graduated when he was 27, worked at a sheet metal shop in New Jersey, then got hired at DiFilippo’s Service Co. in Paoli, Pennsylvania, starting as an installation tech and working his way up.

As a young guy, Charlie Polite was mechanically minded and liked to work with his hands. So he went to school for electrical and HVAC.