ROGER MITCHELL’S RETURN BRINGS EXCITING PLANS TO MTEC

This past winter, MEMA welcomed back Roger Mitchell to the role of Dean and Lead Instructor at MTEC. Roger received his Heating and Cooling education in the Air Force, and he was quickly promoted to Shift Supervisor where he found the knack to teach others. He then joined Maritime Energy in Rockland as a Service Technician. While at Maritime he became the Service Manager and later the Distribution Manager. Roger has held several different positions over the years that gives him the knowledge to share with others how the Heating and Cooling industry operates. Roger was instrumental in the creation of the MTEC lab as he built the lab and the curriculums. Roger is happy to be back at MEMA as the Dean of MTEC where he will again share his knowledge with technicians to increase their knowledge of the Heating and Cooling industry.

Since his return, Roger has implemented some exciting changes to MTEC to expand the trainings that are offered to MTEC students. In the next few months, MTEC will be offering new training courses, as well as equipment upgrades to expand on its existing programs. These changes allow MTEC to adapt to the changes in the industry and expand the knowledge base of technicians who go through its programs.

One of the new training courses being implemented in the next few months is a Commercial Food Service Equipment Training course. Over the past year, MTEC has been installing commercial kitchen equipment in the lab, and it is ready to be put to use. Students will work hands-on with gas, electric, and steam equipment that they will encounter when they service equipment in restaurants and convenience stores. Technicians who complete the Commercial Food Service Equipment Training will receive a certificate from CFSA.

With biofuel becoming more prevalent in the industry, Roger is updating the curriculum in the Oilheat Technician Training to include more education on biofuels. There will be an area of the lab that is dedicated for biofuels. The area includes a boiler and warm air furnace that will burn B20 and B50 biofuel. Students will have more opportunities to work hands-on with biofuel and train on biofuel equipment.

In relation to Biofuels, MTEC will be introducing a Dual-Fuel Class. Students will learn how to pair an electric heat pump with an oil furnace using a coil to make appliances dual-fuel, for central cooling and heating using bioheat. The class will educate the students on dual-fuel heating and cooling systems, adding more experience working with biofuel equipment for technicians when they enter the field.

Having Roger’s experience in the MTEC lab has already been a benefit to students. Roger will continue to work with the MTEC staff to expand upon the curriculum and adapt to the always changing HVAC industry to meet the needs of students and MEMA Members. Roger is just getting started, and there will be many more exciting plans ahead as MTEC continues to grow and strive for excellence.