• TOP TECH 11-12

    Nov. 9, 2012
    At Mechanical Systems Week 2012, North American Technician Excellence (NATE) recognized three “Top Techs” who hold multiple NATE certifications. This month, ContractingBusiness.com is pleased to introduce Jevaris Pettis, owner and operator of J.L.P.’s Heating and Cooling in Springfield, IL, and program director at Midwest Technical Institute, also located in Springfield, IL.

    Jevaris Pettis has always had a passion for the mechanical trades. “It was something that I had always tinkered with,” he explains. That led him to pursue his interest in the trades and attend the HVAC program at Midwest Technical Institute. After graduating from the program, Pettis joined the Midwest Technical Institute’s team as a Lab Instructor. “I truly believe education and training are the keys to success in our forever changing industry. The only way to keep our current and future technicians up to speed, is to keep our hands in the industry as educators,” Pettis explains. He now holds the position of Program Director of the HVAC-MAR (major appliance repair) program at the school. He’s also owner and operator of J.L.P.’s Heating and Cooling.

    Pettis currently holds installation and service NATE certifications in air conditioning, air distribution, heat pumps, gas heat, light commercial refrigeration, and commercial refrigeration.

    “I believe NATE certification is important, because it keeps technicians up to date and fresh with new technologies in our industry which change day to day,” he explains. “A lot of other certifications have the same old test every time you take it. With NATE, the test is always different, because they keep it up-to-date with industry changes. It helps technicians evolve.”

    Pettis believes that technicians should strive to achieve NATE certification because it separates them from their competition. His advice to newcomers in the HVAC industry is to keep an open mind, and focus on education.

    “Education and training is key to our success in this trade. My father always told me to ‘never get comfortable.’ Once you’ve perfected one thing, move on to something else. The more you know, the more you grow.”