The Business and Employee Skills Training (BEST) Center at Genesee Community College is offering courses in HVAC/R and CNC starting this month. The renovation of two classrooms into HVAC/R and CNC laboratories has included the purchase of new equipment from grant funding. The CNC equipment purchases were made possible from an award of $400,000 from the Heckscher Foundation for Children Grant and additional SUNY support.
“Developing new programs would not be possible without support from industry partners. GCC’s Advanced Manufacturing Committee has been instrumental in providing guidance in the skills, equipment, and curriculum needed for training and industry-recognized credentials,” said Jennifer Wakefield, executive director of workforce development of The BEST Center.
A major supporter of the HVAC/R Program is Triton Mechanical, a premier commercial refrigeration and HVAC service provider. “We respect our industry, our customers, our competitors, the environment, and above all, our employees. We are guided and governed by our core values of innovation, integrity, respect and sustainability,” said Jake Koch, president of Triton Mechanical.
Jake Koch’s family has been involved in the heating and cooling business for decades. “I’ve been in the industry ever since I was a kid. I’m the fifth generation in my family to be involved in the industry. My great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather ran an ice delivery business; they were salesmen. My dad and my uncle ran a refrigeration company, and my family has been involved in it for a while,” Koch said.
Koch, a resident of Hilton, has owned Triton Mechanical in Monroe County with his father Jeff and friend Kevin O’Connell for more than six years. In 2023, Triton Mechanical purchased Turnbull Heating and Cooling in Batavia. The company originated organically, and the team – which also includes mom Wendy – has worked to make it a successful heating, ventilation, and air conditioning operation.
O’Connell has an extensive background in commercial refrigeration, and HVAC. He began as a commercial service technician, and has experience as a service manager, operations manager and project manager. He is a certificate member of RSES (Refrigeration Service Engineers Society), and holds several NATE (North American Technician Excellence) certifications. Kevin oversees the technical training, compliance and safety of the company.
“We are grateful for the generosity of Triton Mechanical for their commitment and investment in GCC’s HVAC/R Program,” said Craig Lamb, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. “GCC’s new vision and commitment to the applied technologies and skilled trades for the GLOW region will allow opportunity for a variety of students. Recent high school graduates, incumbent workers and individuals who want a career change can find several opportunities at The BEST Center at Genesee Community College.”
The first series of HVAC/R courses are scheduled from March 3 through March 20, 2024, on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Batavia Main Campus. CNC FANUC Certification courses have several classes scheduled in February and March. For more information, contact Christa Palmer, coordinator of technical programs at The BEST Center at http://bestcenter@genesee.edu or call 585-345-6868 to register.
Provided information
