Technology, Training, and Tomorrow's Workforce
TL;DR: The HVAC industry needs more skilled workers and better training methods. measureQuick was built to speed up learning, and through programs like UpSkill HVAC and the GRIT Foundation, we're helping bring the next wave of techs into the trade.
Building the Next Wave of HVAC Pros
The HVAC industry faces real challenges right now. We're short on workers, parts, and refrigerants. At the same time, gear is getting more complex and standards keep going up. This is why we built measureQuick: we needed a better way to train techs, check their work, and ensure quality installs.
Education Is Our Starting Point
Few measureQuick users know this, but before I started building tools and apps, I spent years teaching in a trade school classroom. That time showed me something key: good training isn't just about sharing knowledge. It's about making that knowledge easy to use, hands-on, and useful right away.
Young people learn in new ways. They're digital natives who expect tech to help them learn, not slow them down. When a student can see live data on a screen while working on a real system, it clicks faster. That insight shaped how we designed measureQuick.
I've always believed that teaching is in our blood. Every service call should be a chance to learn. Every test should build deeper skill. This isn't just a nice thought; it's good business. Better-trained techs get better results, fewer callbacks, and happier customers.
Working With Industry Leaders
One of the best parts of this journey has been teaming up with people who share this vision. My work with Bryan Orr and HVAC School stands out.
Bryan tackled the training gap from a different angle. He created clear, bite-sized content that techs could learn from anywhere, anytime. Our methods were different but fit well together. That's why you'll find HVAC School links built into our app. When techs need to brush up on a topic, Bryan's clear lessons are one tap away.
This approach is what we call "edutising": giving real learning value while pushing for better work. It's not about selling. It's about raising the bar across the whole industry through shared knowledge.
The GRIT Foundation: A New Way In
measureQuick and HVAC School help people who are already in the trades. But we also need to bring new people in. That's the bigger challenge.
The GRIT Foundation is a new charity led by Bryan and other leaders in our field. GRIT (Growth in Skilled Trades) takes a hands-on approach to showing young people what careers in HVAC, plumbing, and electrical work look like.
What makes GRIT stand out is how they run each event. These aren't old-school shop classes. They're hands-on workshops that show how modern trade work blends problem-solving, tech, and real skills.
GRIT Camp: Seeing It Work
A few weeks back, Val got to see the GRIT approach up close. The group teamed up with TruTech Tools and Fast Track Training Lab to host a day camp near us. This wasn't a normal summer camp. It was a planned intro to the skilled trades for youth ages 12-17.
How the Day Works
Each student starts with a blueprint: plans for building a wooden box that holds copper and PVC piping plus wiring. Each student pairs with a mentor who talks them through every step:
- Planning and building the box
- Safe use of hand drills and circular saws
- Proper brazing methods
The key: the student does it all. Mentors guide but don't take over. Mistakes are part of the process. Fix it and try again.
"GRIT Camp shows kids career paths they might never have thought about. You can see the thrill on their faces as they pick up hands-on skills that give them a feeling of power they didn't have before," says Valerie.
The teamwork behind this event is a model for our industry. Makers, sellers, trainers, and contractors came together to build something that made real skills feel exciting and within reach.
The Path Forward
The future of our industry depends on closing the gap between old-school trade skills and modern tech. We need to:
- Create more events like GRIT Camps that draw young people to the trades through fun, hands-on work
- Use tech to speed up training and guide new techs through real learning
- Build clear paths for career growth that include ongoing learning and proof of skill
At measureQuick, we'll keep building our app to support both veterans and newcomers. We're teaming up with groups like HVAC School and the GRIT Foundation to create learning paths that attract, train, and keep talented people.
This is also why we launched UpSkill HVAC. It offers focused training from basic skills to advanced master classes. Through UpSkill, techs can build on what measureQuick teaches them in the field.
The labor crunch in our industry won't go away fast. But programs like the GRIT Foundation and training hubs like UpSkill HVAC give me real hope. When we mix hands-on work with smart tech and great mentors, we get a model that can change our whole field.
The future of HVAC isn't just about better gear. It's about better-trained techs. And from what we saw at GRIT Camp, that future looks bright.