CMCTS HVAC students receive hands-on experience and donations during field trip to Audubon Supply
The students toured the facility, gained insight about the career and were given tools to continue their learning at school
Cape May Court House, NJ – Cape May County Technical School (Cape Tech)students in the HVAC-R & Sustainable Energy program received hands-on experience and valuable career insight during a recent field trip to Audubon Supply in Cape May Court House.
Audubon Supply, a supply company offering plumbing, HVAC, and sheet metal services, with two dedicated fabrication shops that meet the needs of local HVAC and plumbing professionals, welcomed the roughly 30 future HVAC professionals on May 15. The students learned and worked with different tools and machines, toured the facility and spoke with manufacture representatives that partner with Audubon Supply. Two companies, the Rich-Tomkins Company in Pa. and Tech Air Solutions which serves the Mid-Atlantic area, made generous tools donations to Cape Tech to continue advancing the students’ education through their relationship with Audubon Supply.
“We are grateful to those who made this trip possible and took the time to share their professional experience with our students,” said Jamie Moscony, superintendent at Cape Tech. “We also are thankful for the generous donations from the Rich-Tomkins Company and Tech Air Solutions. These tools will give the students valuable hands-on experience to better prepare them in the field.”
Rich-Tompkins Co., an independent manufacturer's representative for the plumbing industry and the Milwaukee tool representative for eastern Pa., Southern Jersey, and Del., donated roughly $3,500 in tools to Cape Tech. The donation includes a Milwaukee M12™ FORCE LOGIC™ Press Tool Kit with Jaws that assists with refrigeration for HVAC and copper pipe and fittings for plumbing jobs. The company also gave the school Milwaukee tools to repair residential refrigeration.“
We support when we can,” said Joe Opa, the N.J. sales territory manager for Rich-Tompkins Co. “Milwaukee does a great job in partnering with vocational-technical schools to train and help educate the future of the plumbing and heating industry.”
Tech Air Solutions, a premiere manufacturers’ representative including for Fieldpiece,Inc., is donating a dual port manometer with a pressure switch tester valued at $350 forCape Tech’s school training facility. The company will work with Cape Tech and Audubon Supply to help the students receive more products or discounts, too.“
Those becoming a technician in plumbing or HVAC are going to need supplies from a local wholesale supply house, like Audubon Supply,” said Ken Brown, who works for Tech Air Solutions. “Exposing the students to how this works, including tools,equipment, supplies, etc., is good for them. They won't be going to Home Depot or some other store, they would be loyal to a local wholesale distributor.”
Mike Fossett, sales manager at Audubon Supply, coordinated the field trip with Cape Tech and was happy to help the students on their educational journey.“
We need younger people to enter the HVAC and plumbing business,” said Fossett.“ The reps are bringing the kids up to date by teaching them about these tools, and this knowledge will help the students be more efficient and safer on the job. Field trips like this are a good way to help educate and prepare the next generation of plumbers and HVAC technicians.”The students’ HVAC instructor, Nicholas Vittorini, and instructional aide, Kara Reinhardt, accompanied them on the field trip. Both still currently work in the field and were glad the students gained valuable, up to date knowledge on the trip. Vittorini spoke alongside the other professionals about his current experience in the field. His relationship with Audubon Supply is how the opportunity presented itself for the students to visit.
Audubon Supply, a cornerstone of the Audubon, New Jersey community, has been serving homeowners and industry professionals in the greater New Jersey and Philadelphia areas for over a century. Founded in 1913, the fourth-generation family-owned business has a rich history intertwined with the growth and development of the region - recently opening their fourth location.