The Manasota Air Conditioning Contractors Association (MACCA) recognized their 2020 and 2021 Apprenticeship Program graduates at a banquet held at the Holiday Inn Sarasota Airport on July 15, 2021. The 2020 graduation ceremony was cancelled due to the COVID pandemic, and those graduates were invited to attend this year’s event. Over 50 employers, sponsors, family and friends attended the celebration in support of the graduates.

Master of Ceremonies Paul Stehle of Climatic Conditioning Co. Inc. kept things moving along, welcoming the graduates and guests, and recognizing the MACCA Board of Directors and Apprenticeship Committee. “Thank you to Trane Supply, Tropic Supply, Filters Done Right and Winnsupply for providing gifts to our graduates and we extend our gratitude and a special thank you to instructors John Ferraro, James Rhodes and Keith VanFleet.”

Keynote Speaker Kristi Hoskinson, Vice -President of CareerEdge, provided an entertaining commencement speech, drawing on her own experiences navigating her career to encourage the graduates in pursuing their goals. The lasting impression she wanted to leave was the technique of “freeze-framing” or resetting attitudes in moments of stress or anxiety. “The way to start shifting your thinking or changing your attitude is through breathing,” Kristin stated. “A couple of inhales and exhales is the reset button, giving your mind a chance to shift your perspective facing your next customer or the conversation you’re about to have with your boss, allowing you to communicate in a manner you’ll be proud of. I think you guys are amazing and congratulations on your graduation.”

The 2020 3rd-year graduates are Kelsy Blanco, Michael Bowers, Terrence Ellis, Frank Moraga and Tyler Wilson.

In addition to 2021 3rd-year graduates Hector Bautista, Colin Jones, Devon Kapusta and Kyle Tipton, the apprenticeship program advanced 13 2nd-year completers and 23 1st-year completers.
Paul closed the evening announcing that “We now have letters of articulation with Hillsborough Community College and the State College in Jacksonville for course credits towards an Associate’s degree in multiple business-related fields for past and current apprenticeship program graduates.”

Contractors interested in enrolling employees in the 2021-2022 MACCA Apprenticeship Program are encouraged to contact Executive Director Robin Parsons by calling 941.404.3407 or emailing info@MACCAus.com. Classes begin the week of August 16, 2021.

About CareerEdge
Training the Next Generation of Skilled Workers
CareerEdge was designed to work on both sides of the labor market – the demand side and the supply side – as well as among intermediary organizations, such as higher education institutions, in order to fuel the pipeline of skilled labor needed by the region’s employers. For more information, visit www.careeredgefunders.org.
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