Northern California JATC Sets Industry Milestone with ASHRAE Student Branch Launch

Northern California JATC Sets Industry Milestone with ASHRAE Student Branch Launch

The Northern California Valley Sheet Metal Industry JATC (Sacramento JATC) has reached a historic milestone by becoming an official ASHRAE Student Branch, an achievement that marks a turning point not only for the program, but for the HVACR industry as a whole.

This designation makes the Sacramento JATC the first union HVACR apprenticeship training center to establish an ASHRAE student chapter. In fact, no apprenticeship training center or HVACR trade school has ever achieved this distinction before. Even more impressively, it ranks among the largest ASHRAE student branches at the time of its formation, reflecting exceptional engagement and enthusiasm from both apprentices and instructors.

The Northern California Valley Sheet Metal Industry JATC ASHRAE Student Branch is limited to registered apprentices of the program, similar to how university-based ASHRAE student chapters are limited to enrolled students. This ensures the chapter remains aligned with ASHRAE’s student membership structure while maintaining the integrity of the apprenticeship program.

This accomplishment was led by Roger Kane (Service and TAB Instructor) and Alex Tiechner (JATC Coordinator), who worked closely with a supportive ASHRAE regional team, including Sergio Rodriguez, Spencer Empery, and Daphny Paye of the Sacramento Valley ASHRAE Chapter. Their collaboration reflects a shared vision: bringing together the worlds of skilled trades, engineering, and academia to strengthen the future of the built environment.

The foundation for this partnership can be traced to the 2024–2025 ASHRAE Presidential theme, “Empowering Our Workforce: Building a Sustainable Future,” led by Dennis Knight. His message encouraged HVAC technicians to engage directly with ASHRAE, recognizing that a more diverse and inclusive membership strengthens the organization’s impact. That vision continues under current ASHRAE President Bill McQuade, whose focus on Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ), including clean air, water quality, and occupant well-being, aligns naturally with the hands-on expertise of HVAC professionals.

After all, no engineer designs for high-performance buildings without expecting them to function as intended. No manufacturer supplies advanced systems without wanting to see real-world success. HVAC technicians are essential to closing that gap, ensuring systems operate efficiently, deliver energy savings, and achieve the health and comfort outcomes they were designed for.

Recognizing this, the Sacramento JATC embraced ASHRAE’s invitation to deepen collaboration. With support from Lizzy Seymour (ASHRAE Director of Member Services), the program has already sent instructors and top apprentices to the 2025 and 2026 ASHRAE Winter Conferences and AHR Expo. There, they were welcomed into technical discussions and exposed to emerging technologies that will shape job sites over the next decade.

The impact has been immediate. Apprentices returned energized, sharing insights with their peers and building excitement around ASHRAE’s resources. More importantly, they now understand that ASHRAE is not just a resource, it is a community they are invited to actively shape throughout their careers.

The JATC is also strengthening this relationship by opening its facilities, including classrooms, an auditorium, and hands-on labs, for ASHRAE meetings. This creates a unique environment where academic concepts can be directly applied in real-world scenarios.

Under the guidance of Student Branch Advisor Roger Kane, apprentices are already stepping into leadership roles, preparing to serve as President, Vice President, and Treasurer/Secretary. The chapter is also actively engaging with the regional ASHRAE community, including participation in Young Engineers in ASHRAE (YEA) events, fostering early connections between technicians and engineers.

The long-term potential is clear. When engineers, technicians, and manufacturers build strong relationships early in their careers, collaboration becomes seamless. Imagine a jobsite where challenges are solved quickly through direct communication, where everyone shares a common goal: achieving design intent and delivering high-performing buildings.

The Sacramento JATC ASHRAE Student Branch is more than a milestone; it is a model for the future of the HVACR industry.