Cedric Brown When Jim Reynolds, president and CEO of Total Comfort Service Center met Cedric Brown in 2000 as an intern, he saw something special: a reliable young man with great potential.

As a 2005 graduate of the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) program at Midlands Technical College and an employee at Total Comfort, Cedric Brown knew upon graduation that he had gained invaluable knowledge through the education MTC provided and the hands-on, real world experiences at Total Comfort.

The HVAC program at Midlands Technical College is designed to provide entry-level technicians with hands-on training that is combined with theory. This offers students well-balanced preparation for careers that encompass the planning, installation, operation and maintenance of a wide variety of residential and light commercial air conditioning, refrigeration, and heating equipment.

"The curriculum in the HVAC program assisted me well as a foundation in my career," said Brown, who began Midlands Technical College in fall 2002 while he worked at Total Comfort as a cooperative employee.

"MTC gives students the fundamental understanding of the HVAC technology, and that is important," said Reynolds.

"The internships and co-op impacted my career deeply, as I received first-hand experience on what my career would consist of," said Brown. "It also gave me the chance to figure out what my strengths and weaknesses were and what skills were needed to perform daily tasks in the HVAC field," he said.

There are many different opportunities for careers in this field. These include residential air conditioning, commercial air conditioning, refrigeration, plant maintenance, appliance repair, apartment maintenance, controls and energy management, and sales. Many technicians even go on to open their own business after gaining field experience.

Brown's initial interest in HVAC came after he was one of three students chosen to intern with Total Comfort Service Center during his junior year at Columbia High School. Following the internship, Brown was asked to join the company as a co-op student for his senior year of high school.

"We hired Cedric at 17 as a summer intern from Columbia High School," said Reynolds. "We were impressed with his reliability, mechanical aptitude, and hard work, so we offered him co-op employment where he'd take class in the morning and get high school credit for his work in the afternoon."

Brown's technical experience with Total Comfort and theoretical experience as an HVAC student at Midlands Technical College partnered in his ability to do well in the HVAC field.

"I gained valuable knowledge in the classroom so much so that I could immediately use that newly- acquired knowledge in the field," said Brown.

Brown excelled academically which afforded him the opportunity to represent the college in a variety of public settings and participate in a number of community and volunteer activities.

"Over my education track at MTC, I volunteered in numerous events including my having served as a student ambassador, service on both the Honors and Graduation Committees, service as student spokesman for the HVAC program and on the Student Advisory Board, and service as spokesman for the Student Body at events such as the General Assembly Luncheon and a Leadership Conference at Clemson," said Brown.

As for advice to those students who might be interested in a career in HVAC, Brown suggested shadowing and interning, to see if the work is actually enjoyable. He also said problem-solving skills are mandatory.

Brown is currently working on a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering at USC and plans to graduate in 2009. "I plan to use both of my degrees to my advantage in the Heating and Air Conditioning industry."

For Jim Reynolds, Brown has no limitations on what he can accomplish professionally. "Cedric will be successful because he is highly productive and very bright and has been a tremendous asset to us," said Reynolds. I am certain Cedric will have a wonderful career in the HVAC industry."