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Some of you have experienced problems using the new mynate.org site. We are aware of these issues and both NATE and Castle Worldwide (who administers the system) are hard at work correcting them. We are grateful to those of you who have reported problems. We have created an email to address any issues or comments you may have: nate@castleworldwide.com.

Despite the inconvenience, all of your information in your record (certifications earned, CEH reported, testing information, training records, C3 listings, etc.) is safe and secure. Although we are experiencing transition challenges, we are confident you will see the new system will make your interactions with NATE easier, faster, and more efficient. In the meantime, thank you for your patience in this transition time.

At NATE, we are committed to serving the industry by advancing the knowledge and skills of HVACR technicians. And we understand and appreciate your value as our partner in pursuing that commitment.

That is why effective immediately, approved NATE proctors who offer general HVACR training can resume training and proctoring NATE exams for the same candidates. This is a change in policy from the previous notification you received in May 2013 prohibiting such activity.

There is no additional action required of currently approved NATE proctors. To resume ordering and administering NATE exams, visit http://www.natex.org/site/325/Partners-Testing/Proctors/Getting-Started for more information.

The future of the HVACR industry depends on the continued growth in the number of knowledgeable NATE-certified technicians to provide quality service, installation, enhanced system performance, and energy efficiency. Our vision for the future of NATE includes strengthening relationships with partners like you to support technicians in earning and maintaining the certifications that embody the future of our workforce. This policy change is the first of these steps and there will be more to come as we continue to work with you to see our vision come to fruition.

If you have any questions, please contact Anthony Spagnoli, NATE Certification Manager at aspagnoli@natex.org.

ARLINGTON, VA. – (October 15, 2013) – North American Technician Excellence (NATE) elected a new Chairman as well as three new members to the Board of Trustees for the 2013-2014 term at its biannual meeting. The meeting was held on Wednesday, October 9, 2013 at NATE headquarters in Arlington, VA.

The NATE Board of Trustees named Wade Mayfield, President of Thermal Services, Inc. of Omaha, NE as the 2013-2014 Chairman of the Board. Mayfield has been involved in the HVAC business for 13 years. Having started as a sheet metal apprentice, he learned the business from the ground up. He has been President of Thermal Services for seven years. Thermal Services has 130+ employees spanning three branches located in Omaha and O’Neill, NE, and Des Moines, IA. The company specializes in heating, air conditioning, and plumbing in both residential and commercial markets. Mayfield joined the NATE board in 2012 and has also served as Chairman of the Heating and Cooling Contractors Association (HACCA), a local contractor association.

“I am honored to be elected as Chairman of the NATE Board of Trustees,” said Mayfield. “As an HVACR professional and contractor, I know the value of NATE certification and am pleased to continue to work with NATE in this new role.”

Chris Baker, President of Virginia Air Distributors and David Swift, President and CEO of Goodman/Amana, will continue to serve as Vice-Chairman and Secretary/Treasurer, respectively for the 2013-2014 term. Donald Frendberg assumed the role of Immediate Past Chairman. NATE also recognized the dedication and commitment of retiring board members Mitchell Cropp of Cropp-Metcalfe, and Whit Perry of Northwest Mississippi Community College.

The newly elected members to the NATE Board of Trustees are Chris Nelson, President for Carrier Residential and Commercial Systems (RCS); Scott Goulet, President of M.E Flow, Inc. of Leesburg, VA; and David McIlwaine, President, CEO and Founder of HVAC Distributors, Inc. of Mount Joy, PA.

“I proudly welcome Wade and the new members of the NATE Board of Trustees and sincerely thank our retiring members for their service,” said NATE COO John Lanier. “NATE continues to set the standards for quality HVACR technicians and I look forward to working with the NATE Board and staff to advance its vision.”

The remaining 2013-2014 members of the NATE Board of Trustees are:

• Dan Ashenden, Publisher, Mechanical Systems Group, Penton Media, Inc.
• Spencer G. Atkins, President & COO, Weathertech Dist. CO., Inc.
• Gary S. Bedard, Vice President & General Manager, Lennox Industries
• Marc E. Bridgens, Dean of School of Construction & Design Technologies, Pennsylvania College Of Technology
• Dan Foley, President, Foley Mechanical Inc.
• Talbot Gee, Executive Vice President/COO, Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration
• Distributors International (HARDI)
• Darrell Garrison, TAB/Service Specialist, International Training Institute
• Donald E. Jenkins, Service Manager, Shapiro & Duncan, Inc.
• Gerard “Gerry” Kennedy, Ph.D., Executive Vice President, Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association (PHCC)
• Harlan “Skip” Krepcik, CMS, Refrigeration Service Engineers Society (RSES) Region 4 Director
• Mark A. Lowry, Executive Vice President, Refrigeration Service Engineers Society (RSES)
• Mike Murphy, Publisher, The ACHR NEWS
• Ed Purvis, Executive Vice President, Emerson Climate Technologies
• Wayne R. Reedy, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc. (ASHRAE)
• Paul Stalknecht, President & CEO, Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA)
• Terry Tanker, Publisher, HVACR Business
• Chandler von Schrader, Program Manager, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Stephen R.Yurek, President/CEO, Air-Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration Institute (AHRI)

About North American Technician Excellence (NATE) Headquartered in Arlington, Va., NATE was founded in 1997 as the nation’s largest industry-endorsed, non-profit certification organization for heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration technicians. NATE tests technicians while others train. Testing validates the technician’s knowledge and a training program’s instruction. NATE-approved testing organizations throughout the U.S. and Canada offer NATE tests. Candidates can earn installation and/or service certification in nine specialty areas: air-conditioning, air distribution, heat pumps, gas heating, oil heating, hydronics gas, hydronics oil, and commercial, light commercial, refrigeration and senior efficiency analyst. NATE also offers the International Ground Source Heat Pump test. For more information about NATE, visit www.natex.org.

ARLINGTON, VA. – (September 19, 2013) NATE is proud to announce that Loran Dailey has been awarded the 2013 Golden Toolbox Award.

Presented at Comfortech 2013 in Philadelphia, the Golden Toolbox Award recognizes an industry professional who demonstrates outstanding service, support, and advocacy for technician certification.

Dailey has nearly 50 years of experience in the HVACR industry. He began his career as an installer/service technician and also worked for GE/Trane as a field service rep, in field operations, technical support, and more. He did this while also owning and operating his own commercial HVACR contracting firm.

Dailey is also an instructor, teaching all aspects of a two-year HVAC vocational program and participated in the EPA’s 608 experience as a junior college instructor.

In 1995, Dailey was involved in the initial gathering of industry representatives to discuss an HVAC technician certification effort and served as one of a five-member team that formalized what ultimately became NATE. He served as chairperson of the Heat Pump test development team that led to the establishment of the NATE testing process. During his tenure with Trane and American Standard, he integrated NATE into Trane’s field organization. He served as co-chair of NATE’s Technical Committee from 1999 to 2011.

“We’re so pleased to present Loran Dailey with this year’s Golden Toolbox Award,” said John Lanier, NATE Chief Operating Officer. “He has played an instrumental role in NATE from its inception to present day and we thank him for his dedication to NATE and the HVACR industry.”

For more information about NATE certification, visit www.natex.org.

ARLINGTON, VA.–September 18, 2013 –This week, North American Technician Excellence (NATE), released its first digital edition of the NATE Magazine. The digital issue expands on the previously annual publication to bring awareness to contractors, manufacturers, wholesalers, utilities, and others in the HVACR industry on why NATE-certified technicians are so important to their businesses. The free publication is available on the NATE website.

The theme of this issue highlights how NATE certification is a source of pride for many stakeholders in the HVACR industry. It opens with columns from NATE Board Chairman Donald Frendberg and new NATE Chief Operating Officer John Lanier. Lanier reviews the history of NATE in the industry and the organization’s plans to move forward with its new vision of “a NATE patch proudly worn on every technician’s shirt.” He also hints that there will be announcements made soon regarding updates to the NATE program that will better support technicians in maintaining their certifications.

A highlight of the publication is a review of the findings of a recent homeowner survey regarding NATE brand awareness, attitudes, and perceptions, along with suggestions to contractors on how to promote NATE to homeowners. In an Industry Insight from veteran contractor Mitchell Cropp, CEO of CroppMetcalfe in Fairfax, VA, he suggests that contractors would appreciate a marketing boost from equipment manufacturers as well. “If we’re going to make this thing go, the manufacturers need to step up and support the program and are going to have to promote NATE on all their marketing materials and advertising programs…And let’s face it, NATE certification helps the manufacturers too, because better installations mean better system operation and fewer warranty returns.”

Along with a listing of the top testing organizations to-date for 2013 is a profile of S.G. Torrice Co. of Wilmington, MA. The HVACR distributor, offering NATE testing since 1999, is a firm believer in NATE because it adds value to the entire channel, from the manufacturer through the consumer. Phil Valpey, senior technical representative at S.G. Torrice says, “The end user of the products that we sell deserves the best possible experience from the technicians that install and do the service for them. When a technician achieves certification, we feel that he has the ability to represent our products the way the manufacturer expects.” He adds, “Our literature and website prominently display the NATE logo, and we advise end users to use NATE-certified technicians. You can’t repeat that message too often.”

The issue concludes with a visit to contracting business Service Legends of Des Moines, IA, which holds the distinction of employing 10 percent of the nation’s HVACR technicians with the NATE senior-level HVAC Efficiency Analyst certification.  This HVAC Efficiency Analyst certification is designed for the highest level senior technician and the qualifying exam measures what 80 percent of candidates have an 80 percent likelihood of encountering at least once during the year on a national basis.  Fewer than 100 technicians nationwide have earned the certification.

Brian Leech, president of Service Legends, credits its technician certification program though NATE as one of the reasons his business is booming. Leech describes NATE certification as a “badge of honor” that helps to build pride in his team.

For more information about NATE, visit www.natex.org.

About North American Technician Excellence (NATE) Headquartered in Arlington, Va., NATE was founded in 1997 as the nation’s largest industry-endorsed, non-profit certification organization for heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration technicians. NATE tests technicians while others train. Testing validates the technician’s knowledge and a training program’s instruction. NATE-approved testing organizations throughout the U.S. and Canada offer NATE tests. Candidates can earn installation and/or service certification in nine specialty areas: air-conditioning, air distribution, heat pumps, gas heating, oil heating, hydronics gas, hydronics oil, and commercial, light commercial, refrigeration and senior efficiency analyst. NATE also offers the International Ground Source Heat Pump test. For more information about NATE, visit www.natex.org.