Stop Losing Techs Before They Even Start

March 19, 2026
Technical Theater
Technical Theater

110,000 open positions. 25,000 techs walk off the job every year. 70% of new HVAC businesses fail in year one. Our industry doesn’t have a hiring problem – it has a retention problem. With insights from a panel who have collectively trained over 400,000 technicians and have built businesses, quite literally from the ground up, this session will dig into what it actually takes to recruit the next generation of techs and encourage them to stay; accessible certification paths, real mentorship and support in their first year, and ongoing training that matches their career progression. If you struggle to fill trucks or keep techs beyond year one, this session is for you.

Speakers
Ruchir Shah
Ruchir Shah, Founder and CEO - Skillcat
Kimberly Sevilla
Kimberly Sevilla, Owner - Shelter Air
Andrew Brown
Andrew Brown, Host - The Lost Art of the Skilled Trades