Commercial Kitchen Chronicles
Episode 198:
Are we really struggling to find the next generation of technicians… or are we struggling to TRAIN them? On this episode of Commercial Kitchen Chronicles, I sit down with Ty Branaman, CMHE — Head of Training for The GRIT Foundation, Field Trainer for Kalos Services, Love2HVAC edutainer, Aether Training consultant, and the one and only Banana Man. https://www.love2hvac.com/ www.youtube.com/@love2hvac https://www.instagram.com/love2hvac https://www.tiktok.com/@love2hvac This conversation goes way beyond the usual “Gen Z doesn’t want to work” argument. Ty has spent years working with technicians, students, instructors, companies, and young people entering the skilled trades. We talk about what he’s actually seeing from the next generation and whether some of the problems we blame on Gen Z might really be problems with how we recruit, teach, mentor, and develop technicians. Are we training them wrong? We get into: Why curiosity is one of the most powerful tools in training Using questions instead of simply giving technicians the answer Allowing trainees to make controlled mistakes and learn from them Why great technicians don’t automatically make great trainers Hands-on training versus simply reading a textbook Teaching troubleshooting instead of memorizing answers Why different technicians need concepts explained in different ways Airflow, refrigeration, electrical, brazing, piping, tools, and diagnostics How teaching can make the instructor a better technician The role YouTube, social media, and industry educators play in HVAC/R education Our responsibility to pass knowledge to the next generation We also dive into The GRIT Foundation and its hands-on camps, where young people get the opportunity to actually experience the trades. https://www.thegritfoundation.com/ Ty pushes back against the idea that young people simply don’t want to work. Give them an opportunity to build something, troubleshoot, use tools, and understand how things work, and that curiosity is still there. Maybe Gen Z isn’t the problem. Maybe we need to rethink how we reach them. Whether you're an HVAC technician, refrigeration technician, commercial kitchen equipment technician, apprentice, instructor, service manager, or anyone responsible for technician development, this conversation is for you. Commercial Kitchen Chronicles is proud to be sponsored by Viper from Refrigeration Technologies. HVAC/R and commercial kitchen technicians know what grease, dirt, and harsh environments can do to coils and equipment. Viper offers professional cleaning products developed with technicians in mind, helping us tackle condenser coils, evaporators, and some of the nastiest equipment we encounter in the field. Professional products for professional technicians. https://www.refrigtech.com/ https://commercialkitchenchronicles.com/ Commercial Kitchen Chronicles is The Original Foodservice Equipment Repair Podcast — sharing the stories, knowledge, and experiences of the technicians, trainers, manufacturers, service companies, and industry leaders keeping commercial kitchens running. Follow or subscribe on your favorite podcast platform, leave a rating or review, and share this episode with another technician. Want to be a guest or know someone whose story needs to be heard? Visit Commercial Kitchen Chronicles online to apply or nominate a future guest. The future of the trades isn’t going to build itself. We have to teach it. #HVAC #HVACR #SkilledTrades #HVACTraining #CommercialKitchenChronicles
