Knoxville-Based Military Veterans Thrive with Transition to New Civilian Careers in HVAC Industry
Wisconsin Eagle/10163632

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - WisconsinEagle -- After more than two decades of service in the U.S. Navy, Jeremy James found a civilian career he was passionate about, starting his own company—Blue Water Climate Control—in partnership with his wife. Now, at the helm of Knoxville's highest-rated HVAC services company, James is paying it forward by training and hiring like-minded military veterans.

Last year, U.S. military veterans Ben Murphy and Michael Fernandez began their HVAC career journey at Blue Water. After completing HVAC training online, Murphy was hired by James as a HVAC helper. A year later, after completing multiple certification programs, he has risen the ranks to lead installer. Fernandez, who attended HVAC school at the end of his eight-year career with the U.S. Marines, joined Blue Water and quickly became a top technician. Today he is leading the company's satellite office and continuing his training to become a project manager.

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"While a career in the HVAC industry is rewarding, it is critical for each of our installers and technicians to have a strong work ethic. For that reason, HVAC careers are a great fit for veterans transitioning back to civilian life," said James. "Ben and Michael are both great examples of how quickly you can succeed in this industry with integrity and hard work. As a veteran myself, hiring other servicemen and women is a no brainer."

With modern HVAC systems becoming increasingly complex, opportunities in the heating and air conditioning industry continue to expand. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, HVAC positions have grown 21% over the past 10 years. Blue Water offers its new employees specialized training programs, allowing them to learn while on the job.

"While in the Marines, I was able to take advantage of the opportunity to attend trade school in order to set myself up for success after leaving the service," said Fernandez. "Working at Blue Water with Jeremy and his team has been a great experience, as they've empowered me to continue learning and growing. I'm thankful for how quickly I've been able to establish myself in a new field."

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"Finding a civilian career that plays to my strengths and offers incredible benefits seemed like a needle in a haystack until I discovered the HVAC industry," said Murphy. "While many industries require many years of training to fully ramp up, I'm happy that I've been able to achieve multiple certifications in such a short time."

To learn more about career opportunities in the HVAC field, visit https://www.bluewaterclimatecontrol.com/blog/2021/december/hvac-careers/.

About Blue Water Climate Control
Since 2018, Blue Water Climate Control has been providing Knoxville, Tennessee residents with high-quality HVAC services. The experienced team members at Blue Water help both residential and commercial customers install and properly maintain air conditioning and heating systems. A local, family-owned business, Blue Water was founded by U.S. Navy veteran Jeremy James and his wife Sharon. To learn more about Blue Water Climate Control, visit https://www.bluewaterclimatecontrol.com/.