By Stewart Curet
Texas Metro News
Despite the thunderstorms and flooding early this week, UpSmith CEO and Founder, Wyatt Smith called Monday an exciting day as UpSmith, Inc. and American Residential Services (ARS/Rescue-Rooter) announced a partnership creating “high-purpose, high-pay, high-dignity career opportunities” across Texas for aspiring HVAC technicians.
“Our mission is to combat the U.S. skill crisis,” said Smith, adding that they have a big challenge with over one million job openings in Texas. “To take on those roles and expand, we need a new way of working.”
Through UpSmith’s technology platform – UpSmith.com – which connects talent with employers seeking to identify, qualify, staff, and retain skilled tradespeople, ARS, the nation’s largest provider of residential heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) services, is sponsoring candidates o earn credentials as HVAC technicians via paid 8-week training boot camps.
According to Smith, upon completion of the program, applicants will be offered $20-25 per hour and those rates will have a significant impact on not only the economy but communities, families and the country.
“Texas is a proving ground for how to create fast, affordable pathways to jobs of the future,” he said. “Our platforms are open for business!”
“We are excited to announce our partnership with UpSmith in addressing the skilled worker shortage across Dallas and Houston,” said ARS Chief Human Resource Officer, Chris Snow. “With their support, we will be able to provide enhanced services to our valued customers and communities. The ARS Network is proud to pioneer these paid on-ramps to welcome new, hard-working talent into our industry. In addition to creating home services careers, we are inviting bright, ambitious young men and women to build fulfilling careers in a rapidly advancing market.”
Earlier this year, when Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson named Lynn McBee as his Workforce Czar, he said that boosting upskilling efforts in the City was a “top mayoral priority.” Because of the importance of this issue, this partnership, said McBee, will help with one of her goals, which she stated when appointed, and that is workforce development.
“Workforce Dallas is committed to helping up to 10,000 residents a year upskill for jobs of the future. UpSmith’s tech platform provides a needed link to employers,” she said. “I am pleased UpSmith is launching its workforce training endeavor in North Texas to create pathways for Metroplex residents to gain high-demand credentials in the skilled professions.”
Citing statistics that show 40 percent of Dallasites are in the low income bracket, McBee said she and Mayor Johnson are “hyper-focused” and working hard to change those statistics.
“We’ve got to all be involved and working hard to move those people out of the low income situations and multiple job situations, and we know that technology is the way to scale, technology is the future in solving workforce issues.”
For McBee, solutions include upward mobility, providing the skills and investing in participants reaching their fullest potential.
To underscore the value of their community partnership, CitySquare Chief Programs Officer Nadia Salibi said: “At CitySquare, our programs address inequality in access to housing, food, healthcare, legal services, and employment opportunities. As we strive to remove obstacles for so many of our neighbors, we are excited to partner with UpSmith and empower our neighbors through training that can secure better pay and a rewarding, sustainable career.”
She added that partnering, as well as employment training are critical to CitySquare and their team will be “walking alongside” workers to help them achieve their goals.
“In the fight to move our neighbors out of poverty into the possibilities, everyone deserves to have equal access to training, and building marketable skills is paramount.”
Darren Green wholeheartedly agrees and he was on hand to share his experiences.
The former Marine said he went through an identity crisis and needed to find a niche to direct his drive and sense of purpose.
Because he enjoyed working with his hands, and he saw an opportunity for growth, he signed up, graduated from HVAC school and is gainfully employed, doing something that is providing him so many opportunities.
And those opportunities are coming fast, according to Smith, who says candidates interested in careers as HVAC technicians should visit UpSmith.com to learn more, and apply. He said the process is simple and after creating a video, passing checks that include background and drug testing; they will be hiring in the next two and a half weeks.
“You’ll be a technician by the middle of the Fall,” Smith added.
Marva J. Sneed contributed to this report.
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