Graduate Connections – Meet Brian Lewis

Brian, 45, was born in Boston, MA, but has moved all over the country as a child and as an adult. Brian completed the Refrigeration Technologies program at Tulsa Welding School, Jacksonville in April 2026.

Thanks for your time, Brian. So, you moved around a lot?

I moved all over. We were not a military family, but every five years it was the ongoing joke that it was time to move again. I’ve gone east coast to west coast and back; from Boston, MA, to Portland, OR, Stamford, CT, Philadelphia, PA, Charleston, SC, St. George, UT. I’ve been around the block a time or two.

That’s great experience. What did you do in the years before coming to Tulsa Welding School?

My first career was in kitchens. I started cooking when I was in sixth grade and eventually worked my way up to executive chef; I spent about three years at that level. I loved it, but I was working 80 to 90 hours a week for very little pay, and eventually I got burned out.

After getting married and having a daughter, I decided to make a career change and went to work for Publix. I started part-time and worked my way up to deli manager. I was with Publix for nine years and didn’t think I would ever leave. After my divorce, my daughter stayed with me. But she was killed in a motorcycle accident at 17 years old, almost two years ago in 2024. She had worked with me at two different Publix locations, and we had an amazing relationship. After losing her, I couldn’t mentally, physically or emotionally go back to work at Publix. I walked away from a $90,000-a-year career to go back to school.

My condolences on your loss, that’s unimaginable. How did the idea of trade school come about?

Even when I was a manager at Publix, I had an associate who left to go to school for HVAC. I also had two friends who were working in HVAC, so I started picking their brains and doing some research. One school I looked at was a two-year program that cost around $45,000. It involved transcripts, English, Math and all the other requirements of a traditional college program. At 44, I didn’t want to go back to college for two years. That’s when I found Tulsa Welding School.

New: Industrial Maintenance

Learn About Our New Advanced Industrial Maintenance Program

Tulsa Welding School is proud to announce our newest program offering available at our Houston & Dallas Metro Campuses – Advanced Industrial Maintenance Technology! Learn the skills you need to take on the industries of manufacturing, distribution, energy production and facility maintenance in as few as 7 months.

Learn More

What appealed about TWS in comparison?

Honestly, seven months on the TWS program sounded like something I could handle. I pulled out my stock and 401(k) from Publix so I could support myself and be able to afford to stay in my home while I wasn’t working. I wanted something where I could get trained quickly, gain some experience, and get into the field. My friends helped convince me that HVAC and refrigeration would be a good profession, especially in Florida. It’s hot, everybody needs air conditioning, and it’s an industry that’s continuing to grow.

What did you enjoy most about the seven months at Tulsa Welding School?

I think it’s twofold. The instructors really love what they’re doing, and it shows. Secondly, having that amount of hands-on experience working with instructors who care, made a huge difference. If we were struggling with something, they would stay late and work with us. They were really committed to making sure we had the knowledge we needed to be successful.

Did you have any prior experience with refrigeration or electrical work?

It was completely new to me. I’d done some basic electrical work around the house, but I had no knowledge of refrigeration. At Publix, whenever we had an issue with a walk-in cooler or refrigeration equipment, I’d have to call someone in. I would always ask what happened, what was wrong and how we could prevent it from happening again. So, I had some supervisory knowledge, but very little practical experience.

How did you find the program? Easy? Challenging?

It was challenging because there was so much information. You’re cramming almost a full year’s worth of education into seven months. With each class lasting only a month, you can get lost quickly if you’re not focused. I knew that if this was going to be my path to a new career, so I had to buckle down, make every moment count and do the work. It was a lot of work for seven months, but it was very rewarding.

What did you do when you struggled with something?

My biggest support system was my instructors. I only made a few friends because I was 44 and most of the other students were much younger. I was also still grieving the loss of my daughter, so I wasn’t really looking to socialize. Whenever I had an issue, I talked to my instructors. They were always there to help, which is another reason I say the program was so good. The classes aren’t normally very large, so there’s plenty of opportunity for one-on-one time. If you need to stay late, they’re there for you.

You started a new job about two weeks ago. Where are you working?

I’m working for United Rentals in their climate control/refrigeration department. We focus on emergency outages. When people lose cooling, they call us and we provide temporary solutions to keep them comfortable. We’re essentially available 24/7.

What kind of equipment are you working with?

It’s primarily comfort cooling. We work with different refrigerants, and the systems have the same basic components – compressors, condensers and so on – but in different sizes. We have smaller units, but we also have 15-ton units that weigh more than 2,000 pounds and can be brought in for large venues. Most of our work is commercial, although we do have some residential applications.

How are you feeling about starting over in a new industry at 45?

I’m scared to death. Starting over at the bottom of a pay scale at 45 is terrifying. But I’m also grateful. I have a company vehicle, cell phone, laptop, and gas card, so there are a lot of benefits and cost savings. More importantly, I still own my home, I still have breath in my lungs, and I’m moving forward in life. That’s what my daughter would have wanted.

What’s your career goal? Do you see yourself progressing within United Rentals?

I don’t know exactly what my end goal is, but gaining knowledge from the bottom up is important to me. I’ve always done that. Whether it was starting in a kitchen at 12 years of age and working my way up to the executive chef level or starting at Publix part-time before working my way up to deli manager. I’m a great believer that once I know everything about a role, I can then train and teach others to be better in theirs. That means I don’t necessarily have to be out in the heat all day doing this tech job forever. There are other paths within United Rentals, and I’m sure I can continue to progress.

What have you learned about what you want from your career?

More than anything, I want to be great at whatever I do, but I also want to live my life and enjoy it. For years, I worked for companies that didn’t respect me or care whether I had a family or a life outside of work. It was always about climbing the corporate ladder or dealing with BS. I’m not doing that anymore. I’m going to live my life, take my vacation time; I’m going to enjoy things and not let work consume me.

What do you enjoy most about the HVAC/refrigeration trade?

I love showing up at a job where people are stressed, hot and uncomfortable, and being able to fix the problem. Suddenly, that stress goes away and they’re incredibly happy to have their comfort back. Not everybody has to deal with their AC going out, but when it happens, you realize how much you take it for granted. There’s almost a feeling of euphoria when someone says, “Thank you so much. I couldn’t be happier.” I’ve always been someone who likes taking care of people, and I take pride in that. I get a lot of joy from seeing other people happy because of something I did.

You’ve only been on the job for two weeks. What does your training look like?

I had a full week of online training, which was great, although I’m very much a hands-on learner so I am glad to be off the computer and out in a truck now. This week I’ve been shadowing another technician who’s training me, and it’s been a really good experience. I’ll continue shadowing until they feel I’m ready to go out on my own. Probably another week or so.

What is your job title?

I’ll be a Tech One. The person training me is a Tech Two, so he’s got more experience and gets paid more. There are two levels, Tech One and Tech Two, so Tech Two is the next step for me.

What advice do you have for new Tulsa Welding School students for them to be successful at school?

Commit to it and don’t give up. No matter how hard you think the program is, commit to it and keep going. In seven months, you’ll look back and say, “That wasn’t that hard!”

If you’re a TWS graduate and would like to share your success and be an inspiration to others, please email [email protected] to be considered for a Graduate Connection interview. Please include details such as your graduation date (month/year), program, and campus name (Tulsa/Jacksonville/Houston/Dallas/Atlanta/Phoenix).