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Paul, 39, was born in Jacksonville, Florida, but he comes from a Navy family, so he was raised around the world – Guam, Japan – and around the U.S. before coming back to Jacksonville. Paul graduated from the seven-month Refrigeration Technologies (RT) program in September 2025 before adding electrical classes to complete the Electro-Mechanical Technologies (EMT) program at Tulsa Welding School in Jacksonville at the end of October 2025.
Thanks for your time, Paul. What did you do before enrolling at TWS? 
When I was younger, I went to community college and got an associate’s degree in business. I tried state college, but it wasn’t for me; I didn’t finish my bachelor’s. I went to school for Medical Assisting and that was fine, but even though I graduated, I was in the hospital pulling blood samples with my brother once and he accidentally sprayed blood on me; I freaked out. I knew immediately that career wasn’t for me.
Bodily fluids can do that! So, what path did you take?
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For the past 15 years I worked in remodeling and construction – mostly building and remodeling houses with a General Contractor. I love working with my hands, so I stuck with it. I did roofing, framing, concrete, wiring, drywall – pretty much everything.
What made you explore HVAC?
Five or six years ago, I’d finished gutting a house and I’d removed the AC unit. The guy who was supposed to install the new one didn’t show up. Since I knew duct work and how to read schematics, I figured I’d try to install it myself. It struck me that first day – HVAC is like three trades in one: electrical, refrigerant, and plumbing. That challenge sparked my curiosity. I started studying the refrigerant cycle, reading more, and I decided this was something I wanted to do. So, I got more into the field with the GC I was working with. For five years I installed and diagnosed AC units for them. Originally, I thought I’d go for my own GC license, but in Florida there’s limited opportunity unless you have financial backing and a strong portfolio. There’s a lot of competition. I realized HVAC was what I really wanted.
So, what brought you to HVAC school this year?
One day in January, I was on a job site building a barndominium with a crew. The owner of the GC business kept pushing me toward the GC side, and that’s not what I wanted. In the GC world, you’re really a project manager and you’re only as good as your workers, and it’s chaotic. I realized I didn’t want that life. Long story short, we got into an argument, and I quit on the spot. I loaded my tools into my truck, and told myself, “I’m going to school. I need certification and a license.”
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That was a great motivator.
I was about to turn 39, and I wanted to enter my 40s strong. I have two kids, aged nine and eight, and I’ve raised them mostly on my own. I wanted to set an example, prove people wrong, and learn the HVAC the right way – the technical side instead of piecing things together. Electrical work has always been in my family. My dad was an aviation electrician in the Navy, my grandfather was an electrician, so I’m third generation.
Good for you. Even with experience, was it scary starting school?
Very. The first phase is Fundamentals of Electricity – an introductory class. I’d taken electrical courses before, but once they dove in, I felt overwhelmed. TWS compresses what would be a full semester into one month. You have to understand it fast and apply it in lab. I definitely had an “oh shit” moment.
What kept you going?
This time, unlike when my dad paid for college, it was on me – thousands of dollars financed, with kids depending on me. But honestly, my classmates kept me going. I looked around and saw everyone else was overwhelmed too. We bonded quickly because you stay together through the phases – you’re not mixed into huge classes like college. We supported each other: “You got this. I got this. Let’s do this.” By graduation we were laughing, saying, “Remember week one? Month one?” That bond helped us all push through. In lab, we helped each other constantly. Some of us had field experience, some didn’t. The experienced ones became the “anchors,” and even we were still learning. It was a natural human thing – people gravitate toward whoever can help them move forward.
What did you enjoy most about your time at Tulsa Welding School?
The information and support. Teachers stay late; everything is accessible. Even after graduation, I can go back if I need help. It felt like home once I understood that the instructors truly wanted to guide us and would always be there to help.
Did you enroll in RT first and decide to add EMT?
Yes. Day one was RT only. I didn’t decide on EMT until month six. I liked the school and wanted to learn as much as I could. Also, the trades have changed. When I grew up, people saw the trades as something for those who “couldn’t make it” at college. That mindset is gone. After COVID especially, trades overtook degrees. Technology and AI are eliminating jobs. Electrical and HVAC trades are growing. Somebody needs to build, wire and cool these data centers! I invest in stocks — my dad taught me — and you can see where wealthy people put their money. The direction is clear. It freaks me out to think about my kids’ generation.
Let’s talk about work. You finished class last month and you’re now working for an HVAC company.
Yes, I work for J&W Heating and Air – a big HVAC and plumbing company in Jacksonville. They’re part of Hometown Services Inc., which is nationwide. Because I had five years of field experience plus certifications from school (EPA, NATE, etc.), I was hired straight in as a residential service technician instead of starting as a parts tech or installer.
Congratulations! How did you get the job? Did Career Services help?
Yes. Ms. Maureen in Career Services helped with my résumé; I thought mine was pretty good, but she kind of blew it out of the water. Then they encourage you to set up Indeed, so I floated my résumé out there. Because of my remodeling background, she thought I should go into facility maintenance and lined me up with interviews. But I’ve had maintenance jobs before, I was still strong on wanting to do HVAC work.
Construction can pay well. Are you happy with what you’re making now?
Yes. I make almost the same as I did in construction. But with bonuses and incentives, I’ll probably make $10–15K more this year. In construction I made about $100K at my highest but that was 60–80 hours a week. Now I work maybe 50 hours, and bonuses fill the gap. My customer service background helps with sales.
Nice. So, what’s your career plan going forward?
J&W will be my foundation for the next five years. My goal is to get my Class A HVAC contractor’s license so I can run my own company — installing, diagnosing, and doing duct work legally under my own license. I already have started a company; now I want to be fully certified. I’m planning to take the state test later this year or early next year. I did the previous work under the other GC’s license.
What do you enjoy most about HVAC as a trade?
That there’s no end to it. Everyone needs AC. There’s always work. I love diagnosing problems and helping customers, and I know I’ll have a job tomorrow. That security is huge.
And your classmates — do you think you’ll all stay in touch?
Definitely. We still talk. We all shared our goals. Some just wanted a job; I wanted a steppingstone to my contractor license. They know how driven I am, and someday I may be able to offer them jobs. I want to build something I can pass to my kids.
Final question: What advice would you give to new students starting at Tulsa Welding School?
Treat school like it’s your last lifeline. Let it sink in. Don’t just scrape by because that won’t cut it in the real world. Absorb everything. Listen to the instructors – they’ve been in the field, they know what works and what doesn’t. Some people don’t take it seriously and fall behind. This is your steppingstone. Respect it.
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).
