Arkansas HVACR NewsMagazine March 2026

HVACR NewsMagazine March 2026

education News

HVACR Association Instructor’s Council Brad Cooper & Matthew Lemaster Speak at National Events Arkansas HVACR instructors are getting national reputations and asked to speak at conferences. Brad Cooper, ASU Searcy, and Matt Lemaster, UA Pulaski Tech, have distinguished themselves by leading their colleges into accreditation with HVAC Excellence and have subsequently made a name for themselves and their programs with presentations on a national scale.

Brad spoke at Bryan Orr’s Annual HVACR Symposium in Florida. Bryan leads the podcast and newletter sponsored by HVAC School by HVAC techs. This was the 7 th Annual meeting of the best known and respected gurus in the country. Folks like Jim Bergmann and Craig Migliacco, regular contributors to the Arkansas HVACR NewsMagazine are popular presenters. Brad spoke on “Geothermal - Back to the Basics.” Matt Lemaster will speak at the National HVACR Education Conference, the largest convention and conference for HVACR educators in the United States. The 2025 conference boasted over 1300 attendees. This year will have nearly 100 sessions and classes with attendance expected to top 2025. Matt will be speaking on “Hardening of Soft Skills.”

These two programs and instructors are a credit to our state and their institutions. We encourage you to support them and their programs by serving on their advisory boards and being available to pinch hit whenever they may have a need. Their students would welcome you to share your experiences and to interview with you for job placement when they complete their programs. Are you taking off for spring break or have a vacation planned? Take some pictures and let us publish your getaway in the NewsMagazine. We need a human interest section. We ’ ve done recipes but submissions have tapered off. Want to brag about your back yard BBQ prowess, let us know and send pictures. We do more than wear a tool belt or carry a bucket. We ’ re a family. Tells us more about yourself. Remember, “ He that tooteth not his own horn, the same shall not be tootethed ” .