Lee Flores and Steven Chapa Shine a Spotlight on SWTJC's Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Program
Uvalde, TX, October 6, 2023 - In a prestigious announcement, Lee Flores, a respected Air Conditioning and Refrigeration at Southwest Texas Junior College (SWTJC) and the owner of Air-Tek Heating & Cooling, has been named the recipient of the 2023 HVAC Trade-Pro of the Year Award by Malco Products. This recognition underscores his unwavering commitment to the HVAC industry, on-the-job safety, and the local community.
Malco Products, a renowned developer and manufacturer of top-quality tools for the HVAC and building construction trades, announced the winners of its annual HVAC Trade-Pro of the Year Award program. This accolade is a testament to the outstanding contributions made by HVAC professionals who excel in their field and actively engage in community service.
Lee Flores is an instructor at SWTJC while managing Air-Tek Heating & Cooling in Uvalde. His dedication and expertise have garnered him this esteemed recognition. Rich Benninghoff, President and CEO of Malco, expressed his pride in the 2023 HVAC Trade-Pro of the Year winners, emphasizing their commitment to their trade and communities. Flores and the other winners will receive $1,000 worth of Malco tools, awarded by their preferred local distributor.
The significance of Lee Flores's achievement extends beyond personal recognition. The Air Conditioning and Refrigeration program at SWTJC has gained widespread attention from HVAC companies seeking to hire skilled technicians. This recognition reflects the program's excellence and role in preparing students for successful careers in the HVAC industry.
Recently, representatives from Crimson Refrigeration Inc. of Edinburg visited the Uvalde campus to interview three air conditioning and refrigeration students for potential employment opportunities. Adolfo De León, the Crimson Refrigeration owner-operator, contacted Flores after seeing the Malco recognition, requesting to speak and interview students.
According to Flores, Steven Chapa of Uvalde is now an employee of Crimson Refrigeration Inc. Chapa is a second-year student set to graduate in May 2024.
Chapa will begin working on weekends, where he will be the industrial HVAC technician for Crimson Refrigeration Inc. in the area covering San Antonio, Del Rio, Uvalde and Eagle Pass.
"Steven will go to work full time after he graduates in May, but until then, he'll work part-time, which means weekends," Flores stated. "He will work full time during the Christmas break and return to us in January to finish up with us. Adolfo and I spoke and agreed that Steven graduating is the priority."
The hiring of Chapa highlights the real-world value of the HVAC education provided by Lee Flores and the SWTJC program.
The SWTJC Air Conditioning and Refrigeration program has grown steadily over the last several years. The number of students in the second-year program has doubled every year since 2021.
"We have seen an increase in second-year students," said Flores. "This year, we have 22 students in the second-year class, the highest number of students we have ever had."
For more information about Lee Flores and the SWTJC Air Conditioning and Refrigeration program at Southwest Texas Junior College, visit the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration program page.