Chris Compton, CHME
CEO & Founder of HVACRedu.net, CMS, CMHE
Chris has stepped through a 44-year career in the HVACR industry; JM Perry Trade on the GI Bill, A Lead Service Technician in Residential-Industrial, Successful Contractor in Residential-Industrial and then on to be a Global HVACR CTE Educator due to his working career and experience in HVACR technology and master ability to teach in the F2F or Online. The online program has brought much to the table for thousands of technicians over its 27-year run.
He has been certified at Service Level in five NATE specialties. He is certified as a CMHE, Certified by HVAC Excellence as a Master HVACR Educator. In 1997 he received the National RSES Imperial award for being the top gun Commercial Refrigeration technician. 1998 he was selected as on of the top 10 CTE educators in the U.S. by ACTE (Association of Career & Technical Education). In 2011 his design of the ItsAboutQ.net program for California utilities won the National “Dealer Design” Gold Award from the ACHR News. In 2014 he was named the Teacher of the Year by the ACHR News. Chris has been teaching in the classroom and the online mode for 31 years.
Through the online program students consistently test in the top 10% of the Industry’s National Certification Exams and State Journeyman Exams. Chris serves as an educational consultant provider to large and small contractors and facility maintenance operations, loves to talk to students, and provides HVACR learning around the Globe. It seems he likes what he does!
Todd Kler
Lead HVAC/R Subject Matter Expert, CSME, NATE
As a proud team member at HVACRedu.net, I am honored to provide each student with the best online HVAC/R education to achieve their goals. I bring with me a wealth of knowledge with more than 25 years of experience in the HVAC/R industry that I share with learners every day at HVACRedu.net.
Although my post-secondary education was centered and focused on Aviation, life can throw us curve balls as many of us know all too well. When life does this, one must be able to adjust and acclimate to what we are delivered. Adjusting or acclimating to these curve ball(s) thrown to me with not having the option to pursue my passion of aviation and flight, I fell back onto what I knew & what I grew up doing where I was taught from a young age the trade of HVAC/R well over 25 years ago.
For the past 14 years I have been teaching and/or inspecting and ensuring quality of HVAC systems, maintenance, performance, and design as an Instructor and/or Quality Assurance Inspector with large organizations like Southern California Edison (SCE), CLEAResult, CalCERTS, Compton College, and most recently – HVACRedu.net. I have had the utmost pleasure in training technicians, contractors, students, and fellow employees in what is needed, and required to be a successful HVAC/R technician to inspire those eager, and sometimes not so eager, to learn & excel in the construction industry.
President Theodore Roosevelt said it best: “No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care.” And the HVACRedu.net team & I care and value each student and learner alike.
Education & Credentials
- Bachelor of Science–Aviation Management (2009) – Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL
- Associate degree–Aviation Science (2013) – Mt. San Antonio Community College, Walnut, CA
- North American Technician Excellence – (2017) NATE ID – 1544091
- HVAC Excellence Educator Credentials (CSME certified) (2023) – Technical Educator (Capstone), Air Conditioning Educator, & Electrical Educator
- HVAC Excellence, Professional Level (2023) – Electric Heat Technician, Electrical & A/C Technology
- CHEERS HERS Rating – RCN13135 – Alterations & New Construction Certification
- CalCERTS HERS Rating ID – CC2006313 – Alterations, New Construction, & Non-Residential Certification
- CBPCA BPI Certification – Building Analyst, Heat Pump & A/C Certification
- EPA Certification – EPA 609/608 Universal Certification
- Private Pilot Certificate (2002) – Cable Air, Upland, CA
Walter Nelson
Subject Matter Expert Educator
My name is Walter Nelson. I am honored to be one of the online instructors here at HVACRedu.net. I am excited to have you here and I am looking forward to working with you. I have over 35 years of in field service experience.
I started my career as a Design/Application engineer at a Major refrigeration manufacturing plant. I was given the opportunity to go into the field to see my design/application work in the physical world. Well, that was all it took; I was hooked! I became a journeyman through the Union, and the rest they say is history! My specialty is Commercial/Supermarket service, install, but I’ve done it all, including owning my own business and teaching apprentices on the worksite for years.
The trade you are embarking on is one of unlimited opportunities!
Ron Auvil
Building Automation Systems Author, Instructor and Subject Matter Expert
Ron Auvil is the guy that ‘wrote the book’ on Building Automation Systems and a leading voice in today’s movement toward operational excellence. He is the author of, “HVAC Control Systems” by American Technical Publishers.
As a lead instructor for a major controls manufacturer, Ron designed and taught a program for brand new technicians on installing and troubleshooting mechanical systems and BAS. He also spent years working as a senior technician, troubleshooter, and project manager. He has worked with some of the world’s largest and most quality-conscious companies, providing custom training on how to improve the operations of their environmental systems. His clients have included NASA, the Pentagon, the University of South Carolina, and others. You can be his next.
Ron will be teaching a sequential series of live courses combined with blended learning sessions (a combination of online anytime and real time face to face), and several online only courses.
Dick Wirz
Commercial Refrigeration Author, Subject Matter Expert and Educator
Dick Wirz has been in the HVACR trade since 1963 and owned a commercial refrigeration company for 25 years. He holds Master Licenses for both HVACR and Electricity in three states.
He is also NATE certified in all categories. After his first retirement in 2001 he became an Associate Professor and Asst. Dean for the A/C-Refrigeration program at Northern Virginia Community College before retiring in 2014. He is the author of Commercial Refrigeration for Air Conditioning Technicians published by Cengage. He and his wife Irene have developed Instructor CD training aids under their company name of Refrigeration Training Services which are used in HVACR training programs and schools in all 50 States.
Bob Feathers
HVACR, Refrigeration, and Rack Subject Matter Expert and Educator
Bob has over 40 years in the HVAC/R trade in both field experience, program administration, and the education side of the business. He recently retired From Emerson Climate Technologies as a Technical Training Specialist— “The Copeland Guy”.
Bob operates his own company, HVAC Specialties TAC (Training Accreditation, Consulting) in SW Florida. He is NATE Certified in All Categories. Some of his other positions include: Ohio licensed contractor in HVAC, Hydronics, and Refrigeration, Instructor and Department Chairperson for RETS Technical Center, and he developed, and presented online training for HVACRedu.net, for the Supermarket field. These courses are designed for new technicians wanting to learn more about Parallel Rack systems, or the current AC Technician to broaden his knowledge in Refrigeration.
While at Emerson, he was instrumental in the development of numerous new and updated training programs such as: Compressor Applications & Technologies, the Supermarket Seminar, Refrigeration Troubleshooting, COSS, and Copeland Technical Specialist programs.
He also developed specialized training for United Refrigeration, Johnstown Supply, Hussmann Refrigeration, to name a few. In addition, he has been very active contributing to and serving industry organizations: ACCA, AHRI, CARE, PAHRA, NATE, and HVAC Excellence.
He has earned many industry certifications, recognitions, and awards. One example is AHRI’s Instructor of the year in 2003 by the Refrigeration News, and has been featured in numerous articles.
Bob and his wife Robin reside in Fort Myers, Florida and enjoy the salt life these days.
Ryan Findley
Ductless Minisplit Subject Matter Expert and Educator
Ryan is not only a highly skilled technician, but he is a premier industry educator. Ryan attended Wichita State University, and completed his Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance program at Vatterott College. His over 15 years of work experience in the HVACR industry includes: Ferguson-Williams, LLC, School of the Osage, Vogel Sheet Metal & Heating, Inc., Thermal Mechanics, Inc., and Fujitsu General America, Inc.
We are pleased to have him join HVACRedu.net as a Ductless Minisplit Subject Matter Expert and Educator!
Dale Ehrenheim
HVACR Water Treatment Subject Matter Expert and Educator
Dale earned his college degree in biology and chemistry which helped pave his way into the water treatment field. Over the course of his 30 plus years in water treatment, Dale has worked with the largest leading companies in the United States, and many others of all sizes.
Dale helped and trained hundreds in how to promote efficient operations, save water, and reduce overall maintenance costs, saving them thousands, even millions, of dollars. His tenure includes employment and training from two of the largest water treatment companies in the world, now known as Suez Water Technologies and Nalco Water, an Ecolab company. Each of these companies furthered and solidified his expertise within water treatment. They helped him gain his credentials as a water treatment expert. Furthermore, they gave him the skills to be a leader in sales as well as customer service.
Rather than using a single know-it-all approach to solving problems, he chooses a consultative approach. Dale does not believe in one size fits all solutions. He helps his clients find their own best approach that fits their unique situation and needs. Dale loves helping others and combining his technical expertise to solve problems and teach others. He continues to do so today, primarily by focusing on teaching and coaching water treatment clients.
In his spare time, he loves to follow sports, cook, sing, and enjoy the outdoors among other things.