EP264 The Unsung Heroes of HVAC Education, Mentors Who Built the Trade With Howard Weiss and Renee Tomlinson (February 2026)
“There are people who teach for income, and people who teach for outcome.”
“You want to grow an industry, you can’t ignore half America.”
“Become an unsung hero, mentor someone, and give back to the industry you love.”
In this episode of Building HVAC Science, Bill and Eric are joined by Renee Tomlinson and Howard Weiss from ESCO Institute (and HVAC Excellence) to talk about a theme that does not get nearly enough airtime: the “quiet” people in HVAC who shape careers and raise standards without chasing attention. Howard explains ESCO’s role in the industry, from accrediting HVAC educational programs and credentialing instructors to administering a huge number of certifications and developing curriculum, all aimed at improving HVAC education overall. Renee adds the bigger why behind the work, pointing to education as the lever that improves lives, strengthens communities, and leaves the trade better than we found it.
The conversation turns into a celebration of “unsung heroes” such as instructors, trainers, mentors, and program leaders who quietly change the trajectory of students, apprentices, and working techs. Howard and Renee share examples of people who built exceptional programs through sheer effort and care, and they frame recognition as something deeper than popularity. It is about honoring outcomes, the ripple effects of mentorship, and the real human impact that happens behind the scenes. They also highlight how the industry is getting younger, how newer instructors blend legacy fundamentals with modern tools, and how podcasts and social platforms can be powerful teaching aids at scale.
The episode closes with a challenge to listeners: become one of the unsung heroes. Thank the people who trained you. Mentor someone coming up behind you. Join an advisory board. Give back because you “get to,” not because you have to. Renee also recognizes the behind-the-scenes ESCO team whose daily work keeps training, testing, and education moving forward, and Bill wraps with a promise to share links in the show notes so listeners can connect and learn more.
Regarding the National Home Performance Conference:
New Contractor Discount - $825 - HVACSCIENCE
Unique URL for your Show: http://nhpc26.org/building-hvac-sci
Renee’s LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/reneemtomlinson/
Howard’s LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/howardsweiss/
ESCO Institute: https://www.escogroup.org/
The National HVAC Educators Conference: https://site.pheedloop.com/event/EVEPCOXJHXNUZ/home/
The 2025 List of Most Influential Instructors: https://www.achrnews.com/articles/163726-25-for-25-most-influential-instructors-named
This episode was recorded in February 2026
