I have been involved with service work in the HVAC & Facilities Maintenance trades for over 40 years, beginning as an apprentice construction worker building houses and apartments for a contractor.  I completed my HVAC/Commercial Refrigeration training at Salt Lake Community College with a certificate in Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration.  I also attended the University of Utah and Weber State University/Salt Lake Community College for a Bachelor of Construction Management degree.  I have industry training in Honeywell DDC Controls, Carrier Chiller & HVAC Equipment Service and Maintenance, Energy Management Systems Service & Maintenance of VSD & VFD Systems, Energy Systems Inc, Diagnosis & Service of Power Systems Harmonics, OSHA Safety Certification, and more.  I am a certified proctor through the ESCO training program for most of their HVACR related certificates.  I earned EPA 608 & 609 certificates, and also additional NATE and RSES certifications as a Master Refrigeration Specialist.

I began my career remodeling antique historically significant buildings in the downtown Salt Lake City area, and was soon responsible for the maintenance of those refurbished facilities for commercial tenants.  A major part of this experience was training in various types of low pressure steam boilers, some of which were new, and others dated to back to 1910.  
A significant part of my work history included service as an industrial electrician for a soda ash processing plant  in Wyoming, and a solid rocket fuel propellant plant in Utah.  These experiences provided unique training in both electrical utility service and in the specifics of high voltage and large industrial equipment applications.

I was an independent HVAC service and general construction contractor for 5 years, with an emphasis on commercial and residential remodel construction and HVAC installation and service, and commercial automation control systems.  
The majority of my service history has been in the operations and maintenance of the commercial facilities for Rocky Mountain Power in Salt Lake City, Utah.  I recently completed 30 years of service with this company.  Our crew takes care of approximately 50 facilities for that utility company in Utah, Idaho and Wyoming.  A primary focus of my HVAC service work for the electric utility is in working with various sizes of heat pump and chiller systems, including ground source heating systems and the DDC Control systems that enable them to operate more efficiently.       

I am also presently an HVAC Course instructor at Salt Lake Community College and have been teaching for 4 years.  We recently augmented our training program there to include an understanding of Green Energy Mechanical systems, R-410 refrigerant, and the OSHA basic safety training program to make our students more prepared for improved employment opportunities.

In my personal life, I am Dad to 4 sons and a daughter all of which are now building families of their own.  They have blessed my wife and I with 12 grandchildren and another girl due in the spring.  Much of my leisure time is spent helping my children and grandchildren with their “immediate” needs.  I enjoy camping and outdoor cooking, particularly in the canyons that surround the Salt Lake Valley.  A major highlight of the year is our annual Fathers & Sons campout and Dutch oven feast, followed by a game of laser tag.

I am fluent in Spanish and am very much involved with the local Latin community in our area through my church responsibilities which have also greatly rewarded my life.   
mrichardson@hvacreducation.net