The Cobre Valley Institute of Technology has a new HVAC instructor with decades' experience throughout the U.S. and local experience as a business owner.
Jim Harris says he started teaching after experiencing difficulties finding qualified, dependable workers for his business ventures, but his goal for students is to prepare them for the world of work outside of the classroom.
“These kids can can roll out of my class and get gainful employment until they find what makes them happy, whatever that may be,” Harris says. “At that point, I've done my job. I've given something back to the world and that's literally my main interest.”
Harris, an Army veteran and experienced contractor who has spent his professional life working all over the country, has been in Globe since 2004. He has worked for, or owned, several local companies, including Gila Valley Heating and Cooling and Rodney Burden Mechanical and Electric, that under his leadership became Eastern Mechanical Services.
The yearlong program teaches the basics of HVAC and refrigeration mechanics, and regulatory compliance. Earning a certificate can open up many employment opportunities in a state that relies heavily on air conditioning and refrigeration. It can also prepare students for future markets that will open up in the IT sector, where temperature control is vital to the manufacture of electronic components and the functioning of giant servers.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in its 2026 Occupational Outlook Handbook, the average salary of a trained HVAC professional is $59,810 annually or $28.75 hourly.
According to Harris, the job opportunities are limitless.
“It's never-ending and I've gone out of my way to show them all the different places that you can go with this trade,” Harris says. “As far as environmental chambers for semiconductor manufacturing and big equipment and stuff, it's limitless, but it's a tiny fraction of a piece of what is possible out there.”
The program is open to high school students who can receive 16 college credits for completing the course, but is also open to older, returning students as well.
For more information, go to www.cvit81.org or call 928-242-1907.
Ultimately, Harris believes that “there are no problems, just situations that require solutions,” and solutions are what he offers.
“There's no great mystery to life: Do good work; show up on time; speak the truth, and do the best job that you can do,” he says. “Be honest and life will reward you for that.”
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