Christopher Myers has become the first person in Fitch Irick history to earn his Universal HVAC certification through the company’s in-house certification program.
The achievement recognizes the time, preparation, and effort Christopher invested in developing his skills. It also marks an important first for a program Fitch Irick is currently piloting as part of its continued investment in employee development.
A Well-Earned Technical Achievement
Earning a Universal HVAC certification requires more than completing a single area of testing. The Universal exam covers all four EPA 608 sections, requiring candidates to demonstrate knowledge across the full scope of the certification.
For Christopher, completing that process meant putting in the preparation and effort necessary to build his knowledge and successfully earn the certification.
That is what makes this accomplishment worth recognizing first and foremost. Christopher took advantage of an opportunity to continue developing his technical skills, committed his own time and effort to the process, and became the first Fitch Irick team member to complete the certification through the in-house program.
It is a well-earned achievement and an important professional milestone.
Investing in Growth Goes Both Ways
Christopher’s accomplishment also reflects an approach to employee development that Fitch Irick wants to continue building: one where investment goes both ways.
The company can provide resources and create opportunities for employees to strengthen their skills, but those opportunities also require employees who are willing to put in the work. In this case, Fitch Irick invested resources into developing an in-house pathway for certification, while Christopher invested his own time and effort into preparing for and completing the Universal exam.
That combination is an important part of the culture that Fitch Irick is continually building.
Employee training and professional development are especially important within Fitch Irick’s property management operations, where knowledgeable teams support the day-to-day work of managing communities and serving residents.
That work is part of Fitch Irick’s broader commitment to affordable housing, with strong operations and experienced team members helping to support the communities the company develops, owns, and manages.
Employee training and professional development are most meaningful when they create practical opportunities for people to expand their knowledge and take an active role in their own growth. Christopher’s achievement offers an early example of what that kind of partnership can look like in practice, while supporting the continued development of the people behind Fitch Irick’s impact in the communities it serves.
Building Fitch Irick’s In-House HVAC Certification Program
The in-house HVAC certification program is currently in the pilot phase.
Fitch Irick is still working through and refining the process before making it available more broadly. The goal during this stage is to establish a clear approach that can be communicated consistently to team members interested in pursuing certification through the company.
Once the process is finalized, Fitch Irick plans to share the criteria and steps for employees who want to participate.
As the pilot continues, Fitch Irick will have the opportunity to learn from the process and determine how the program can best support team members seeking to strengthen their technical skills.
Recognizing an Important First
Future opportunities for other employees will come as the program develops. For now, the focus is on recognizing Christopher and the work behind his accomplishment.
Becoming the first person in Fitch Irick history to earn a Universal HVAC certification through the in-house program required Christopher to take advantage of an opportunity for professional development and follow through with the preparation necessary to complete it.
That effort represents exactly the kind of mutual investment the program is intended to encourage: Fitch Irick creating opportunities for development and employees taking ownership of their continued growth.
Congratulations to Christopher Myers on a well-earned achievement and an important first for Fitch Irick.