For a printable version of this release click here.

Mississippi HVAC/R Technician Earns National Title in Atlanta

Gary Hodges recognized by North American Technician Excellence

(September 26th, 2007- Arlington, Va.) — Gary Hodges, service manager at Carthage
Heating & Cooling in Carthage, Mississippi, took first-place honors as the nation’s top
home comfort technician during the ninth annual Certified Technician Competition
recently conducted by North American Technician Excellence (NATE) in Atlanta. He was
one of seven finalists whose skills and knowledge in the home comfort field already
placed him in the top one percent of home comfort technicians in the country as
measured by NATE testing and certification.

Held at the nation’s largest residential home comfort show, known as Comfortech
2008, NATE’s Certified Technician Competition showcases those competing for Top Tech
among an elite group of heating and cooling technicians. NATE selects finalists based on
their scores on their previous NATE-qualifying exam—a rigorous test that evaluates
practical knowledge of heating and cooling system installation and maintenance.

Hodges of Carthage, Mississippi was already one of the nation’s best technicians
among the thousands throughout the U.S. who took a NATE exam in 2007. After winning
the competition, he said, “It’s a real honor to win this award because it reassures me that
I can apply my knowledge to everyday heating and cooling problems. I definitely credit
the NATE series of tests for helping to prepare me for this competition.”

As part of the HVAC/R industry for more than 15 years, Hodges won the
competition by achieving the best combined score from a series of timed, hands-on
events that simulated various real-world heating and cooling challenges. Begun in 2000,
the Certified Technician Competition serves as a means of recognizing the knowledge
and skill necessary to service today’s highly sophisticated heating and cooling systems.

NATE President Rex Boynton says, “NATE Certification benefits not only
professional technicians and contractors, but also consumers. Certification provides
assurance that a technician excels in the knowledge and skills necessary to be among
the best in the heating and cooling industry.”

Hodges, who has earned numerous NATE certifications, says that certification
also adds credibility to the industry. “The exam proves that a technician fully
understands HVAC/R. NATE certification improves confidence among contractors and
customers and benefits the HVAC/R industry. It’s a great asset for the entire industry.”

Headquartered in Arlington, Va., NATE was founded in 1997 as the nation’s largest non-profit certification organization for heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration technicians. Corporate sponsors of this year’s Certified Technician Competition are Carrier, Rheem, Service Experts, Lennox Industries, and HVAC Learning Solutions. Co-sponsors are Penton Media and NATE.