Plumbing

Hinson tours Bergen Plumbing, learns about unique apprenticeship program

April 12, 2023

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WATERLOO — US Rep. Ashley Hinson was introduced to a unicorn on Tuesday when it comes to an apprentice school for HVAC and plumbing jobs.

Since 2016, the Blackhawk School of Apprenticeship has been attracting aspiring tradespeople to Bergen Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, Inc. on Fletcher Avenue at US Highway 218 to give them the education they need without ever having to set foot in college .

Men and women are between the ages of 18 and 30 and come from all over Northeast Iowa.

A unique aspect of the in-house program is that around 75% of the students end up working in Bergen and becoming part owners of the company. Hinson took a look at his hands-on training center, as well as the classroom and sheet metal shop. She was also able to see what the company is all about – boilers, water heaters, furnaces and air conditioners.

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“What makes us unique is the way we combine the private sector and education,” said Loren Gardner, director of education. “You hear about Pell grants and there’s a lot of money to fund apprenticeships and that’s a buzz word these days. But we didn’t wait for that.”

Loren Gardner was joined by Julie Gardner, President of Bergen Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, Inc. as they also introduced Hinson to employees and two students.

Nicholas Sutton, from Waterloo, said his father was in the construction trade and was the reason he joined the scheme. And Cedar Falls’ Andrew Powell noted that he was “told that Bergen has a really good training program and he came here to get his licenses.”

“I like working here and plan to stay here,” Powell said.

The group finally sat down to participate in a small discussion. Some of the program goals are to be a trendsetter and always try to imagine what’s next in this field.

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Gardner pointed out that most of their jobs will never be replaced by artificial intelligence and that they are constantly working to hire people who are good with their hands and have problem-solving skills.

Before you know it, they are working, learning and earning.

“It’s a worker pipeline,” Hinson said. “It’s really important that you get the education you need and the education you need. But then you have a job.”

Instead of completing an education and incurring debt, students pay an upfront payment and are later reimbursed. And the skilled labor that the company receives is worth the cost.

“This combination of school and work has become revolutionary,” Gardner said.

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Another big challenge is to perceive the professions and try to convince people that they lead to respectable careers. In fact, the program team just came from a careers fair.

“It’s really just about educating people about the opportunities that exist,” said Julie Gardner. “The younger you serve it to them, the better.”

Photos: UNI Softball vs. Drake, April 11

Ball UNI vs. Drake 1

Mya Dodge of northern Iowa (left) celebrates a two-run home run against Drake in Cedar Falls Tuesday.