Joel Owen, staff training analyst with Alabama Power, was elected to a two-year term as president of the Council of Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Educators (CARE) during the annual CARE meeting, held at the 2009 HVACR & Plumbing Instructor Workshop.
According to CARE sources, the Council of Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Educators is the only organization dedicated to HVACR instruction with the full support of the heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) industry. CARE is comprised of HVACR instructors, administrators, and other HVACR industry personnel from across the U.S.
Owen is a native of Gadsden, AL, and a graduate of Alabama Technical College (Gadsden State Community College) where he received a diploma in HVAC technology. He joined Alabama Power in 1983 in the appliance service department, and moved to the training center as a training analyst in 1993.
Owen has been active in the HVAC Industry for 32 years. He holds eight North American Technician Excellence (NATE) technician certifications and an Alabama State Board of Heating and Air Conditioning contractor's license.
Additionally, he is a certified residential mechanical ventilation instructor for HRAI of Canada and a member of Refrigeration Service Engineers Society (RSES). He also serves on the ICE (Industry Competence Exam) committee for Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), the technical committee for North American Technician Excellence (NATE), and a site evaluator for Partnership for Air Conditioning, Heating, Refrigeration Accreditation (PAHRA). Owen also serves as chairperson of the technical committee for the HVACR SkillsUSA, State of Alabama competition.
"The election of Joel Owen as CARE President will enhance CARE’s efforts and voice in the energy management and savings issues facing everyone involved in the HVACR industry," says Warren Lupson, AHRI director of education.
"At first, the role of our educators and administrators in this area may seem blurred, but they are actually among the front line in preparing tomorrow’s workforce to meet these challenges. Joel and his CARE colleagues will assure that the educational aspects of the entire energy savings spectrum will be addressed," Lupson says.
Also elected to the CARE Board were:
- Mark Pelia, Bates Technical College, vice-president of post secondary public education
- Mark Deboe, Triangle Tech, vice-president of post secondary proprietary education
- Kevin Couch, R.G. Drage Career Center, vice-president of secondary education
- Brian Lovell, Dekalb Technical College, secretary
- Suzie Sands, 360 Training, treasurer.