What can an HVAC competition teach us about preparing students for the realities of the field? In this episode, Clifton sits down with Jim Fultz of Copeland and White-Rodgers to recap their experience at the 2026 SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference—and share what instructors and industry professionals can learn from watching the next generation of technicians in action.

We explore:

• How SkillsUSA connects students, educators and industry professionals

• What the competition reveals about the current state of HVAC education

• Why students must understand both equipment operation and the troubleshooting process

• How technicians can approach unfamiliar equipment with greater confidence

• The importance of teaching proper flaring, torquing and pressure-testing procedures

• How com ...