Page 36 - Climate Control News Nov 2019

HVACR Leadership Awards
Male Rising Star Award
MALE RISING STAR AWARD WINNER, JAMES KING, BEGAN HIS CAREER AT PRECISE AIR GROUP AS ONE OF THE COMPANY’S VERY FIRST APPRENTICES.
“The downside to all this change is ensuring the industry can continue to build a skilled workforce that can keep pace with rapid techno- logical advancements.
“It means finding a balance between short term commercial outcomes versus investment in R&D and meeting the training needs of to- day's workforce,” King said.
When asked about trends likely to shape the industry in the next few years King nominated analytics and AI as well as the continuing chal- lenge to reduce HVACR's environmental impact.
Moreover, he believes HVAC tradespeople are ideally placed to manage multiple services across different disciplines such as fire, plumb- ing and electrical.
King works closely with Facility Managers and believes the current consolidation of servic- es presents opportunities for the HVAC industry.
He said CFSP (Certified Fire Safety Practition- er) requirements will come into play for essential servicing testing.
“There is a greater need for collaboration and understanding between fire and mechanical trades,” King said.
Once again ABB sponsored the Male and Fe- male Rising Star Awards. King was presented with his award by ABB Australia's HVAC seg- ment manager, Paul Burrows.
Male Rising Star Award winner, James King, on stage at the Melbourne
Arts Centre.
CLIMATECONTROLNEWS.COM.AU
Award winner, James King, accepting his award.
THAT WAS 11 years ago before he worked his way into management and began a Bachelor of Business degree.
Today he is known around the company as a Superstar who is pas- sionate about his role as one of the youngest ac- count managers for the Newcastle region of
New South Wales.
King's colleagues describe him as mature, ca-
pable and hard working.
At the tender age of 30 King leads his own ser-
vice team and has been instrumental in securing a large and valuable contract that was held by a competitor for more than a decade.
Not surprisingly, King said he plans to continue studying and to eventually undertake an MBA.
“From technical advancements to regulatory changes this is an industry that is always evolv- ing,” he said.
“This drive for continual improvement means that it is never boring and that's what I love most about this industry.
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