NAIT in Canada Selected for Collaborative Training Program with Johnson Controls

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Program grooms building mechanics on leading HVAC systems; guarantees jobs for select graduates

MILWAUKEE – (February 5, 2008) – In a time of high demand for skilled building technicians, Johnson Controls has selected NAIT in Canada to participate in a collaborative training program dedicated to training the next generation of heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) technicians.

Through the CareerConnect program, Johnson Controls donates resources and tools to partnering schools to enhance student curriculum, promote faculty development, raise community awareness and develop a pipeline of recruits. The company’s contributions to NAIT will include an annual $3,000 scholarship for an existing student in the Building Environmental Systems Technology (BEST) program, equipment donation, instruction from industry experts and learning materials that can be embedded into existing curriculum. Johnson Controls will also team with the school to educate area high school students about careers in HVAC. The market value of the CareerConnect program to NAIT is more than $17,000. NAIT is the first Canadian school to participate in CareerConnect.

Students enrolled in the HVAC program at NAIT will not only have access to learning tools and field experts, but will also be eligible for the Future Hires Program, a guaranteed hiring program for CareerConnect students. Johnson Controls can select up to five students from each CareerConnect partner school to participate in the Future Hires Program each year.  Selected students will enjoy tuition aid, relocation assistance if required to relocate for their position and become Johnson Controls employees upon program graduation.

“To meet the needs of the growing service industry, we are taking action to develop the kind of talent we look for in professional service technicians,” said Brad Garneau, service branch manager, Johnson Controls. “The Future Hires Program allows us to go one step further and reward exceptional students with a guaranteed position at Johnson Controls following their graduation. This helps both Johnson Controls and the College as in ensures that we gain access to the talent needed to run and grow our business, and it encourages students to stay in school and earn their degree”

The overall goal of CareerConnect is to increase the number of skilled graduates of HVAC programs entering the workforce. An occupation report completed by Human Resources and Social Development Canada predicts that the number of skilled technicians needed in Canada will increase from 61,700 in 2005 to 65,800 in 2015. An aging workforce and an increasing demand for cost-effective and efficient facilities all contribute to the growing need for HVAC program graduates.

[an error occurred while processing this directive] To date, NAIT is one of eight partnerships that Johnson Controls has established with community colleges in North America for inclusion in CareerConnect. Colleges are evaluated based on school and program demographics including diversity statistics, curriculum and ability to modify it, geographic areas served, enrollments, placement statistics, strategies, and its relationship with Johnson Controls.

“Through the CareerConnect program, HVAC students at NAIT will learn advanced curriculum on state-of-the-art equipment,” said Gilbert Requena, chair, building environmental systems technology, NAIT. “Our graduates will be among the best in the service industry.”  The CareerConnect program exemplifies the company’s dedication to the communities in which it serves. Through its local network of service professionals, Johnson Controls offers a team of experts and a range of service solutions designed to improve facility performance and keep customer facilities running right.

About NAIT
NAIT is one of the largest institutes of technology in Canada and serves more than 86,500 students annually at eight campuses in Alberta. That includes more than 22,000 full-time and apprenticeship students and more than 64,500 continuing education registrations. The Institute is the largest apprenticeship trainer in Canada, providing training to 50 percent of trades people in Alberta and 17 percent nationally. NAIT also delivers 36 different apprenticeship programs and is the sole provider in Alberta of 15 of these trades.

About Johnson Controls
Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) is the global leader that brings ingenuity to the places where people live, work and travel. By integrating technologies, products and services, we create smart environments that redefine the relationships between people and their surroundings. Our team of 140,000 employees creates a more comfortable, safe and sustainable world through our products and services for more than 200 million vehicles, 12 million homes and one million commercial buildings. For additional information, please visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com/.

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