Thirty students complete the GCTA HVAC/Heat Pump Installation Technician program, building local capacity to train the next generation of clean energy workers

Everblue celebrated the graduation of its second cohort of the GCTA HVAC/Heat Pump Installation Technician program at a ceremony hosted by Goodwill Industries of Upstate/Midlands South Carolina (GIUMSC) in Columbia, South Carolina. The program is part of the Goodwill Clean Tech Accelerator (GCTA), which prepares individuals for careers in clean energy and skilled trades. This milestone brings the total number of program graduates to 30 students across two cohorts and marks a turning point for the program’s long-term sustainability in the region.

Deondria Durham and Markus Parker earned the certifications required to independently teach the GCTA HVAC/Heat Pump Installation Technician course, establishing local instructional capacity for future cohorts.  By developing local instructors, Everblue helped Goodwill build the capacity to continue training future cohorts in Columbia long after the initial program launch. 

“At Goodwill Industries of Upstate/Midlands South Carolina, we believe workforce development is most powerful when it creates opportunities that last for generations. The graduation of this second HVAC/Heat Pump Installation Technician cohort, and especially the achievement of Deondria Durham and Markus Parker as certified instructors, represents a major step toward building a sustainable clean energy workforce in our region. By developing local talent and empowering future trainers, we are not only preparing individuals for high-demand careers, but also creating the capacity to educate and inspire the next generation of skilled trades professionals right here in South Carolina. We are proud to partner with Everblue in advancing economic mobility, strengthening our workforce, and helping communities thrive through access to meaningful careers in the growing clean energy sector.”

Monique McDaniels, Vice President of Community and Workforce Development, Goodwill Industries of Upstate/Midlands South Carolina

“Cohort 2 in Columbia is a milestone we are genuinely proud of. Thirty graduates across two cohorts is a strong foundation, and watching Deondria and Markus earn their instructor certifications means this program has real staying power in the community. Everblue’s goal has always been to build pathways that outlast our direct involvement, and that is exactly what is happening here. Partnering with Goodwill Industries of Upstate/Midlands South Carolina has made that possible.”

Josef Keefe, Program Director, Everblue 

The ceremony recognized graduates from several workforce and education programs facilitated by Goodwill Industries of Upstate/Midlands SC (GIUMSC), including Healthcare, Transportation, Skilled Trades, and Technology Career Pathways; Second Chance Training Programs; the NxLevel Business Accelerator; Drone Pilot Training; degreed programs; and a South Carolina Teacher Certification candidate. Everblue’s HVAC/Heat Pump Installation Technician program was the sole clean energy training represented among the graduating classes.

Everblue’s partnership with Goodwill Industries of Upstate/Midlands SC (GIUMSC) reflects a broader strategy of building workforce capacity in clean energy and skilled trades by training local instructors who can sustain programs long after initial funding or outside support ends.

If you’re interested in building a similar workforce development program, contact [email protected]