It’s a Bear of a Celebration for 50th Totaline University Class
Contact: Mike Dziok, Totaline Marketing Manager
315.432.7213,
michael.dziok@totaline.com
Sitting on Totaline training manager Jim Flynn’s desk is an 8” X 10” glossy of a large (wooden) bear in a Syracuse, N.Y., hotel wearing a “Totaline University” T-shirt. To the bear’s left is a group of smiling Totaline counter sales associates.
Why is the bear dressed so well and what do Totaline sales associates have to do with dressing a bear? And, why does Flynn so proudly display a souvenir of such obvious mischief?
For good reason.
Recently, Totaline concluded its 50th Totaline training class for new counter sales associates. “It’s hard to believe we’ve done 50 already. It’s something to be proud of,” Flynn said.
Members of the 50th training class agree. Traveling from stores across the United States and Canada to Syracuse, class members felt it was their duty to figure out a way to commemorate the training milestone. “What really struck me was how proud the members of this group were, and that they felt they needed to do something special to make their 50th class stand out,” Flynn said.
So, classmates conspired to place a large Totaline University T-shirt on the prominent, carved bear in the lobby of their hotel and to get a photo. Grinning, Flynn said, “They went about it the right way. They planned the entire thing and got permission from the hotel.” The next day, guess who got the photo? Flynn.
“I think they thought about this all week long,” Flynn laughed.
Totaline University trains counter sales associates four times a year in a four-day classroom session. The classes are designed to teach new counter associates a combination of air-conditioning and heating fundamentals, product knowledge, and customer service and sales skills.
“We work hard, but we have fun, too.” Flynn said. “Our ultimate goal is to make the counter sales associates more comfortable and knowledgeable. This way, when a customer comes into a store, our associates know how to help them. It’s all about helping the customer.”
Totaline training also offers advanced areas of study beyond new employee training, including Master Classes I and II, Regional Training, and Refrigeration University.
Totaline celebrates its 20th birthday this year, and it is fitting that the 50th Totaline University class occurred during the year-long anniversary celebration. Flynn said. “Totaline University exemplifies our slogan, ‘Parts and People. Working together.’ Reaching the 50th training session validates that what we’re doing is working well. It was great that our 50th class members also thought it was important and wanted to mark the importance of the occasion. They were a great class.”
Photos to accompany this article can downloaded by clicking the photo images above. Photo captions are as follows:
Class.jpg - The 50th Totaline University class members pose with their Totaline University bear.
Bear.jpg - Fiftieth Totaline University class members included: Shawn McClain, Jessica Wilmoth, Steve Kromer, Eli Herrara, Andrew Turner, James Bortels, Matthew Moyer, Brian Connor, John McDonald, John Karasarides, Russell DeLee, David Obeso, Phillip Davis, Armando Pineda, Keith Robertson, Jennifer Yausi, Arthur Salcido, Mark Ellrott, and Neal Ruscitto.
About Totaline
Totaline is a global network of more than 800 stores offering thousands of heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC/R) parts — as well as aftermarket products for Totaline and all major HVAC/R equipment brands. Totaline is part of Carrier Corp., which is headquartered in Farmington, Conn., and is the world’s largest provider of heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration solutions. With 2007 revenues of $14.6 billion, Carrier has approximately 43,000 employees worldwide and operations in more than 170 countries. Carrier is part of United Technologies Corp., a Hartford, Connecticut-based provider of products and services to the aerospace and building systems industries worldwide.
For more information about Carrier products and services, visit www.carrier.com. For more information about Totaline parts, aftermarket products and store locations, visit www.totaline.com.
# # #
Posted April 22, 2008
Return to News Page
