About Us

Making the Difference
ARPEC
Earn While You Earn

Established over 70 years ago

ARPEC has deep educational roots in the state of Florida. The first ARPEC education center was registered with the state as an apprenticeship program on October 11, 1949. Since then, we have continued to lead as one of the most highly regarded apprenticeship programs in the state of Florida.

The ARPEC Advantage

They make a great living with an hourly wage that increases every year they’re in the 5 year apprenticeship program. Full health benefits are added after just the first year, and retirement benefits added in the fourth year. Upon graduation, and obtaining the journeyman license, apprentices become a craft journeymen with a starting wage and fringe benefit package ranging from $70,000 to $100,000 per year! Students are taught welding, air conditioning technology, piping, refrigeration controls, electrical theory – and graduate ready for a career in the high-tech fields of service and installation, energy management systems, pipefitting, and more. They will learn from the best craftspeople in the industry, in the best training program. It’s the training program designed by the United Association – one of the largest and most prestigious trade unions in the country.

ARPEC graduates are ready to work in hospitals, laboratories, in large hotels or business offices –anywhere there’s a cooling or refrigeration system. It’s more than a job, it’s a career – a career that can take you anywhere you want to go.

Affiliations

We are proud of our continued affiliation with Miami-Dade County Public Schools, the Federal Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training, the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters, the Mechanical Contractors Association of South Florida, the Mechanical Contractors Association of America and the Mechanical Service Contractors of America.

Education Board of Trustees

The Education Committee is made up of Labor and Management representatives who meet once a month with the Director regarding the operations of the school. They are committed along with the Director in making sure the Education Center offers the best quality of education in this industry.

Member NameCompanyGroup
Michael Mueller, ChairmanHill York Service CorporationCo-Chairman Labor Trustee
Bob HeslekrantsNagelbush Mechanical IncLabor Trustee
Tom FlavellUA Pipefitters Local 725Labor Trustee
Kenny ScottUA Pipefitters Local 725Labor Trustee
Chris FiguerasEvo-AirCo-Chairman Management Trustee
Daniel LlosentAirtechManagement Trustee
Julie DietrichMCASFManagement Trustee
Jose PoncePoole & Kent Co.Management Trustee
Teresa RobertsAIS& ACIManagement Trustee (Alternate)

Administrative Staff

The Director and staff are available to assist you in getting your career started. Office hours are Monday to Thursday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm and Fridays, 8:30 am – 4:00 pm. If you have any questions regarding the apprenticeship program please contact us during these hours or you may email any of the personnel listed below:

Jason HebbertTraining Coordinatorjason@arpec.org
Edmund HunteFacility Personnele.hunte@arpec.org
Monica LopezAdministrative Assistantmonica@arpec.org
Latara ThompsonAdministrative Assistantl.thompson@arpec.org

Current ARPEC faculty

Many of our instructors attended and graduated from our program at one time or another. Others have come from other Unions from around the country. They all bring many years of experience and are committed to educating our apprentices to the fullest.

All 2nd to 5th Year classes are taught from 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm two nights per week, Monday to Thursday. The first year apprentices attend school one day per week and work 32 hours per week.

Below is the list of teachers and classes given for the five year apprenticeship program:

INSTRUCTORPROGRAM YEARCURRICULUM
Derek Jones/Andrew Witter1st Year: ServiceBasic Pipefitting & Trade Related Math
Luis Capote/Jorge Batres
Scott Adler/Daniel Lester		1st Year: ServiceService Related & Applied Science
Victor Silverman/Ramon Vazquez2nd Year: ServiceHVACR II
Craig Ponton/Luis Campos2nd Year: ServiceBasic Electricity
Kevin Bashansci2nd Year: PipefittingRigging I/Welding I
George Byers2nd Year: PipefittingPipefitting II
Carlos Vargas3rd Year: ServiceAdvance HVACR Service
Mario Campos/Felix Morales3rd Year: ServiceElectric & Pneumatic Controls
Andrew Witter3rd Year PipefittingPipefitting III
Mike Didona3rd Year: PipefittingHVAC Hydroning Heating & Cooling
Tony Lopez/ Joshua Sosa4th Year: ServiceVFD’s & DDC Controls
Marbyn Ponce4th Year: ServicePumps, Hydronics & Start Test and Balance
Kevin Bashansci4th Year: PipefittingPipefitting IV
Mike Didona4th Year: PipefittingWelding III
Robert Martin/Craig Ponton5th Year: ServiceIndustrial Electricity
William Young5th Year: ServiceIndustrial Air-Conditioning
Brian Coile5th Year: PipefittingPipefitting II
Kishon Dryden/Emery Lumsden5th Year: Pipefitting5th Year Advanced Welding

Our Signatory Contractors

Our contractors have been affiliated with Local Union 725 for many years and are among the finest companies in the industry. They are committed along with the school in providing the best training and service in South Florida.

CONTRACTOR NAMESTREETCITYZIP
A-TEAM ENERGY SERVICES, INC.13083 SW 133 COURTMIAMI33186
ADVANCED INTEGRATED SERVICESP.O BOX 550727DAVIE33355
ADVANCED MECHANICAL SYSTEM11903 W. SAMPLE ROADCORAL SPRINGS33065
AIR CONDITIONING PLUS, INC.8001 GRAND CANAL DRIVEMIAMI33144
AIR LOGIC ENTERPRISES INC8202 NW 91 TERRTAMARAC33326
AIRMATIC CONTROLS, INC.P.O BOX 550727DAVIE33355
AIRSTRON, INC.1559 S.W. 21 AVE.FT. LAUDERDALE33312
AIR-WAYS MECHANICAL5011 NW 37 AVETAMARAC33309
ALPHA MECHANICAL15694 85TH ROAD NORTHBOYNTON BEACH33435
ANCHOR MECHANICAL, INC4310 SW 15 STREETMIAMI33134
APEX AIR, INC.209 NW 1 AVEDANIA33004
APPRENTICESHIP SCHOOL13201 N.W. 45 AVE.OPA-LOCKA33054
BIG M ENTERPRISE, INC6504 AVOCADO BLVDWEST PALM BEACH33412
BLIZZARD AIR CONDITIONING LLC12201 SW 128TH CT UNIT 107MIAMI33186
BREEZE AIR CONDITIONING, INC.9901 S.W.195 STREETCUTLER BAY33157
BROPHY AIR SPECIALTY GRP2950 SW 28 LANEMIAMI33133
CAILIS MECHANICAL CORPORATION10400 W SR 84 BAY 112DAVIE33324
CARRIER COMMERCIAL SERVICE5440 N.W. 33 AVE. #108FORT LAUDERDALE33309
CEPAC AIR CORP5595 MUIRFIELD VILLAGE CIRLAKE WORTH33463
CERTIFIED HVAC, INC1105 S. DIXIE HWY, EASTPOMPANO BEACH33060
CLARK CONTRACTSOLUTIONS/FORAIR13701 S.W.143 CT., #101MIAMI33186
CLIMATE PROS, INC.55 N. BRANDON DRIVE GLENDALE HEIGHTS60139
COAKLEY MECHANICAL, INC.13682 S.W.194 STREETMIAMI33177
COLDFRONT MECHANICAL INC.10860 S.W. 88 AVE.MIAMI33176
COOL BREEZE AIR COND CORP13120 SW130 TERRACEMIAMI33186
COPASETIC MECHANICAL, L.L.C.21225 SW 183 AVE.MIAMI33187
DAIKIN APPLIED15712 S.W. 41 STR., #6DAVIE33331
DEBONAIR MECHANICAL, INC.13972 NW 60 AVEMIAMI LAKES33014
DIPLOMAT PROPERTIES L.P.3555 SOUTH OCEAN DRIVEHOLLYWOOD BEACH33019
DIRECT DIGITAL CONCEPTS7275 N.W. 74 STREETMIAMI33166
DONERITE PUMPS DBA DONERITE MECHANICAL4240 NW 133 STREETOPA-LOCKA33054
EARL HAGOOD, INC.897 S.W. 67 AVENUEMIAMI33144
EDD HELMS AIRCONDITIONING,INC.740 INTERNATIONAL PKWY.SUNRISE33325
HILL YORK SERVICE CORP.2125 S. ANDREWS AVE.FT. LAUDERDALE33316
HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.9315 N.W. 112 AVE.MIAMI33178
JOHNSON CONTROLS, INC.15901 SW 29 ST #801MIRAMAR33027
KAESTLE ENT.,INC. DBA CAMECH.6601 LYONS ROAD, #C-7COCONUT CREEK33073
KERNEY & ASSOCIATES, INC.1300 NW 65 PLACEFT. LAUDERDALE33309
KIRLIN FLORIDA, L.L.C.3125 W COMMERCIAL BLVD. #200FT LAUDERDALE33309
LINC MECHANICAL / ABM BLDG SOL3260 NW 23 AVE STE 100EPOMPANO BEACH33066
MCGILVRAY MECHANICAL, L.L.C.2001 N. ANDREWS AVE.POMPANO BEACH33069
MIAMI AIR MECH. DBA AIRTECH7805 N.W. 55 STREETMIAMI33166
NAGELBUSH MECHANICAL, INC.5101 NW 21 AVE #210FORT LAUDERDALE33309
NOZAAT, LLC940 SW 51 STREETMARGATE33068
PIPEFITTERS LOCAL 72513185 NW 45 AVENUEOPA-LOCKA33054
PLUMBING & MECHANICAL SYSTEMS4360 OAKES RD #B615DAVIE33314
POOLE & KENT COMPANY1781 N.W. NORTH RIVER DRIVEMIAMI33125
PROTOCOOL COOLING SOLUTIONS1669 N.W. 144 TERR., #203SUNRISE33323
PYKE MECHANICAL, INC.9401 N.W. 106 STR. #109MIAMI33178
RGEN ENTERPRISES13080 MIRANDA STREETSUNRISE33351
SAILFISH MECHANICAL845 SW ENTERPRISE WAY STUART34997
SCREEN TECH SERVICES INC.1067 NW 31 AVE BLDG #HPOMPANO BEACH33069
SEVERN GROUP375 PRINCE GEORGES BLVDUPPER MARLBORO20774
SHAMBAUGH & SONS7614 OPPORTUNITY DRIVEFORT WAYNE46825
SHORELINE AIR SYSTEMS, INC.3801 N.W. 49 STREETFT. LAUDERDALE33309
SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.3021 N. COMMERCE PKWY.MIRAMAR33025
SMART AIR SYSTEMS, INC.1731 BANKS ROADMARGATE33063
SOUTHEASTERN CHILLER OF MIAMI3800 N.W. 126 AVE.CORAL SPRINGS33065
SOUTH FL MECHANICAL SERVICES, LLC4701 N FEDERAL HWY #3400POMPANO BEACH33064
SOUTHERN MECH. SYSTEMS, INC.15491 SW 12 STREET #409SUNRISE33326
STERLING REFRIGERATION, INC.3101 DOGWOOD LANEMARGATE33063
THERMO AIR SERVICE, INC.2875 NORTH 29 AVE.HOLLYWOOD33020
TIP TRUCKING & EXCAVATION, INC 6252 VIA PRIMO STREETLAKE WORTH33467
TRANE U.S., INC.2884 CORPORATE WAYMIRAMAR33025
TRINITY AIR CONDITIONING9760 E. INDIGO STREETMIAMI33157
UNION TEMPORARY SERVICESP. O. BOX 813847HOLLYWOOD33081
WEATHERTROL MAINTENANCE CORP.7250 N.E. 4 AVENUEMIAMI33138