Opportunistic Operator

As a freshman at Gainesville’s Chestatee High School, Brandon Carlos already had an eye on his future. And that eye was perceptive – with a level of insight impressive for his age, he recognized a golden career opportunity in the skilled trades.

“I was always interested in doing a trade,” Brandon recalls. “I wasn’t sure which trade, so I started researching everything my freshman year, and I saw that with HVAC, there were a lot of people retiring from that trade. That interested me, because I know there’s going to be really good opportunities in the future.”

Now Brandon’s vision is coming to fruition. After graduating from Lanier College & Career Academy in the spring of 2024, he went to work for Georgia Mechanical in nearby Suwanee. He also is enrolled at North Georgia Technical College, where he’s studying for an associate’s degree.

Brandon had transferred to LCCA when he learned he could potentially graduate early. His HVAC instructor there, Horace Kilgore, became a valuable mentor, and he finished Top-10 in his class and earned certifications including EPA 608 Universal – a vital credential in his industry – as well as OSHA-10, Pallet Jack, CPR, Tape Measure, and more.

“Brandon came into my class to gain some knowledge about construction,” says Kilgore, who moved to East Hall High School for the 2024-25 schoolyear. “He left with so much more – he has been certified in so many things, and he has fallen in love with the HVAC trade.  He obtained not only his OSHA-10, but also his EPA 608, which is a major accomplishment. He was wanted by multiple companies.”

During his senior year, Brandon applied for and received a scholarship from the Conditioned Air Association of Georgia, which is helping fund his technical college education.

Kilgore’s influence extended beyond technical skills training. The veteran instructor works hard to prepare his students in the art of interviewing, relationship building and other soft skills.

“We did mock interviews and he helped me with my resume,” Brandon says. “We learned how to talk to people, how to get a job. He taught us how to look good in the employer’s eyes. He also brought in people from different companies to talk about the trades. I had interviews with multiple companies, and the one that interested me the most was Georgia Mechanical.

“The biggest influence in my career choice was definitely Mr. Kilgore,” he continues. “We had a lot of one-on-one talks. He explained to me every trade and all the different career options. I wouldn’t be working with Georgia Mechanical if not for him.”

Kilgore is equally complimentary of his former student. “Not only do all of the things on paper look great, Brandon is the most respectful and polite young man I have taught,” Kilgore says. “He is awesome.”