Trades Are Losing Talent for HVAC Leaders to Fix Culture by Teaching Respect with Kyle Smith Part 2
HVAC Know It All Podcast17 Nov 2025

Trades Are Losing Talent for HVAC Leaders to Fix Culture by Teaching Respect with Kyle Smith Part 2

In part 2 of this episode of the HVAC Know It All Podcast, host Gary McCreadie is joined by Kyle Smith, an HVAC technician and account manager at MK Mechanical, LLC. They discuss the importance of mentorship in the trades and how creating a supportive learning environment can help new technicians thrive. Kyle shares his experience of teaching the next generation through patience and hands-on guidance, rather than through harsh criticism. They talk about the value of education and the role of self-education in becoming a successful technician. The episode also covers how building a positive culture within companies can lead to better retention and stronger team dynamics.

Gary and Kyle discuss how creating a positive, supportive environment helps new HVAC techs succeed by focusing on teaching instead of yelling. They explain why some older techs struggle to connect with younger ones and how respect and clear expectations can improve teamwork. Kyle shares advice on mentoring, like being patient, using hands-on learning, and taking time to educate rather than criticize. They also talk about using resources like YouTube and phones to help techs learn outside of work hours. They finish by emphasizing the importance of training the next generation and creating a culture of learning in the HVAC industry.

Expect to Learn:

  • How mentorship and patient teaching help new HVAC techs build skills.

  • Why does creating a supportive environment lead to better retention in the trade?

  • How does asking the right questions and using hands-on training improve learning?

  • Why encouraging self-education outside of work helps techs grow faster.

  • How to build a company culture focused on respect, teamwork, and education.

Episode Highlights:

[00:00] - Intro to Kyle Smith in Part 02

[02:17] - How to Truly Attract Youth to the Trades

[02:59] - Fixing Mentorship: Teach, Don't Yell

[04:37] - The Need for a Strong Support System

[07:08] - The "Train the Next" Philosophy

[09:15] - Learning Off the Clock for Success

[11:55] - What Truly Defines a Great Technician

[14:23] - Where to Get Kyle's Book and What It Covers

This Episode is Kindly Sponsored by:

Master: https://www.master.ca/

Cintas: https://www.cintas.com/

Cool Air Products: https://www.coolairproducts.net/

property.com: https://mccreadie.property.com

SupplyHouse: https://www.supplyhouse.com/tm
Use promo code HKIA5 to get 5% off your first order at Supplyhouse!

Follow the Guest Kyle Smith on:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-smith-403b998a/

MK Mechanical, LLC: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mk-mechanical-llc/

Website:

MK Mechanical, LLC: https://www.mk-mechanical.com/

Follow the Host:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-mccreadie-38217a77/

Website: https://www.hvacknowitall.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/HVAC-Know-It-All-2/61569643061429/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hvacknowitall1/

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