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October 05, 2026
Mystery Solved: David’s Journey into the Trades
David grew up watching his father navigate every corner of the HVAC industry — and always wondered what it was really like. Now a graduate of Trane Technologies' first-ever Technician Apprenticeship Program, he's building a career defined by hands-on problem solving, purposeful work and wide-open possibility.
Growing up, David Burger watched his father move through every corner of the HVAC industry; installation, service, controls, building automation. It was fascinating and unknowable, the way a parent's work can seem when you're a kid looking in from the outside. "It was always a mystery," David says, grinning, "Now it's not."
David, an HVAC service technician based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, came right out of high school and into the trades. It was a path that felt natural given his background, but one he's made entirely his own. Three years in, graduating from Trane Technologies' first-ever Technician Apprenticeship Program (TAP) cohort, he's talking about his future with the ease of someone who knows they're in the right place at the right time.
My name is David Burger. I'm from Grand Rapids, MI. I'm a service technician. I actually came right out of high school, but I went to our local Career Center and I grew up with some family members in the HVAC industry. I like being hands on, which leads to the mechanical side of things, but I also like going somewhere new every day and I get that opportunity. The new training facility is awesome. Being able to have these pieces of equipment at our disposal to work on, that's huge. As a young person, it's easy to want to just get it done fast. It's kind of shown me to slow down a little bit. Yeah, I've fought loose connections on electrical plugs for a while, and I saw it again, and in 10 minutes I had it fixed. It's awesome to be able to represent the factory, you know, as a technician, when I get to the site to learn more and grow more, there's plenty of opportunities, whether it's building automation, leadership, mentorship. I try to keep all the doors open right now.
Hands on, always moving
David was drawn to the physical problem-solving and the constant novelty of the job, a combination that keeps his work from feeling routine. "I like being hands on, and I also like going somewhere new every day. I get that opportunity here."
He also finds it rewarding, especially the work he does in healthcare buildings, where HVAC plays a crucial role in patient care.
I like the fact that we're serving people. I can see the direct effect of my work, and that's always pleasing to see.
David Burger
Commercial HVAC service technician, Trane Technologies
That sense of purpose extends beyond the buildings he services. “You can also have a direct impact on someone’s business. You can go into a building, do some efficiency upgrades and save a customer quite a bit of money in a short amount of time.”
Learning to slow down
David has had a few mentors through the program, which meant he got to see different approaches up close. His current mentor, Travis, is the model he'll carry forward.
"Travis is always open for a phone call. When I get stumped on something, he's always willing to come out and help." David’s acquired technical knowledge from his mentors, the coursework and his hands-on learning with clients and equipment, and the program has taught David a different relationship with the process of learning itself.
"As a young person, it's easy to want to get it done fast and show that you got it done. The program has shown me to slow down a little bit." David has learned to be more detailed, to write things down, to sometimes sit with a problem before rushing to solve it.
The payoff on that lesson stuck with him. “I once fought loose connections on electrical plugs for hours. Then, I saw it again and in 10 minutes I had it fixed. That felt awesome.
A training center that changes the math
This is exactly what makes the new Trane Technologies Advanced Technician Training Center feel so significant to David. Having a full chilled water system — pumps, controls, the works — available to work on in a clean, controlled environment is something previous generations of technicians simply didn't have. "Being able to have these pieces of equipment at our disposal to work on is huge."
It's cool being able to see a whole chilled water system condensed down, instead of throughout a hospital. We can actually see the entire system right here. That's invaluable.
David Burger
Commercial HVAC service technician, Trane Technologies
Keeping doors open
Graduating from TAP is just the beginning for David, who’s fully aware of the possibilities in front of him. Future opportunities like building automation, leadership and mentorship interest him, but he’s wisely keeping his options open.
"I’m trying to keep all doors open right now,” he says. "I like helping people, but for now my priority is to get back in the field and keep growing.”
As for what it means to wear the Trane Technologies’ name on a job site: "It's awesome to be able to represent the company as a technician. Having the backing from this company gives you more opportunities to learn and grow. I can’t wait to see what my future brings."
For David, being an HVAC technician is no longer a mystery. His career is helping to build his future.
The future is ours to create.
Start your future in Commercial HVAC with Trane Technologies
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