Ferris State University students preparing for careers in heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration field can connect with about 40 employers in the field at career fair planned for Thursday, Feb. 1.

The inaugural career fair will be conducted by the School of Built Environment and will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Granger Center for Construction and HVACR, 605 S. Warren Ave. in Big Rapids.

The School of Built Environment houses the Architecture, Construction Technology & Management, Facilities Management, and HVACR programs in the College of Engineering Technology.  

Suzanne Miller, interim director of the School of Built Environment and Construction Technology & Management program coordinator, said housing the event in the Granger Center enhances the student experience by bringing employers to the classroom building that houses two of the four programs as well as some architecture classes.  

This student-centered event focuses on developing soft skills by forming mentorships and relationships, researching internships and full-time opportunities, and setting up in-house interviews with almost 40 industry attendees who are ready to engage with Ferris State University’s School of Built Environment students. 

Dan Flores, sales engineer for Chicago-based Atomatic Mechanical, said his firm is looking forward to working with students and growing its partnership with Ferris State, which he said has a long history of helping students gain career skills. 

“As an advisory member and former student of the Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration program, I am always impressed by the interaction between students and industry representatives during the Career Day,” he said. “Each dialogue is an opportunity for each side to learn a great deal about the other, allowing a perfect amount of time to make a long-lasting impression. It certainly makes a difference when a student can discuss their career aspirations in a relaxed atmosphere with industry mentors.”
Participating companies are coming from across Michigan as well as Illinois, Minnesota, Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Visiting industry representatives include: 
 

• Atomatic Mechanical Services, Chicago. 
• Barnard Construction, Bozeman, Mont.
• C.A. Hull Co., Inc. Walled Lake. 
• Clark Construction Company, Lansing.
• Commercial Contracting Corporation, Auburn Hills. 
• Copeland (also known as Emerson Climate Technologies, Sidney, Ohio.
• CRH, also known as Michigan Paving & Materials, Lansing. 
• D&D Building, Wyoming.
• DV Construction, Rockford. 
• Erhardt Construction, Ada. 
• EV Construction, Holland. 
• F.H. Paschen, Chicago. 
• Fessler and Bowman, Flushing. 
• Fishbeck, Grand Rapids. 
• Grand Valley Automation, Grand Rapids. 
• Hoffman Bros., Inc., Battle Creek. 
• Ideal Contracting, Detroit. 
• Kalin Construction Company, Sodus. 
• Kamming & Roodvoets, Inc., Grand Rapids. 
• Kasco, LLC, Grand Rapids, 
• Kent Companies, Grand Rapids. 
• M.J. Electric, LLC, Oxford, Mich. and De Pere, Wisc. 
• Moore Mechanical, Grand Rapids.
• Pioneer Construction, Grand Rapids.
• Power Construction, Chicago.
• Quality Air Heating & Cooling Inc., Grand Rapids. 
• RAM Construction Services, Livonia. 
• Rockford Construction, Grand Rapids. 
• Rohde Construction Company Inc., Kentwood.
• Roncelli, Inc., Sterling Heights. 
• Seaman’s Mechanical, Grand Rapids.
• Summit Point Roofing, Grand Rapids and Traverse City. 
• The Christman Company, Grand Rapids and Lansing. 
• The Jamar Company, Duluth, Minn.
• TowerPinkster, Grand Rapids. 
• Veneklasen Construction, Grand Rapids. 
• Victaulic, Easton, Penn. 
• Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, Detroit.