To see him standing in the lobby of South Piedmont’s OCH Main Building, you might assume Gordon Sprague got lost on his way to a motorcycle rally and stopped in to ask for directions.
He has a long bushy beard. He wears a leather vest adorned in patches, including one that depicts a snowman holding a machine gun. He walks with “don’t mess with me” confidence.
Then he starts talking — about his humble upbringing, the financial stability he gained as a skilled tradesman, his commitment to helping students and veterans — and right away, you see him for what he truly is: an educator who is passionate about the opportunities available in the trades, and in particular HVAC.
As South Piedmont’s new HVAC program lead, Sprague is aiming to help students access those opportunities as quickly as possible, setting them on a path to financial stability and career advancement.
Here are six things to know about Sprague:
He is the son of a truck driver and homemaker who knows firsthand the economic advantages that come with learning a trade.
Growing up in Kendall, N.Y., Sprague always had a roof over his head and something to eat, but his family subsisted paycheck to paycheck. There were no vacations or any of the other little luxuries he saw other kids enjoying. After he graduated high school, Sprague initially enrolled in a private college, but soon dropped out and went to work as a machining apprentice. “I didn’t understand why I should spend $25,000 a year on college when I could be making the $25,000 a year learning the same things on a job site,” he said. “So I dropped out and went to work. Going into the trades gave me a huge step up very fast.”
A passing comment led to his career in HVAC.
While he was working as a journeyman tool and die maker, a co-worker said to Sprague one day: “If I had it to do again, I’d go into HVAC.” The co-worker elaborated that people are always going to want to be comfortable, so there will always be jobs in the HVAC field. Years later, following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, and the resulting economic fallout, the machining industry collapsed. Sprague enlisted with the Marines, fulfilling his lifelong dream of military service. When he was medically discharged a decade later, he recalled that conversation about HVAC and used his GI Bill to enroll in a local program. He worked in commercial and industrial HVAC for about four years before transitioning into higher education.
He dropped out of college, but then changed his mind.
Though he dropped out of college years ago, Sprague has since earned his undergraduate degree in Human Services from Wingate University and his master’s in Human Services Counseling/Military Resilience from Liberty University. “I wasn’t big on college when I was younger, so sometimes people ask why I ended up getting a master’s. The answer is two-fold. I wasn’t big on school when I was younger because I didn’t see the long-term benefits of education because of my short-term needs. I left home after high school and had to support myself. The necessity of money took precedent. The second part of the answer is I was taking the wrong classes. I enjoyed the work I was doing, and my workplace was my classroom. Going back to school as an adult, I was able to choose what I was interested in rather than having to find a way to address immediate financial concerns. I’ve found what I’m truly passionate about in helping veterans and helping students.”
He can give you lots of reasons to consider a career in HVAC.
In his role as program lead, Sprague meets with prospective students, and he has no shortage of reasons why they should explore the HVAC field. First, he tells them, the average age of HVAC workers is 55. “There’s already a workforce shortage, but in the next 7-10 years, there’s going to be even greater demand as we see many members of the older generation retire. You’ll never have to worry about finding a job in HVAC,” Sprague said. Plus, Sprague said, HVAC technicians can easily continue their training and education to become managers or salespeople and potentially earn six-figure salaries. “Even starting out, with most HVAC jobs, you’re going to get a truck or van from the company. You’re going to be making a good salary and you’re going to have a vehicle. That is a huge step up economically in a very short time.”
He has two clear pieces of career advice for his students.
“Show up on time and do what you’re told,” he said. “It’s really that simple.”
If he’s not in the classroom, he’s likely on the road.
As HVAC program lead, Sprague aims to ensure his students are prepared to succeed in the workforce, and he’s working to expand internship and apprenticeship options so they can get to work as quickly as possible and start learning the industry on the job. He loves the work, but whenever he has the time, he hits the road. He owns two Harleys and a Honda Goldwing. He’s logged thousands of miles on his motorcycles and braved extreme conditions. “I’ve gone to Key West and Alaska. I’ve paralleled a tornado and ridden in rain and snow. That’s where I most like to be is on the road.”