Inside the Training Culture at Plumbing, Cooling and Electrical Nerds
Plumbing, Cooling and Electrical Nerds, based in Southwest Florida, have built more than a home services brand, they’ve cultivated a culture of growth, precision, and performance. Their technician training program goes beyond typical onboarding. It’s a weekly process fueled by data, artificial intelligence, and personal coaching.
At the Plumbing, Cooling, and Electrical Nerds facility in Naples, Florida, a large, well-lit training room is set up with multiple tables, chairs, whiteboards, and various instructional materials. This room is regularly utilized for group training sessions and workshops for technicians, providing a dedicated space for theoretical learning, strategic discussions, and collaborative exercises that complement their hands-on training.Photo by: Jim Cessna
At the heart of their system is Rilla, an AI-powered virtual ride-along tool that analyzes customer interactions. By transcribing and assessing sales conversations in real time, Rilla helps techs sharpen their communication and increase customer satisfaction.
During one of the weekly one-on-one coaching sessions that Freddy Romero holds with technicians, Chris Robles is seen attentively listening to Freddy Romero in an office or training room at the Plumbing, Cooling, and Electrical Nerds facility in Naples, Florida. This session is being conducted to review performance data, likely from the Rilla AI app, and provide personalized feedback to Chris for his ongoing improvement. Photo by: Jim Cessna
During one of the weekly one-on-one coaching sessions that Freddy Romero holds with technicians, Chris Robles is seen attentively listening to Freddy Romero in an office or training room at the Plumbing, Cooling, and Electrical Nerds facility in Naples, Florida. This session is being conducted to review performance data, likely from the Rilla AI app, and provide personalized feedback to Chris for his ongoing improvement. Photo by: Jim Cessna
“Rilla has changed the way we coach,” said Freddy Romero, training manager at Plumbing Nerds. “It lets us pull exact moments from a conversation and show our team how to improve in a way that’s constructive and specific.”
Freddy Romero and Chris Robles are seen shaking hands in an office or training space at Plumbing, Cooling, and Electrical Nerds in Naples, Florida. This handshake likely occurs at the beginning or end of a productive one-on-one training and coaching session, serving to signify a positive and collaborative interaction, such as agreement, acknowledgment, or encouragement, within their ongoing training process. Photo by: Jim Cessna
Every week, Romero sits down with each tech for a one-on-one session. On a recent visit to the office, technician Chris Robles reviewed one such highlight reel with Freddy, pinpointing key moments in his call performance. These moments spark conversations around tone, trust-building, and solutions-based selling.
In the plumbing training bay within the Plumbing, Cooling, and Electrical Nerds warehouse/training facility in Naples, Florida, a specialized plumbing training area features mock-up installations of pipes, fixtures, and water heaters. This space is used for hands-on, practical plumbing training exercises, allowing technicians to practice and master complex plumbing installations and repairs in a controlled, realistic environment. Photo by: Jim Cessna
Within the Plumbing, Cooling, and Electrical Nerds facility in Bonita Springs, Florida, a dedicated HVAC training room is equipped with various heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system components, including outdoor units and indoor air handlers. This room is utilized for practical training and troubleshooting of HVAC systems, providing technicians with essential hands-on experience in assembling, maintaining, and diagnosing common HVAC issues. Photo by: Jim Cessna
Training doesn't stop at the screen. The company’s state-of-the-art training room includes mock HVAC systems and plumbing setups. Technicians earn their ProNerd Certification, a badge of excellence displayed proudly on the training center walls.
Within the Plumbing, Cooling, and Electrical Nerds facility in Bonita Springs, Florida, framed "Nexstar Certified Service Technician" and other professional certifications are displayed on a wall. These certifications are continuously presented to demonstrate the company's commitment to continuous professional development and to signify the adherence of their technicians to industry-recognized standards. Photo by: Jim Cessna
A close-up view reveals framed "ProNerd Program Certificate of Achievement" documents displayed on a wall in the training center or office at Plumbing, Cooling, and Electrical Nerds in Bonita Springs, Florida. These certifications are permanently showcased to publicly honor and motivate the technicians by highlighting their completion of rigorous internal training programs. Photo by: Jim Cessna
Plumbing Nerds emphasizes continued education. “Every week is about getting 1% better,” Robles said during his review. “That’s what keeps us sharp.”
The warehouse and training center are designed for fast learning and hands-on experience. Shelves are stocked, labeled, and ready for simulations. Posters reinforcing the Nerd values of clarity, expertise, and friendliness are prominently featured.
The organized shelves of the Plumbing, Cooling, and Electrical Nerds warehouse in Bonita Springs, Florida, are stocked with an array of labeled parts and tools, ready for technician use during training or service calls. Photo by: Jim Cessna
From cutting-edge tech to boots-on-the-ground mentorship, Plumbing Nerds are raising the standard for skilled trades. Learn more about career opportunities here.
