contact: Kathleen Hohl, Communications & Events Director
414-297-6208 (office); 414-235-7105 (cell); hohlk@matc.edu

MILWAUKEE (Jan. 26, 2011) – Milwaukee Area Technical College’s Center for Energy Conservation and Advanced Manufacturing (ECAM) HVAC laboratory has been named a national training and certifying facility for Testing Adjusting and Balancing Bureau (TABB) and National Energy Management Institute (NEMI) contractors and technicians.

MATC received the recognition at an open house on January 26, 2011. The open house was hosted in conjunction with the Plumbing Mechanical Sheet Metal Contractors’ Alliance. At the event, the Alliance was named a regional affiliate of the TABB. John Hamilton, NEMI director, and James Page, of the International Training Institute, were present to make the announcements.

At the event, Hamilton remarked about ECAM, "This is truly a masterpiece and a first-class facility."

Page echoed those sentiments during his comments and said, "You've got everything. This is the only lab that serves all the components and we look forward to working with the MATC staff."

ECAM is a $9 million, 34,000-square-foot facility and is home to a multitude of educational and training opportunities. Opened in late 2007, ECAM hosts six learning laboratories in these specialty areas: advanced manufacturing, manufacturing welding, advanced software, energy solutions, HVAC digital controls and HVAC computers. Learn more at http://matc.edu/ecam/

The Testing, Adjusting and Balancing Bureau (TABB) is committed to the welfare of the general public, engineers, building owners and design professionals to assure that all building environmental systems are installed properly and all systems are adjusted to these design specifications. TABB Certified Professionals subscribe to a strict Code of Conduct and pledge to regularly upgrade their skill level to meet cutting-edge technological advances in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning industry.

The National Energy Management Institute is a not for profit organization jointly funded and managed by the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA) and the Sheet Metal Workers' International Association (SMWIA). NEMI identifies emerging market opportunities for its constituents. We develop programs seeking to create or expand employment opportunities for SMWIA members and programs that assist SMACNA contractors.