Humans of SkillCat
Chaos. Grit. Paychecks.
Capacite a su equipo para que se conviertan en expertos en HVAC, electricidad y reparación de electrodomésticos con nuestras más de 300 horas de capacitación integral. Nuestro programa incluye certificaciones en EPA 608, CPO, OSHA-10 y NATE, brindándoles las habilidades necesarias para tener éxito.
"SkillCat gave me the tools and support to take the leap"
-- Kimberly Sevilla
In 2020, at 50 years old, I found myself rethinking my career path. For over a decade, I had been running my own floral business, and while I loved it, I felt ready for a new challenge. During the pandemic, I asked an architect friend of mine what trades were doing well. She mentioned HVAC as a field with great potential. Initially, I wasn’t sure—HVAC wasn’t something I had ever considered. But I decided to test the waters and got a job in the industry to see if it was a fit for me. It didn’t take long for me to realize I loved it.
With a background in biochemistry and a natural talent for systems and hands on problem-solving, I quickly connected the dots between HVAC and the impact of good system design on people’s health—especially indoor air quality. As someone with a husband who has asthma and a son with allergies, this really hit home for me. I saw how I could make a difference not just in comfort, but in people’s health.
Even after the pandemic eased and my floral business picked up again, I couldn’t shake my newfound passion for HVAC. I realized I wanted to take the next step and start my own business in the field. That’s when I discovered SkillCat. SkillCat was a game-changer for me. As a mom juggling two kids and a small business, I didn’t have the time to take traditional classes. SkillCat allowed me to learn at my own pace, fitting study sessions into my busy schedule. Every morning, I’d log on to study, and I loved how clear and accessible the lessons were. The app gave me the confidence to pursue my EPA certification, and when I passed the exam, it felt like the first step toward something big.
The next week, I filed my LLC and officially launched my HVAC business, Shelter Air. Over the past year, my business has started to gain traction, and I’ve never looked back. I’ve embraced the technical aspects of HVAC, focusing on system design and indoor air quality, and I love the impact my work has on people’s lives.
Starting a business in a male-dominated industry at this stage in my life was daunting, but SkillCat gave me the tools and support to take the leap. It’s a fantastic resource for anyone looking to make a career change—whether you’re entering a new field, like I did, or leveling up in your current one. If you’re on the fence about trying something new, I highly recommend giving SkillCat a try.
"I dropped out of high school in 1980"
-- Michael Dekneef
School wasn’t for me — I needed to be out in the world, doing something real. I bounced between jobs until a friend got me a position as a pool tech at an apartment complex. That one opportunity changed everything.
From cleaning pools, I moved into make-ready work. That same friend took me under his wing and started teaching me the maintenance trade. I was hooked. I followed him from complex to complex, soaking up everything I could — electrical, plumbing, drywall, HVAC. Eventually, I went out on my own.
Maintenance gave me purpose. It made me feel useful. I loved showing up to a problem no one could figure out, rolling up my sleeves, and fixing it.
But the road hasn’t been easy. In 1999, I was diagnosed with leukemia. I went through chemo and nearly lost everything — my health, my spirit, my will. But my friends and family carried me through. I survived. I’ve had heart problems too — even open-heart surgery. But I always came back. I always kept working.
I’m 62 now. Most people think about slowing down. But not me. I’m starting again.
To work on A/C units today, you need an EPA license. So I’m back in class, learning all over again. I want to keep doing what I love. I want to stay useful. I want to keep building things, solving problems — helping people.
People ask me why I’m still pushing this hard.
And I tell them: because I’m still here. And that means there’s still work left for me to do.
"I didn’t always know what I wanted to do with my life"
-- Perry F
I didn’t always know what I wanted to do with my life — in fact, for a long time, I thought I’d just be stuck working jobs I didn’t care about, clocking in and out, living for the weekends. But deep down, I always had a love for working with my hands. There’s something about building, fixing, and seeing the results of your hard work right in front of you that just feels right to me.
At 17, I dropped out of high school because school just wasn’t for me. Not long after, my grandma’s brother-in-law, who owned a land surveying company, heard I’d left school and offered me a job.
That was my first real taste of skilled trades — labor work, outside, moving, learning, getting my hands dirty and I loved it. It made me realize I wasn’t meant for a desk. I eventually went back to get my High School Equivalency Diploma at Vance Granville Community College and kept moving forward. Life hasn’t always been kind, though. I’ve lost a lot of family over the years, took some wrong turns, and found myself off track more than once. But one thing that’s stayed the same is my work ethic. I’ve worked construction, remodeling, concrete, HVAC, whatever I could get. I learned everything the hard way, job by job, mistake by mistake, but always telling myself to just keep going.
Now at 27, I’ve decided it’s time to stop bouncing from job to job and finally build a real career in the trades. My goal is to master plumbing, electrical, and as many other skills as I can, and one day open my own business, not just for me, but so I can give others like me a chance too. Right now, life’s tough. I moved from North Carolina to Florida hoping for a fresh start. My fiancée and I are doing our best to get by — she works full-time, and I pick up odd jobs through a temp agency: labor, site clean-up, driving for auctions, setting up and tearing down boat shows.
Between rent, groceries, car insurance, and gas, there isn’t much left over. A month ago, my fiancée’s mother passed away. We didn’t even have the option to take time off to grieve — bills don’t stop coming.
But through all of it, I get up every day and keep pushing. I still believe I can make something better for us.
If you’ve made it this far, thank you for reading my story, it means a lot. Here’s hoping this is the start of something good
"Everything changed when I found out about SkillCat"
-- Barakat Ali Zahidi
I am 29 years old and originally from Afghanistan. I wanted to study and build a future, but the war made it impossible. I had to leave my country and seek refuge in Indonesia, hoping for a new beginning. However, refugees there are not allowed to work or study, so my dreams were once again put on hold.
Even though I couldn’t attend school, my passion for electrical never faded. I have always loved Physics and spent my time learning on my own—watching YouTube videos, researching online courses, and reading about electrical work. I kept looking for ways to learn, even when opportunities were scarce.
When I arrived in Indonesia in 2015, there were no schools for refugees, so I decided to help others. I became a volunteer teacher and helped create a learning center for refugees like me. Teaching was challenging, but it also helped me grow. During this time, I worked hard and managed to complete my GED, which was a big achievement for me. Now, I am in the United States with my elderly parents. I am grateful to be here, but life is still difficult. I don’t have a job yet because my paperwork is not ready, and I have to take care of my family’s expenses.
Everything changed when I found out about SkillCat. For the first time in years, I felt hope again. This program seemed like the perfect opportunity to finally pursue my dream of becoming an electrician. SkillCat offers the kind of training I have always wanted but never had access to before.
I am ready to give my best effort, complete the program with high marks, and find a stable job. My goal is not just to support my family but to finally do what I love. I have faced so many obstacles in my life, but I have never given up—and I won’t start now.
"A contractor stole my AC unit. Took the money & disappeared."
-- Douglas Smith
A contractor stole my AC unit. Took the money and disappeared. That’s when I decided - never again.
I’ve worked in remodeling for years. It’s what I know, what I’m good at. But when the economy slowed down, I lost my job.
Around the same time, the AC in my house went out and the contractor I hired not only stole my money, but my unit too. Just took it. I worked with law enforcement and got him held accountable, but the damage was done.
That was the moment something changed in me. I realized I couldn’t just keep depending on others. I needed to understand HVAC for myself. To protect my home, my wallet, and maybe help others who’ve been taken advantage of, just like I was. That’s when I found SkillCat.
I’m 40 now, in Jacksonville, Florida. I grew up in a broken home. My father was abusive. He’s been in jail for more than half my life for what he did to my mom, my sister, and me.
My mom raised us as a single parent on a teacher’s salary. There wasn’t much, but we worked hard. I put myself through college, working full-time, earning scholarships, and graduating near the top of my class - all with almost no debt.
And then, just when I thought I was finally getting ahead, my house caught fire. A fixer-upper I had just bought. No insurance money, no savings. Nothing.
But I refused to give up. I went online, learned everything I could. How to rewire, replumb, frame. And worked on that house every single day and night. I rebuilt it with my own hands.
I want to get certified in HVAC and electrical, build my own business, and serve people with integrity. I want to offer fair prices and honest work, something that feels rare these days. For me, this isn’t just a career move. It’s personal.
It’s about reclaiming power, not just for myself, but for anyone who's ever been taken advantage of and told they couldn’t do it.
"I started welding at 16. No degree"
-- Michael Hancock
“I started welding at 16. No degree. No safety net. Just me, my hands, and the will to figure it out. By my early 20s, I was outworking guys twice my age. Welding gave me a purpose, something I could build a life around. But after years in the trade, I hit a ceiling. I’d done it all. It stopped challenging me.
I knew I had to pivot. So I stepped away. No backup plan. No income. Just a fire in me to start over. I launched a mobile mechanic business from scratch. No investors, no funding, just tools and drive.
I cold-called businesses, drove 30 miles for jobs, and ran on fumes most days. But I proved I could survive and build under pressure. Now, I’m going all in on HVAC. I’m training with SkillCat, getting my EPA 608, and setting myself up to either get hired or launch a mobile HVAC service of my own.
This isn’t about trying something new. It’s about building something that lasts. Hands-on. In demand. Recession proof. I'm not afraid to start over. I just need someone to take a chance on me. I’ll handle the rest.”
Michael Hancock, SkillCat Student
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