Graduate Connections – Meet Loren Lomayaktewa III

Loren, 24, was born and raised on the San Carlos Apache Reservation, 20 minutes east of Globe in central Arizona. Loren completed the nine-month Electro-Mechanical Technologies (EMT) program at RSI in June 2025. 

Thanks for your time, Loren; what did you do before coming to RSI in the Fall of 2024?

Growing up, my family was a combination of holding onto our traditional values and culture, while still moving forward with the modern world. When I was in high school, I worked at a ranch during summers and weekends whenever I had time. That was really the first time I started thinking seriously about my future. Before that, I was just living day by day. 

After high school, I went to trade school for welding toward the end of 2019, but then the pandemic hit in 2020 and the welding school closed. After that, I worked security on the reservation during the pandemic, and later I got hired as security at our hospital. 

So, you left your security job to come to HVAC school in Phoenix?

No, before coming to RSI, I took about a year off to help my family take care of my baby brother, who was born in 2023. I stayed home, spent time with family, took part in ceremonies, and really thought about what I wanted to do next during that time.

Did you consider going back to welding? RSI has a welding program.

I did consider going into welding again, but since I already had some welding experience from my previous trade school, I figured I already knew the basics. 

Where did the idea of going to RSI or HVAC school come from? 

Honestly, I heard about RSI from some relatives who went to the school before me. At the time, I didn’t really ask a lot of questions about the school or look too deeply into it. I wanted to step into HVAC because it was something new. I also thought about taking the Electrical program, but I didn’t realize at first that the EMT program taught the basics of electrical as well. In the end, it worked out because I was able to gain some electrical knowledge along with HVAC.

Did you go into HVAC thinking of it as a possible career, or just as a useful skill you could take home?

Honestly, it was both. Where I grew up, there aren’t many job opportunities or variety. When I learned more about RSI, I saw it as a chance to leave home, come out here to Phoenix, and learn something new. I also thought about the future and realized that HVAC is a solid career, especially in a hot climate like Arizona, where air conditioning is always going to be in demand. My goal was to learn as much as I could out here and eventually, in several years’ time, take that knowledge back home.

When you started the program, did you have any HVAC or electrical experience at all?

No, I was completely green.

How did you find the program? Was it difficult at first?

The beginning was definitely difficult, which is expected when you’re learning something new. But it got easier as time went on, especially once I started asking questions and getting hands-on experience. Memorizing everything was probably the biggest challenge, but as long as you put in the work, paid attention, and studied, it really wasn’t too bad. I never thought about quitting, I grew into it.

Some people are nervous about asking questions. Were you like that?

No, I’ve always been confident about asking questions. Even if it sounded like something simple, I didn’t mind. I noticed a lot of people were afraid to speak up, so I kind of became the spokesperson for the group.

What did you enjoy most about the program overall?

I really loved how hands-on the EMT program was. It felt like the perfect balance between classroom learning and hands-on work. Being able to physically work with the components helped everything in the books make sense – where things go, why they’re there, and how they work together. I also really enjoyed meeting new people – classmates, instructors – and building connections along the way. Since I moved here alone, staying with the same class for nine months made a big difference. It felt like I built a new family there.

Have you stayed in touch with people since graduating?

Yeah. I actually started working at the same company as four other guys I graduated with. There are others from my class I still check in with now and then, just to see how they’re doing.

Keeping that network can be huge in this industry. So where are you working now?

I’m employed with Parker & Sons. I started in July, a couple of weeks after graduating.

Congratulations! How did that job come about?

I spent about two weeks looking at different HVAC companies, mostly considering distance from where I lived. Then Frankie from RSI Career Services contacted me and said Parker & Sons was looking for recent graduates. I decided to take the chance, interviewed, and got hired pretty much on the spot at the end of June as an installer apprentice. I’m hoping to move into a lead role in the next couple of months.

Have you had any exposure to service work yet?

Yeah. I spent about five months on installs, but I also got to work on the service side for about a month. That helped a lot because it connected everything back to what we learned in class. 

Starting in July, you jumped right into peak A/C season. How did you feel about your first paycheck?

I was definitely happy, especially with the overtime during peak season. It made it all worth it.

What’s your long-term career plan?

My goal is to eventually start my own HVAC company back home on the reservation. For now, Parker & Sons has my loyalty. I want to keep learning – master installs and then get more experience on the service side.

What do you enjoy most about this trade?

Helping people, especially during the summer in Arizona when A/C is essential. It feels good knowing the work we do improves people’s lives. I also enjoy installs – getting hands-on, solving problems, and learning something new every day. No two days are the same. Every job, every house, is configured differently.

You mentioned loyalty earlier. Is that important to you?

Yes. Parker & Sons gave me my first real opportunity in HVAC, just like Raising Cane’s did; they hired me when I moved down here. I worked there while I went to school. I believe in staying loyal to the people who give you a chance. I plan to stay with Parkers for at least four years and learn as much as I can, and I still work at Raising Cane’s now. In fact, when I interviewed with Parkers, I told them that Raising Cane’s was the first place that hired me and that I’d like to stay with them for as long as possible, if I could still make it work. I also told them that’s the same loyalty I would give to Parkers if they were to hire me.

That’s admirable in this day and age. So, you still work two jobs?

Yeah, I still work at Raising Cane’s on the weekends – about 15 to 20 hours. It’s extra pocket money; I make much more an hour at Parker & Sons.

Last question. What advice would you give to new students starting at RSI?

Fully commit from day one. Show up every day, take attendance seriously, and treat it like the career it’s preparing you for. Don’t be afraid to ask questions – no one expects you to know everything. Help others, because when you help them, you’re also reinforcing what you know. Stay ahead of the work when you can. The more effort you put in early, the less stress you’ll have later. I came to RSI on my own with nothing but a goal and a willingness to work, and I graduated with perfect attendance, a 4.0 GPA, served as a student ambassador, and received a Presidential Honors Award. My journey showed me that when you fully commit, you can change the direction of your life. I’m thinking about the future now, being financially stable, supporting myself, and taking care of my family. I’m pushing toward those goals every day.

If you’re an RSI graduate and would like to share your success and be an inspiration to others, please email [email protected] to be considered for a Graduate Connection interview. Please include details such as your graduation date (month/year) and program.