A capable trainer makes the difference between a student retaining and applying what he learns, and wasting the money a company spends to send him for training in the first place. Goulds Water Technology, a Xylem brand, has offered training for years. To find out more about what they offer and how they keep trainees coming back, we spoke with Chris Preston, residential product manager for Goulds’ Seneca Falls, N.Y., facility. Preston is a training veteran. He helps out with the Goulds pump school, and conducts trainings for the National Ground Water Association and Texas Ground Water Association, among other groups. He covers installation, safety and troubleshooting for VFDs, submersible and jet pumps, and other Goulds offerings. Our interview here has been edited for space and clarity.
A. I think everyone is a student. I know that I learn something new every day. Even if it’s something that you think that you’re knowledgeable about, there’s sometimes little things that you’ve forgotten or that may have changed over time that are interesting. Certainly, there’s a lot of changes within the industry, again around electronics and the promotion of energy efficient products. The changes in design sometimes require a refresh.