chris@ctema.com

Chris Herb has been with association for over twenty years where he held the position Vice President for twelve years and currently serves as its President. From 1999 to 2003, Herb was elected and served for two terms as the a Burgess for the Borough of Naugatuck where he initiated town economic development projects and cultural events, capital improvement projects and economic development. Prior to serving as an elected in his hometown of Naugatuck, Herb worked as a Legislative Aide at the Connecticut General Assembly from 1996 to 2000. As an aide, he worked as the liaison to dozens of state agencies, managed constituent relations, testified before legislative committees and performed research on legislative issues. Herb also worked as the Director of Public Support for the American Red Cross in the late 1990s. Prior to his time with the Red Cross, he was the Head Track and Field Coach and an Assistant Football Coach at Naugatuck High School. Herb is the father of two boys and lives with his wife Lisa, a school teacher, in Naugatuck.

chu@ctema.com

David Chu, Vice President, joined CEMA in 2004. At CEMA he is responsible for a wide variety of functions, including conferences, meeting planning and management education. He regularly helps members with solutions to their questions and regulatory compliance concerns, especially on taxes and contracts.

Prior to working for CEMA, he was a vice president for a nursing home association, was the campaign manager for GOP candidates in New York City, and a strategic planner for General Electric. He is a graduate of Amherst College and Columbia University.

nickey@ctema.com

Nickey Kollie serves as the Director of Legislative Affairs and Member Services. Nickey obtained her Bachelor’s in Business administration from Southern Connecticut State University and has a Master’s in Public Administration from Albertus Magnus College. Nickey started her official role with CEMA in 2017; before coming to CEMA, she worked for Tracey Energy out of New Haven, CT. She is responsible for CEMA’s legislative advocacy and affairs, membership and engagement, special projects, and the CT NORA Upgrade and Save Program. Outside of CEMA, Nickey serves as the Vice Chair of the Fair Rent Commission in Naugatuck, Ct. 

In her free time, she enjoys traveling, reading, and enjoying the great outdoors. 

walter@ctema.com

Walter L. Morton IV joined CEMA’s Government Relations Team with nearly 10 years of experience in Government affairs and Campaign management. A lifelong CT resident who studied Political Science and Economics at Penn State University before joining the U.S. Army. He began as a staffer for Senate President Martin Looney, where he clerked The Public Health, and Transportation Committees. He then worked on current Governor Ned Lamont’s 2018 Gubernatorial race. Most recently he served as Hamden’s Director of Legislative Affairs for 3 ½ years. In that role, he covered Hamden’s legislative priorities at the state and federal level. He also worked on several Economic Development related projects in Hamden as well. Walter is also a member of his local Board of Education, and as of March 2022 recently returned home from a Deployment with the CT National Guard to East Africa. 

kate@entechtraining.org

Kate provides administrative support to ensure efficient operation of the school and supports the instructors and school director with a variety of tasks.

berk@entechtraining.org

Berk has been in the HVAC/R trade for 35 yrs. In those years he has been a service tech, installation tech, Field Supervisor & Installation Manager. Berk also always loved to share his knowledge with others whenever and whatever he did, so he ventured into the education aspect of the trade. He has been an instructor for 10 yrs. In 2017 he was awarded Instructor of the Year by (O.E.S.P. Oil Energy Service Providers) a non-profit organization that helps educate and support the HVAC trade.

 Berk has volunteered for many charity projects and events. His friends and family know that if they ask he is the first one there. He lives in East Hartford with his wife Lisa.

joe@entechtraining.org

Joe is our longest nighttime instructor of 17 years. He has mentored many students over that time and now is starting to see the second generation of some of his past students.  A current S1 license holder, he has a very long history in the home heating oil industry, as well as working for mechanical companies doing everything that goes along with the job from installs, service, sales, and mentoring younger/ newer employees. Talking to him and having him look back over the years of all the changes that have come about in the industry has installed a wealth of knowledge he has gained. He is also a published author and has written articles in the past for oil heating magazine.

chuck@entechtraining.org

Chuck started in the HVAC field in 1982 as a graduate of the Technical Careers Institute. During the first ten years, he went from apprentice to service manager of Climate Temp. When Climate temp closed, Chuck went to work as the plant engineer for Condyne Freezers of East Hartford. A large storage facility for food. He worked on everything from the ammonia refrigeration system to the electronic fork trucks. When the facility closed in 1993, he began teaching At Technical Careers Institute becoming the HVAC department head within a few years. During his time with Technical Careers, he obtained his S1 contractors’ license and my SM1 sheet metal license. Chuck ended his full-time adult teaching career in 1996 as an employee of Porter and Chester Institute. Chuck was then employed by the CT State Technical High School System and worked on curriculum development and became an HVAC department head. After retiring, Chuck came back into the field as a service supervisor and now is an equipment specialist for HOP Energy CT branches serving central CT east and west from Windham to Middlebury. I feel my highest HVAC skill set besides teaching is in residential and light commercial HVAC and electrical controls.  In his free time, Chuck spends time riding motorcycles and teaching motorcycle safety, riding rails to trails on his bicycle along with his wife, and enjoying his family.