Student Spotlight: Madeline Cobb

In 2017, Madeline Cobb graduated from Lincoln Tech's Columbia, MD campus after realizing she wanted more from life than the odd jobs she worked after high school. The partnership between Johnson Controls and Lincoln Tech aims to address the skills gap in the industry. Johnson Controls works with campuses across the country to develop curriculum and donate equipment for training in Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC), as well as Electrical, Fire and Security systems. The program prepares students for a rewarding career in the industry and gives qualified candidates the opportunity to start their career path with Johnson Controls.

Today, Madeline works as a field technician at Johnson Controls in fire systems. “I ended up liking fire alarm technologies a lot, specifically,” she said. “It’s life safety, and that feels really important to me, more so than setting up an internet connection, for example. You’re protecting people.”

Madeline is able to apply her interest and knowledge in the skilled trades industry and receives a more immediate return on investment compared to a traditional four-year degree. She was able to enter the workforce more quickly and take in a competitive salary and benefits package. Madeline enjoys that no two days are ever quite the same in her chosen career. She emphasized the importance that better customer service and increased safety are a result of deep expertise, not memorizing a handbook. To that end, Madeline is continuing her education through college courses, utilizing tuition reimbursement benefits, and is completing industry certifications as well.

The diverse career paths offered at Johnson Controls and the company’s investment in its technicians is another thing that Madeline credits with sparking her interest. “I would recommend Johnson Controls to students who want a clear path for improvement and want the most from their education and career,” she said.