Overview
Sampson Community College (SCC) is an excellent place for Ammonia Refrigeration Operator Training. Attaining classroom knowledge in conjunction with experience working in a state-of-the-art lab with major components of a modern refrigeration system make SCC’s program a great overall learning experience.
Industry understands the importance of running an efficient system with no safety issues and that to do this requires operators to be trained and re-trained to maintain the skill-set necessary to successfully operate a refrigeration system. Fran Leerkes has over 42 years experience in the food industry, specifically in the areas of engineering and maintenance, and will customize the program to meet the training needs of students whether they have no experience or are seasoned operators.
Register Online
Courses are added daily! Click the link below to see when our next available class is. If a date is not present, a class is currently not scheduled. Please reach out to Mr. Rice for more information.
Cost & Fees
Operator I
Course: $125.00
Registration Fee: $12.60
Book: $208.38
Operator II
Course: $125.00
Registration Fee: $12.60
Book: $200.04
Process Safety Management
Registration Fee: $70.60
Meet your Instructor
Frances Leerkes, PE
Fran has more than 42 years experience in the food industry in the field of Engineering and Maintenance. Fran has worked in a wide range of sectors, everything from new plant start-ups to setting up maintenance programs for pork and poultry processing plants. As Plant Engineering manager at the Tar Heel Plant for Smithfield he was responsible for all maintenance and capital project activities. At the Smithfield Clinton plant, Fran finished his career as Senior Project Engineer. Fran has a solid record of doing projects on time and under budget including the capital projects he oversaw which involved ammonia refrigeration upgrades for both Clinton and Tar Heel plants.
Fran retired from Smithfield in May 2016 and now teaches Ammonia Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technology at Sampson Community College. He has also taught Hydraulics , Pneumatics, and other continuing education classes. His firsthand experience in the food industry and willingness to share his knowledge with his students is a great combination to educate any student eager to learn.
Fran holds a Bachelor’s of Science Degree from Milwaukee School of Engineering and has a Professional Engineering (PE) License. Fran is also an active member of RETA (Refrigeration Engineers and Technicians Association).
