The Lyles College of Engineering is participating with Net Positive Consulting Engbers to create an engineer-in-training program for students to train while they earn their education. Fresno State photo

A local business has helped launch a new career program through a collaboration with a local university.

Net Positive Consulting Engineers — providing mechanical, plumbing, fire sprinkler design, as well project management lead, construction administration, and commissioning — recently launched an engineer-in-training program in collaboration with Fresno State’s Lyles College of Engineering.

The five-year program aims to enable mechanical engineering students to obtain California’s Engineer-in-Training credentials, helping train the next generation of engineers and bolster the future of engineering in the Central Valley

Net Positive fully funds the program, covering the university’s hosting costs and instructor expenses.

Owner and Principal Engineer Jonathan Schlundt said that the success of Fresno State engineering students is crucial to boosting the Central Valley’s growth and economy.

Founded nearly four years by Schlundt, Net Positive employs about 20 people, mostly engineers from the Central Valley.

“I really wanted to work in my backyard and started this company so that we can focus on working within the community,” Schlundt said.

The company designs HVAC, plumbing and fire sprinkler systems for schools, businesses, and any other types of structures and facilities that are not residential.

After graduating from Fresno State, he stayed involved with Fresno State, serving on their advisory board for the last 12 years.

“We have a lot of industry that could benefit from the student coming out of the school, and I felt there was some kind of synergy that should be happening so that we could have this snowball effect that is sustainable and mutually beneficial on both parts,” he said.

He noted that strongest colleges tend to have a good industry relationship, highlighting Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo’s marriage with industry to help influence their curriculum. Schlundt said he hopes they can bring that back to Fresno State.

Over the years, Fresno State has not pushed for engineering programs compared to when he was in school, with the university currently focused on graduation rates, grant projects and master’s degrees, Schlundt said.

Most of the graduating students aren’t even aware about the EIT program, he said.

The EIT course work prepares students for an engineering license test, and increases their rates of passage.

While Net Positive focuses on system designs, there are many related businesses in the Central Valley — and they are looking for engineers, Schlundt said.

“It’s such a hot commodity and there are so many students hired locally just for that industry,” he said.

Net Positive is constantly hiring and bringing on interns as an investment in the company’s growth, Schlundt said.

His hope is to improve the caliber of graduating students to help them get higher paying jobs, noting that a lot of students, especially good students, leave the Central Valley to seek such jobs.

“My hope is that we can create a better student and create a better marriage with industry so that they could have a good living here as well,” Schlundt said.

Many younger students are more attracted to other fields of mechanical engineering, such as civil or aeronautical engineering. Schlundt was no different, wanting to design rockets and planes. He didn’t know anything about the HVAC industry.

He grew interested in the industry through mentors. He said attracting more students to the HVAC field could be a matter of simply exposing them to it as a potential career option.

Like any other industry, the company wants to attract ambitious, qualified individuals.

As the Net Positive grows, he hopes students at Fresno State take advantage of the career opportunities presented.

“I hope students take the opportunities to better themselves by taking the course and improve the Valley together between the school and industry,” Schlundt said.