PowerChampions Graduates First Class of Credentialed Generators Technicians

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Nov. 12, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- PowerChampions, a critical power services platform dedicated to providing reliable and resilient energy solutions, today announced the successful graduation of its inaugural cohort from the American Skilled Trades Academy (ASTA). The first class of five generator technicians will now join PowerChampions depots in Sumter and Greenville, South Carolina, marking a significant milestone in the company's efforts to address the critical power industry's skilled labor shortage.

The curriculum at ASTA follows an 80/20 model, with 20% of the program dedicated to classroom instruction and 80% focused on hands-on performance. This approach ensures that graduates are not only knowledgeable about the theory of emergency power supply systems but are also adept at troubleshooting and repairing complex components such as automatic voltage regulators (AVRs) and governors, as well as conducting reactive load bank testing and paralleling controls.

The curriculum is backed by NFPA 110, OSHA 10, and NOCTI credentials, which are industry-recognized credentials that verify the skills needed to service and troubleshoot emergency power supply systems. These credentials are essential for the technicians as they move into their roles at PowerChampions depots, where they will be expected to generate revenue immediately upon completion of their training.

ASTA is the first entity in the power generation industry to offer third-party-validated, performance-based technician certifications. The organization was founded to train Thinking Technicians, who are problem solvers who understand systems, think critically, and are prepared to meet the demands of today's increasingly complex infrastructure environments. The curriculum at ASTA is designed to prepare these technicians for the challenges they will face in the field.

Over the next 12 months, the graduates will continue their training on the job, with PowerChampions anticipating significant growth in the coming years. The company's partnership with ASTA provides a scalable workforce development model designed to keep pace with expansion. With the ability to launch new apprentice cohorts on a rolling basis every two weeks, ASTA has the capacity to train upwards of 350 new technicians annually. This approach positions PowerChampions to develop a consistent pipeline of credentialed, field-ready technicians, helping to eliminate one of the industry's most significant bottlenecks, the shortage of skilled labor, while supporting the continued expansion of its national network.

The American Skilled Trades Academy, founded by co-founders Ashish Achlerkar and Tom Wein, is an independent training organization that seeks out veterans for their work ethic, focus, and real-world experience solving problems under pressure. The co-founders' backgrounds include Wein's extensive experience in building Generac's global technician training network to 28 centers and 78 instructors worldwide, which reduced warranty return rates to under 0.5%. This partnership between PowerChampions and ASTA underscores the company's commitment to building a durable and skilled workforce.

With PowerChampions anticipating significant growth in the next few years, its partnership with ASTA provides a scalable workforce development model designed to keep pace with expansion. Building on the success of its inaugural class, ASTA has the capability to launch new apprentice cohorts on a rolling basis every two weeks, with the capacity to train upwards of 350 new technicians annually. This approach positions PowerChampions to develop a consistent pipeline of credentialed, field-ready technicians, helping to eliminate one of the industry's most significant bottlenecks, the shortage of skilled labor, while supporting the continued expansion of its national network.