For Freedom Air Heating and Air Conditioning, success isn’t measured just by the number of installations completed or systems repaired. It’s measured in impact.
Based in South Carolina’s Lowcountry, the Black-owned and operated HVAC company is more than a service business. It’s a family legacy, a workforce engine, and a growing force for representation in the trades.
For Aaron Anderson, service extends far beyond the job site. He's driven by a deeper mission: fostering the future of the trades by creating opportunities and equipping tradespeople with the skills they need to build lasting HVAC careers.
“It’s a beautiful journey. It’s fulfilling,” says Anderson. “Seeing these guys come in [who] have never been exposed to the trades and don’t know that this trade is a great opportunity — we’re making this look like it’s attainable.”
From military service to family business
Freedom Air’s story begins with service.
Anderson’s father, James, retired from the Navy in 1994. Rather than step back into a traditional job, he chose a different path.
“He didn’t like the idea of working for someone all over again,” Anderson explains. “He decided to use his GI Bill and went to the local trade school… and pretty much embarked on a journey of becoming an HVAC technician.”
By 1999, Freedom Air was born.
Years later, Anderson found himself at a crossroads of his own. After a stint in corporate America, he realized that world wasn't for him.
“I decided to come in with my father as a partner in 2011, and I’ve been here ever since.”
In a rural community where family ties run deep, the business quickly became woven into the fabric of everyday life. What began as a small, family-run HVAC company would eventually evolve into something much larger.
Turning challenge into opportunity
As Freedom Air grew, Anderson began noticing a pattern.
They were training strong technicians — only to see many of them recruited away by larger companies.
At the same time, another reality was setting in.
“We are a Black company… and it’s kind of hard to attract good talent the way we would want to,” Anderson says candidly.
Many applicants came from within the surrounding African American community. Some lacked formal training or access to industry pathways.
“We had to work with what we got.”
Rather than see that as a limitation, Anderson saw it as a call to action.
They didn’t wait for someone else to fix the talent pipeline. They built their own curriculum. They formalized training. And they launched Field Ready Training Academy.
“We decided to put together an educational entity, and now it’s called Field Ready Training Academy.”
Today, the academy runs year-round. Local agencies took notice and began referring students. The program earned funding and state certification.
“We’re training six to 10 students [at a time]… we train them for six weeks, take two weeks off, and then get another set of students. And we do that year-round.”
That steady rhythm — not a one-off bootcamp — is what makes the academy a reliable ramp into the trades.
But the goal isn’t simply to staff Freedom Air.
“Our goal is not to bring them in to run our company,” Anderson says. “Our goal is to give them the necessary skill sets to become entrepreneurs and follow the same journey that we set forth for ourselves.”
The training blends hands-on technical skills with real-world business know-how: licensing, legal structure, and financial partnerships. Anderson and his team aren't just producing technicians — they're deliberately shaping the next generation of trade business owners.
“I have a handful of guys that run their own subcontracting business… I got a couple of guys that are in leadership with their companies now.”
For Anderson, the real measure of success isn't how many techs he keeps — it's how many go on to build something of their own.
Representation that changes what’s possible
In the trades, representation still matters.
“It’s a very small percentage of Black contractors that are in this game,” Anderson says. “We’re one of the biggest Black trades company in the Lowcountry.”
Then he puts it in perspective.
“But that’s not a lot… our revenue is significantly lower than what most successful contractors do.”
Still, being visible counts for something.
“A lot of times, I feel like we’re kind of by ourselves,” he admits. “Luckily, we run a family business, and we all lean on each other for strength to keep going.”
That sense of isolation is part of what drove them to take the next step.
Creating space through the Black Trades Conference
Freedom Air and Field Ready, in collaboration with NCGrowth, is currently preparing to launch the Black Trades Conference — an event designed to bring representation, education, and connection to the forefront.
“That’s the whole point of the Black Trades Conference, which is to breach some type of representation,” Anderson explains. “Showing where the opportunities are in our community.”
The vision goes beyond inspiration. It's rooted in practical skills.
“Building on the necessary skills that you need to run and operate a business.”
Anderson envisions it becoming a destination event — a place where tradespeople can learn directly from those who’ve walked the path before them.
“Having the physical touch where you can actually talk to somebody who has the wisdom in what you’re looking for — I think that’ll be very impactful.”
For Anderson, it's a natural extension of what Freedom Air has been doing all along — making sure the door stays open for whoever comes next.
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Powering legacy
At its core, Freedom Air’s mission comes back to legacy.
“A lot of folks… they’re interested in creating a legacy for their families,” Anderson says.
That belief fuels everything — from running service calls to training entrepreneurs to hosting conferences.
It’s why the work still energizes him.
“It’s fulfilling.”
During Black History Month, Freedom Air stands as proof that ownership in the trades can be transformational — not just for one family, but for entire communities.
Anderson and his team turned limited access into a training ground, challenge into a curriculum, and visibility into a platform others can stand on.
That’s what it means to Power the Nation.
Want to learn more about ServiceTitan’s Power the Nation initiative and the contractors making a difference across the country? Visit ServiceTitan’s Power the Nation home page.
