Tomball (June 11, 2026) – Lone Star College-Tomball's first heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) Occupational Entry Certificate class began in Summer 2026 at Lone Star College- Magnolia Center. Additionally, the college is proud to announce the appointment of Ahmed Gaber as the HVAC Program Director at the LSC-Magnolia Center.
“Creating a new program in a new Center is both rewarding and motivating,” said Gaber. “We can design modern training labs, implement industry-aligned curriculum, and create a learning environment where students gain real-world skills that employers are looking for. It’s very fulfilling to be part of building a program that will benefit students and the local workforce for many years.”
The LSC- Magnolia Center HVAC program prepares students for high-demand careers in heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration, meeting the growing workforce needs of the Greater Houston area. Students who earn the Occupational Entry Certificate will be able to continue into the Residential Servicing Certificate, starting in Fall 2026, a clear pathway to build their HVAC skills and credentials.
Under Gaber's leadership, the program combines rigorous academic standards with practical, hands-on training.
“We have built the program from the ground up with a strong focus on industry needs, hands-on training, and preparing students for immediate employment in the HVAC field,” said Gaber. It is exciting to help establish a program that will serve the community and support workforce development in such a high-demand trade.”
Since January 2015, Gaber has served as a full-time HVAC and Refrigeration (HVAC/R) technology professor at LSC- North Harris, where he has built a reputation for excellence in teaching and program development. He has crafted engaging curriculum materials while leading dynamic lectures and hands-on lab sessions that bring HVAC technology to life for students. His commitment extends beyond the classroom through personalized mentorship that empowers students to achieve their career aspirations.
Gaber played a pivotal role in achieving nationwide accreditation for the LSC- North Harris HVAC department and has collaborated extensively with industry experts to keep the curriculum current with evolving technologies. Through strategic partnerships and recruitment initiatives, he has promoted program visibility and driven enrollment growth.
Before transitioning to education, Gaber built a solid foundation in the HVAC industry. He served as a Building Engineer with CB Richard Ellis from 2011 to 2015, where he conducted inspections, optimized building systems, and oversaw the installation of state-of-the-art equipment. Previously, he worked as an HVAC/R and Conveyor System Technician at Grocers Supply Co., where he executed preventive maintenance on commercial cooling systems and provided technical support to the maintenance staff.
Gaber earned his MBA from Western Governors University in October 2023, following his Bachelor of Business Administration in Management from the same institution. He holds an Associate of Instrumentation and Control Engineering from Houston Community College and completed his undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from Alexandria University in Alexandria, Egypt.
His professional certifications include a Texas Environmental Air and Refrigeration Class A Commercial HVAC contractor license, EPA Clean Air Section 608, and credentials as a National HVAC/R educator and trainer. His expertise spans HVAC load calculations, system sizing, virtual routing and forwarding (VRF) systems, chillers, boilers, electrical schematics, and control wiring.
More information about the LSC-Magnolia Center HVAC Program is available at LoneStar.edu/magnoliacenter
Lone Star College-Magnolia Center is located at 1280 Escondido Drive, Magnolia, TX 77354, in Magnolia Texas. For more information about the college, call 281.351.3300 or visit LoneStar.edu/Tomball.
Lone Star College System enrolls over 90,000 students each semester, providing high-quality, low-cost academic transfer and career training education. LSCS is training tomorrow’s workforce today and redefining the community college experience to support student success. Mario K. Castillo, J.D., serves as Chancellor of LSCS, the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area, and has been named a 2025 Great Colleges to Work For® institution by the Chronicle of Higher Education. LSCS consists of eight colleges, six centers, eight Workforce Centers of Excellence, and Lone Star Corporate College. To learn more, visit LoneStar.edu.
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