Arizona's RSI Rebrands to Tulsa Welding School in Major Strategic Shift

PHOENIX, AZ – July 07, 2026 – In a significant strategic shift for Arizona's vocational education landscape, Refrigeration School, Inc. (RSI), an institution that has trained the state's skilled trades workforce for over 60 years, will officially adopt the name of its national counterpart, Tulsa Welding School (TWS). The change, effective July 20, 2026, marks the culmination of a long-standing partnership and a deliberate move to unify a growing network of trade schools under a single, powerful national brand.

This rebranding is more than a simple name change. It is coupled with a significant campus expansion slated to break ground this fall and represents a calculated strategy by parent company StrataTech Education Group to consolidate its market presence and better address the critical shortage of skilled professionals in Arizona and across the nation. The move aims to merge RSI's deep local legacy with the extensive resources and national recognition of the 75-year-old Tulsa Welding School brand.

A Strategic Unification for a National Powerhouse

The decision to bring RSI into the Tulsa Welding School fold is the latest chapter in a relationship that began in 2009 when StrataTech (then Beam Reach Education) acquired the Phoenix-based school. For years, RSI and TWS have operated as “sister schools,” with RSI even utilizing TWS’s industry-aligned welding curriculum. This rebranding formalizes that relationship, creating a streamlined identity designed to enhance opportunities for students and simplify partnerships with a vast network of employers.

"By bringing our schools together under the Tulsa Welding School brand, we are able to expand opportunities for students and employers and leverage the resources of a nationally recognized institution," said TWS CEO Bill Nance. This strategic consolidation is a key part of StrataTech's broader growth plan, which has seen the TWS network expand to campuses in Texas, Florida, and, most recently, a new 44,639-square-foot facility in the Atlanta Metro area.

The unification allows the Arizona campus to tap into TWS's national infrastructure, including relationships with over 16,000 employers across all 50 states. For students, this translates into greater visibility and a broader range of career opportunities upon graduation. For the institution, it creates operational efficiencies and strengthens its position as a national leader in training for essential industries like manufacturing, construction, and energy.

Honoring a 60-Year Legacy While Fueling Arizona's Future

Since its founding in 1965, RSI has been a cornerstone of Arizona’s workforce development, earning a sterling reputation for its hands-on training. Leadership has been clear that while the name on the building is changing, the core mission is not. The school’s programs in HVAC/refrigeration, welding, and electrical technologies—fields critical to Arizona’s booming economy—will continue uninterrupted, taught by the same experienced instructors.

"For more than 60 years, RSI has helped shape Arizona's skilled workforce and transform lives through career-focused education," Nance stated. "This transition honors that remarkable legacy while positioning our Arizona campus for future growth."

This sentiment is echoed by alumni who have built successful careers on the foundation of their RSI education. "As someone who graduated from RSI and now hires skilled technicians, I know the value of the education students receive," said Jesse Keenan, founder of Semper Fi Heating and Cooling. "The name may be changing, but the quality of the training, the instructors, and the graduates remains the same."

For current students, the transition is designed to be seamless. The school has assured that there will be no changes to course schedules, graduation timelines, or the curriculum itself. All diplomas and credentials earned under the RSI name will retain their value, and to ensure clarity during the change, the campus will temporarily be referred to as 'Tulsa Welding School, formerly RSI.'

Recent graduates also see the change as a positive evolution. "As an RSI graduate, I'm proud of what the school's name has represented here," said Isaac Sackett, a 2024 graduate and Lead Service Technician at Howard Air and Plumbing. "I see this as building on RSI's legacy and helping more students discover the opportunities available as a skilled trades professional."

Building for Growth: Expansion and Market Positioning

The rebranding coincides with plans for a "significant campus expansion" set to begin this fall. While specific details of the expansion have not yet been made public, the existing 26,000-square-foot facility on East Washington Street is poised for growth. This physical expansion is a tangible commitment to increasing training capacity to meet Arizona's urgent demand for trade professionals.

This strategic investment solidifies TWS's competitive position in a market that includes vocational providers like Universal Technical Institute and local community colleges. By combining RSI's established local reputation with the national brand recognition and proven ROI of TWS—some of whose campuses rank in the top 5% nationally for 10-year return on investment—the institution presents a formidable value proposition for prospective students.

Both RSI and TWS are accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), a mark of quality that, combined with the school’s deep industry connections, is crucial for graduate success. By expanding its footprint and unifying its brand, TWS is not just reacting to market demand but actively shaping the future of skilled trades education in the Southwest.

Nance added, "As Arizona's need for skilled trades professionals continues to grow at a rapid pace, this next chapter allows us to build on RSI's extraordinary foundation while creating even more pathways for students to pursue meaningful careers and for employers to access the talent they need through Tulsa Welding School."