At just 23 years old, Alex Tibbs represents a new generation of skilled tradespeople who are driven, disciplined, and deeply rooted in both craft and community. As a Commissioning Foreman for Southern Air, his work sits at the critical intersection of installation and performance, where systems are not just built, but proven.
Bringing the Laurel Hotel to Life
Nowhere is that more evident than at the Laurel Hotel in Danville, Virginia. A historic renovation project, the building demanded a careful balance between preservation and modernization. While architects worked to maintain original features like towering doorways and high ceilings, the mechanical systems required to deliver modern comfort had to be seamlessly integrated into tight, unforgiving spaces.
Tibbs was responsible for commissioning the building's Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) system, a sophisticated HVAC solution using refrigerant to heat and cool different zones simultaneously. In simple terms, commissioning ensures every component of that system, from miles of piping to each indoor unit, operates exactly as designed. It is the final step before a building comes to life, requiring precision, patience, and a deep understanding of how systems interact.
Working alongside seasoned Southern Air professionals like his father Superintendent Joe Tibbs and Field Operations Manager Gary Gilliam, Tibbs helped bring the system online after months of installation, troubleshooting, and coordination. The challenge was as technical as it was physical. Limited ceiling space meant ductwork, piping, and plumbing all had to coexist in narrow corridors without compromising performance or aesthetics. It was a puzzle, and Tibbs spent nearly eight months helping solve it.
From Childhood Curiosity to Licensed Journeyman
His journey into the trade began long before Laurel Hotel. As a child, he watched his father braze copper piping, a skill that would ultimately shape his career. Though he initially considered welding, it was the art of brazing that captured his attention. After graduating high school during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, he waited patiently for his opportunity to join Southern Air. That patience paid off in spades.
Today, Tibbs is a licensed journeyman who earned his credentials through Southern Air's in-house apprenticeship program, mentored by respected industry veterans. Recently promoted to foreman, he now leads crews in the field, while continuing to work hands-on with piping, system layouts, and quality control. His path mirrors the journey of other Southern Air apprentices who have built lasting careers through hands-on mentorship.
Life Beyond the Jobsite
Outside of work, Tibbs finds a different kind of energy in the world of tractor pulls. In these competitions, drivers attempt to pull a weighted sled along a dirt track, with resistance increasing as the sled moves forward. The sled itself can weigh tens of thousands of pounds, designed to challenge both machine and driver. Competitors modify their trucks extensively, building high-powered engines, reinforcing transmissions, and tuning performance components to withstand the extreme strain.
For Tibbs, it's more than a hobby. It's a connection to his upbringing and his father, who introduced him to the scene. Whether helping organize events or stepping behind the wheel himself, the experience delivers an unmatched adrenaline rush.
At home, Tibbs embraces the role of a father. His daughter, Maggie, recently turned two, and he describes fatherhood as one of the most rewarding parts of his life.
Building Systems, Building Futures
From job sites to dirt tracks, Alex Tibbs embodies the spirit of the modern tradesman: technically skilled, grounded in mentorship, and driven by both purpose and passion. At Southern Air, professionals like Tibbs are not just building systems, they are building futures.