Major: Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration
Mike Bartolomucci was working as a mixed martial arts fighter, instructor and personal trainer until a back injury forced him to look for something else.
He began driving for Uber to make extra income but was struggling financially.
“The birth of my first daughter, Sofia, was a blessing and became a turning point for me,” he said. “I realized I needed to find a stable and rewarding career to support my family.”
Bartolomucci came to College of DuPage and initially considered pursuing fire science, but the program was full. He then met with Bob Clark, professor and coordinator for the Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVACR) program, and immediately felt welcomed.
“That meeting changed everything,” he said. “I approached HVACR with the same mindset as firefighting, treating it as a field where I could help people in times of need. Whether responding to carbon monoxide dangers or emergency heating issues, I knew this career would allow me to make a difference while providing a stable income for my family.
“What made Bob Clark’s program stand out was his unmatched passion. He didn’t just teach HVACR—he lived it. He prepared us for situations we would face in the field and emphasized critical thinking over just textbook knowledge. The hands-on approach in the lab reflected what it’s like in the field, which is unique to COD, plus it prepared us to handle customers, safety and emergencies with professionalism. Program graduates come out with a competitive edge.”
The hands-on approach in the lab reflected what it’s like in the field, which is unique to COD, plus it prepared us to handle customers, safety and emergencies with professionalism. Program graduates come out with a competitive edge.
Mike Bartolomucci
After earning the Service Technician certificate, Bartolomucci began working for an employer introduced to him by Clark, and his equipment sales were three times as much as the next technician. As a result, he was asked to accept the Carrier President’s Award on behalf of his company, and he had the honor of walking across the stage and shaking the hand of the Carrier Corporation CEO.
In addition, he pursued further certifications and joined professional organizations to continue learning and growing in the field. He earned the North American Technician Excellence Group (NATE) certification, which he passed easily due to the solid foundation he received at COD.
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His success led Bartolomucci to join forces with his best friend, Nick Coffey, who also completed the HVACR program, to start their own business, Affordable American Air. He attributes the confidence to do so to an incident that happened in one of his COD classes.“I was working on top of a refrigeration unit when a residential contractor entered the lab,” he said. “I overheard the contractor ask Bob to give him his best candidate. Then Bob walked straight up to me and asked me to come down and get an interview. When I saw that I had earned the confidence of someone that I respected so much, it changed my life forever.”
Because of his love for COD, Bartolomucci hires students from the HVACR program.
“Over the years, we’ve had four COD graduates work for us, and they came in prepared, knowledgeable and ready to tackle the demands of the field. I firmly believe in supporting the next generation of HVACR professionals, especially those who come from the same program that shaped my career.”
He said if prospective HVACR students to take full advantage of the opportunities at COD, they will succeed in a challenging field.
“This team will help you reach your goals, whether it’s building technical skills, earning certifications or preparing for the workforce. Rest assured, you’re learning from some of the best in the nation,” Bartolomucci said. “Owning a business has always been a dream of mine, and COD gave me the foundation to pursue a field I grew to respect deeply. HVACR and COD gave me the ability to ensure the well-being of my beautiful wife, Vanessa, and our three wonderful kids, Sofia, Victoria, and Luca. Thank you, Bob Clark, and thank you COD!”