Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration (HVAC/R)

Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration (HVAC/R)

The HVAC/R program teaches the skills needed to service and install temperature, humidity, and air quality control systems in both commercial and residential settings.

Questions? Call 440.891.7732

Some call us an HVAC/R Technician, but we like to think of ourselves as Comfort Engineers! This cool profession is heating up year-round! After all, what would we do here in Cleveland without heat in the winter and what would Miami be like without air conditioning in the summer? The HVAC/R program teaches you the skills you need to service and install temperature, humidity, and air quality control systems in both commercial and residential settings.

HVAC/R systems consist of many mechanical, electrical, and electronic components such as motors, compressors, pumps, fans, thermostats, switches, and much more. Technicians must be able to maintain, diagnose and correct problems throughout the entire system. Students enrolled in this program learn to install, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair residential and commercial comfort control systems. This class offers the opportunity to work on gas and electric furnaces, air conditioners, heat pumps, light refrigeration systems and more!

Teacher: Jonathan Paracsi

Teacher: Jonathan Paracsi

Email Jonathan Paracsi
Education:  2018 Polaris Alumni from the Heating, Ventilating & Air Conditioning program, currently attending Cuyahoga Community College
Certifications:  OSHA 30-Hour, EPA Section 608 - Universal, NATE - Core AC - Service and Gas Heat - Service, ESCO - Certified Subject Matter Educator (CSME); Air Conditioning, Manitowoc Ice - Factory Authorized Service Technician, NC3 - Snap-on 575 and 604 Multimeter Instructor, American Heart Association - Heartcode and BLS CPR Instructor
At Polaris Since:  2022
Industry Experience:  5-years working in the Commercial HVAC/R industry with specialization in Restaurant and Supermarket Refrigeration and HVAC.
Interests/Hobbies:  In his free time Jonathan enjoys spending time with his wife, Madison, and their three cats. When he's not with them, he is either working with a family member or enjoying time outdoors either golfing, fishing, or hunting.

Teacher: Rick Reitz

Teacher: Rick Reitz

Email Rick Reitz
Education:  Associate Degree; Cuyahoga Community College
Certifications:  CFC, OSHA 30-Hour
At Polaris Since:  2009
Industry Experience:  30-years industry experience as a service technician, installer and factory representative
Interests/Hobbies:  Rick enjoys golfing, biking and Kent State.

Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration (HVAC/R) 2024-2025 Advisory Members

  • Greg Baker, Beckett Thermal

  • Dave Bania, Refrigeration Sales Corporation

  • Jimmy Barnicle, Refrigeration Sales Corporation

  • Sterling Gill, Gardiner

  • Mike Platko, Portman Mechanical

  • Joseph Saliba, Trane Technologies

  • Chad Schnear, Geauga Mechanical 

  • Ken Shvorob, Wolff Bros Supply, Inc.