GateWay Community College (GWCC) is pleased to announce Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVAC-R) Program Director, Bruce Martz, has been named the 2023 Affiliate Member of the Year by the Mechanical Trade Contractors of Arizona (MTCAZ).
“Receiving the Affiliate Member of the Year award is monumental to me,” said Bruce Martz, HVAC Program Director. “It represents the opportunity to work with HVAC-R Mechanical Trades Contractors and GateWay in the dual pursuits of member recruitment and education, contributing to the continuous enhancement of our community. This award recognizes my dedication to teaching and mentoring GateWay HVAC-R students and my collaborative efforts to enhance the industry. We aim to ensure students have meaningful learning experiences to succeed in today’s growing workforce.”
The prestigious Affiliate Member of the Year Award honors members for their outstanding support of the mechanical industry and their significant contributions to MTCAZ’s association goals. Martz was recognized during the annual Awards Celebration, held on December 1, 2023. Recipients must maintain good standing as members and demonstrate exceptional service, aligning with MTCAZ's mission to provide members with a competitive edge in the industry. MTCAZ is Arizona’s leading non-profit trade association for heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration contractors, working to provide members with the tools needed to succeed in the industry.
As a distinguished HVAC-R expert, Martz plays an integral role in training students to excel in the high-demand field. Under his guidance, students of the program learn how to use the latest technologies and systems through hands-on training. Students also have access to GWCC’s state-of-the art facility that utilizes advanced technology to prepare students for repair, installation, and servicing of HVAC-R equipment and systems.
“I am proud to congratulate Bruce Martz on being named the 2023 Affiliate Member of the Year by MCTAZ,” said Danny Fisher, Dean of Business Professions, Technology, and Trades. “As an expert with decades of experience, Bruce brings resources and tools that give students a competitive advantage in the HVAC-R industry. Congratulations to Bruce Martz on this well-deserved honor, highlighting his outstanding contributions to the HVAC-R industry.”
With Arizona's growing population, construction development projects, and economic development, the demand for skilled workers in construction trade occupations is on the rise. HVAC-R employment projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects an increase of 6% from 2022 to 2032. Arizona is among the top four states expected to experience the highest demand for HVAC technicians by 2028, according to long-term occupational projections by Projections Central.
Arizona recently experienced one of the top 20 hottest summers in the past 129 years, according to weather data reports from the National Weather Service. Notably, Phoenix shattered previous heat records with 54 temperatures at 110 degrees or higher days, marking triple-digit extremes. Working air conditioning units have become essential to the health and survival of the blistering Arizona heat. A study conducted by Environmental Science and Technology estimated that in a hypothetical Power Off scenario in Phoenix, over 50 percent of the population would experience heat-related emergency room visits. These statistics reinforce the need for highly-skilled HVAC-R technicians, who not only contribute to Arizona's growing economy, but also the well-being of the state’s population amidst extreme weather conditions.
To learn more about GWCC’s HVAC program, visit gatewaycc.edu/hvac.