From Wisconsin Snow to Arizona Sun: Tim’s Journey to HVAC Success

In the blistering summer heat of Phoenix, where air conditioning is less a luxury than a lifeline, Tim Stewart, a 45-year-old father of six and grandfather of two, is carving out a new chapter in his life. Seven years ago, he fled the cold and snow-laden winters of Wisconsin for the relentless sunshine of Arizona. Now, as a student at UEI College in Phoenix, Tim is not just chasing a career in HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) but building a legacy for his six children and two grandchildren. His story is one of resilience, reinvention, and an unyielding belief that it’s never too late to learn, or to dream.

Tim’s journey to HVAC was anything but conventional. Before enrolling at UEI, he wore many hats: a cannabis dispensary manager, a collections agent at a national bank, and even a manager at a shipping store akin to FedEx. He cut hair in high school, though never pursued a barber’s license. Life, as he puts it, was a series of pivots, each job a steppingstone, each experience a lesson. But when COVID struck, sidelining him from his job at the bank, Tim faced a reckoning.

“It was time for a change in my life,” he says, his voice steady with conviction. “I had situations that made me want to buckle down and get focused.”

That focus led him to UEI College in Phoenix, where he discovered HVAC, a field he describes as “recession-resistant.”

“I got online, looked for schooling, and found UEI,” he recalls. A tour of the Phoenix campus sealed the deal.

“I heard how HVAC does some construction, electrical, and even a little plumbing,” Tim says. “I like that jack-of-all-trades type of thing. It fits my personality.”

At UEI, Tim threw himself into the program with a fervor that surprised even him. “When I got in it, I liked it a lot,” he says. “The more I learned, the more I loved it. Now I have dreams about HVAC because I want to be so good, it’s on my mind even when I’m sleeping.”

His passion found a mentor in instructor Timothy Peak, whose teaching style unlocked something in Tim. “He’s been very instrumental in my growth,” Tim says. “It clicked, and my love for the technician part of HVAC, not just the mechanical part, really came into play.”

“Tim is always the first to class and last to leave. His enthusiasm, coupled with his attention to detail, copious notetaking, and an overwhelming desire to develop an engineering mindset, has positioned Tim as a leader not only in our classroom, but now a leader in the HVAC field,” said Mr. Peak. “I will be both thrilled and proud to see Tim graduate from UEI (with honors). I will miss having Tim in class.  If there is one student to emulate to ensure a successful HVAC career it is Tim Stewart.”

“Tim exemplifies the dedication and leadership we strive to foster at UEI College. His relentless pursuit of excellence, from excelling in the HVAC program to serving as an ambassador and work-study student, has made him a true role model for his peers,” said Hugh Jensen, Executive Director at UEI College, Phoenix. “We are incredibly proud of his achievements, including securing employment weeks before graduation, and we know his journey will inspire countless others to chase their dreams with the same passion and resilience.”

Tim’s dedication didn’t stop at the classroom. As a UEI ambassador, he honed his leadership and communication skills, serving as a liaison for students. As a work-study student, he worked in the financial aid office, meeting nearly every student who walked through UEI’s doors.

“Everybody was like, ‘How does everybody know you?’” Tim laughs. “I saw them when they were signing up for program.” His presence on campus, from morning classes to evening ambassador hours, made him a fixture, a leader among peers despite being the oldest in his class at age 45.

That leadership paid off in a way Tim never anticipated. Weeks before his graduation coming June, he’s already landed a job at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air, and Electric, a Utah-based company expanding rapidly in Arizona.

“I started my first day yesterday,” Tim says, his voice brimming with pride. “It’s an actual HVAC maintenance job, a step above what I thought I’d get. They usually start you as an installer, but they felt I was prepared, so they moved me up to a service tech job.”

The job is a testament to Tim’s preparation and the trust his employers have in him. Action, new to Arizona but already securing major contracts, is working around Tim’s school schedule, allowing him to balance his final month of classes with his new role.

“They know I’m at school, but I can go in after,” he says. “The days I have school, they just work around it. It’s beautiful.”

For Tim, HVAC is more than a job. It’s a calling rooted in a desire to provide comfort. “The HVAC business is a comfort business,” he says, echoing his instructor’s wisdom. “People want to be comfortable, especially when it gets hot out here.” In Phoenix, where temperatures routinely soar past 100 degrees, that comfort is non-negotiable, making HVAC technicians like Tim indispensable.

But Tim’s story is as much about family as it is about career. A father of six and grandfather of two, he sees his work to break the cycle of poverty in his family. “This is the start of the bridge,” he says, his voice thick with emotion. “I’m using my skills to create a path, a successful, secure career that I can show my kids. Skills pay the bills, and you can make a better way.” His plan is to build a platform for his children and grandchildren, to show them that opportunity is always within reach.

Tim’s father, a handyman known as “Mr. Holmes” back in Wisconsin, looms large in his story. “He did carpentry, electrical, plumbing—everything,” Tim says. For a show-and-tell at UEI, Tim brought an old electric meter from the 1970s, a relic his father gave him. “Even though I never tapped into those skills until now, I guess he passed something down to me that I didn’t even know was there,” he reflects. That legacy, dormant for decades, has found new life in Tim’s hands.

At age 45, Tim is older than most of his classmates, but his age is an asset. “They naturally look to me for leadership,” he says. “I’m young enough to relate, but old enough that they respect me.” His life experiences: customer service, management, even surviving COVID, have equipped him with the soft skills essential for HVAC work, where customer service skills are as critical as fixing a unit.

As Phoenix starts to swelter and Tim nears graduation, his story resonates beyond the classroom. HVAC is in high demand, and students like Tim are stepping into roles before they even graduate. “It’s getting hot, so it’s definitely a necessity,” he says. But for Tim, it’s not just about meeting demand, it’s about building a future. “My dad always told us you’re never too old to learn,” he says. “I never got tired of growing.”

With one module left and a job already secured, Tim is proof that reinvention knows no age limit. From Wisconsin snow to Arizona sun, he’s not just chasing a career; he’s crafting a legacy, one cool breeze at a time.