Frank Garro - Program Chair
Frank is the Program Chair for HVAC Technology. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Building Construction Management from Purdue University in 2010 and completed his Master’s of Science degree in Education in 2015. While at Purdue, Frank concentrated his studies in the Healthcare Construction Specialization. As a summer intern he worked for Jacobs Engineering on a CM team overseeing a $600M hospital project in Chicago. As a graduate student Frank served as a Teaching Assistant to Professor Greg Lasker and Research Assistant on a project sponsored by the American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE) through which their Health Facility Commissioning Handbook was published. Frank also participated in the construction of Purdue’s first Net Zero Energy home winning 2nd place in the 2011 Solar Decathlon in Washington D.C. He is a member of the Sigma Lambda Chi International Construction Honors Society. Frank comes to Ivy Tech with over 20 years experience in the trades. Starting out as a plumbing apprentice Frank was running his own contracting business within 6 years. He holds professional licenses in the mechanical, electrical and plumbing trades and has worked on numerous residential and commercial projects throughout North Central Indiana. Frank enjoys bicycling, weightlifting and jet skiing on Webster Lake. In the classroom Frank enjoys focusing on the science that supports HVAC technology and HVAC system design. He is renovating the lab spaces in the Technology Center to simulate real world applications of various types of HVAC systems such as geothermal, solar and radiant heating.
Chuck Vogwill - Full time Instructor
Gary Cooper - Part time Instructor
Gary joins the HVAC Technology team as an adjunct instructor for the Spring semester. Gary is a past graduate of Ivy Tech, with an Associate degree in HVAC which he earned in 1983. He brings more than 32 years of experience in the HVAC field with him. Over the years he has worked for several residential and commercial contractors in the Fort Wayne area. He has worked on several building retrofits of controls from electromechanical to DDC controls that enhance building comfort and system reliability. Along with his Ivy Tech degree he has attended numerous technical classes from equipment manufactures and Control companies. He currently is a Commercial Service Technician for Allied Mechanical. Along with his wife of 29 years, Kimberly, they have three grown children and two grandchildren. Gary hopes to share the knowledge he first gained at Ivy Tech and his experiences over the years with the next generation HVACR students.
Marty Lyons - Part time Instructor
Marty joins the HVAC Technology team as an adjunct instructor this fall. Marty received his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Management from Indiana Tech here in Fort Wayne in the spring of 2012. He brings us over 20 years experience in the HVAC field. Marty started in the business on the contractors’ side at an entry level position and worked his way up to a management position before leaving to pursue the wholesale side of the business. In 2003 he started at Johnstone Supply here in Fort Wayne as a Territory Manager in sales and today is the Assistant Manager. He deals with hundreds of contractors on daily basis and he knows what they are looking for in a potential employee. He brings those qualities into the classroom and teaches them to you so that you are prepared when you walk into an HVAC business looking for employment.
Ben Gross - Part time Instructor
Ben is a graduate of Ivy Tech where he studied Construction Technology and received his Associates Degree in 2003. Ben is a licensed Journeyman for Allen County Indiana with over 10 years of field experience. He will be glad to answer any questions you may have about HVAC. Ben is currently employed at Johnstone Supply where he is a Customer Service and Sales Representative. Johnstone Supply sells heating and air conditioning equipment and controls, from gas valves to boilers to furnaces and coils. He has worked at two HVAC companies in the Fort Wayne area so he is familiar with the industry in this area. His favorite past times are spending time with his family and fishing whenever possible.