Two Decades In, and Still Building Futures

For nearly 20 years, Professor George Rosa has been a mentor and instructor in Elgin Community College’s (ECC) heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC) and advanced manufacturing programs, including automation, robotics, and maintenance technology (ARM).

Before that, he was a young veteran trying to adjust to the “civilian world” after serving four years in the U.S. Marine Corps and later joining the Army National Guard. 

“I figured I could still play GI Joe on the weekends and be a civilian during the week,” Rosa said with a laugh. 

During that time, a friend introduced him to ECC’s HVAC program, which would ultimately change his career path.

He was interested but still exploring his options. Rosa decided to attend Northern Illinois University, planning to become an engineer. Two years into the program, life took a turn when his youngest daughter required open-heart surgery at just one week old. 

After stepping away to focus on his family, Rosa reconsidered his career path and came back to the idea his friend had mentioned. He started with a single air-conditioning class at ECC. 

“I fell in love with what the professor [was teaching] in the classroom,” he said, adding that once he began lab work, he finally felt confident in his next journey. “I knew then this was what I was going to do for a career, and the rest is history.”

About a year into the HVAC program, Rosa took an electrical class taught by Professor Steven “Woody” Wood, now Rosa’s colleague. After finishing his own projects, Rosa began helping classmates and assisting Wood in the lab. They developed a great mentorship that led to an unexpected opportunity.

Wood connected Rosa with a job interview at H.R. Stewart in Cary, Illinois. He was hired on the spot – before he even graduated. 

He worked in the HVAC industry for about five years and eventually started his own business, Dr. Cool. But when a former ECC professor encouraged him to consider tutoring, Rosa discovered something new. 

“I didn’t know anything about being a teacher,” he said. “But when I was a tutor, helping students with the same things that I struggled with, and being able to explain it to them… it was a lightbulb moment.”

After several years as a tutor, Rosa applied for a faculty position. He’s now approaching two decades in the classroom.

“HVAC changed my life,” he said. “I went from working simple jobs to having a career. I wanted that for everyone that I came into contact with because it's such a cool field.”

For Rosa, teaching has always been about more than technical skills. It’s about making an impact. 

“I wanted to make sure that, if I could do that for someone else, then I could leave a legacy behind,” he said. “For me, it was all about that mentoring component, where I want to give back to my community and leave it better than it is now.”

Manufacturing and Technology Center

Rosa is looking forward to the grand opening of ECC’s new Manufacturing and Technology Center (MTC) in Building S this fall. Every space was specifically designed with faculty in mind to enhance the classroom experience.

Rosa is also excited to work in the new building with new equipment. The MTC will have new monitors, cameras, and microphones in each classroom so students can see and hear what instructors present more clearly. 

Before, only the front row of students had the best view of equipment demonstrations, Rosa said. 

“We were all taught the same way. We call it the crawl, walk, run method,” he said. “We live on giving demos to students to make sure they can see someone performing the skill, and then we set them off with this new facility; all that changes.”

Rosa said the faculty enjoys giving demonstrations to students so they can see someone performing a certain skill, and the new facility will give them more space for those demos. 

“I’m passionate about teaching the new technologies that come in, and in a space we can call our own,” he said. “Just as importantly, I’m super excited that we're right at the front of the college [by the main entrance].”

Some of the new technologies include new refrigerants and thermostats. Instructors will be able to show students the temperature controls for all campus buildings, not just the MTC building, which is controlled by a computer program. 

“By being able to use this software, [in the] controls app, you’re able to see if there are any emergencies on campus and go directly to them,” Rosa said.

The MTC will also enable ECC to expand access to its programs, such as HVAC and maintenance technology, and meet growing workforce demand.  

“In terms of meeting the needs of the community, it's about making sure our shop has as many of the technologies used in the industry as possible,” Rosa said. “When students come through, they’re students. When they leave now, they’re much better technicians than I was at 20 years old. That's a fact.”

Learn more about ECC’s Manufacturing and Technology Center at elgin.edu/mtc or schedule a tour today. Join the upcoming open house on September 24 at 4 pm.