The Air Conditioning Contractors Association of Central Florida (ACCA/CF) Apprenticeship Program celebrated the 2025/2026 graduating and advancing students on May 16, 2026, at the Northland Church Rink in Longwood, Florida. The ceremony honored 17 third-year students who successfully completed the apprenticeship program, first and second-year advancers and outstanding achievers of all the classes.
Over 150 students, family, employers and friends turned out to congratulate the students and express their support for the program. The crowd enjoyed a buffet breakfast before settling in for the ceremony.
ACCA/CF Executive Director Erica Mattis started the proceedings, welcoming everyone, thanking the sponsors and outlining the morning’s agenda.
Apprenticeship Committee Chairman Andy Brunkala introduced the guest speaker, State Representative David Smith.
Representative Smith spoke of his background, attending an apprentice program in high school and working his way through college as a welder. “Along with veterans’ issues, the construction industry and the trades are passions of mine.”
“That’s my job, to help people,” he stated. “In the legislature, we’ve been putting more and more money into apprenticeship programs, slowly moving money from the University system into our state colleges where we have the certificate programs and the trades we need in Florida. Since we moved shop out of high schools, we haven’t had the workforce that we need.”
“I’m really here today to say to the graduates, congratulations for all the hard work. And to the second and first year students, keep at it because we need you. And to the family members that are here supporting their loved ones, continue to lift them up. They need your help. They need your guidance and they need your support to get to the finish line. And trust me, it will be worth it,” Representative Smith concluded.
Students for all three years were introduced onstage, followed by Highest GPA and Perfect Attendance recognition.
Graduates Davilmar Pierre and Jacob Johnson had perfect attendance for all three years of the program.
Andy Brunkala presented the Chris Bright Apprentice of the Year Award to Jacob Johnson, an honor bestowed on an apprentice who has gone above and beyond academically and for participation in class. “His family should be extremely proud of him,” Andy stated. He should be extremely proud of himself, and his employer should understand that they have somebody very special on their team.”
Davilmar Pierre received the Gary McLeod Award, presented by ACCA/CF President Yolanda Pizzaro and OTC Instructor & ACCA/CF Apprentice Training Coordinator Ellen Logue. This award recognizes an apprentice that has overcome challenges, whether medical, personal work, language barriers, or other but they never gave up, always doing the best they could.
The following sponsors were recognized for their support of the Association and the Apprenticeship Program: Venue – Orange Technical College, Breakfast– Reliable Services Group Inc., 3rd year gift – Black’s Supply, 3rd year gift card – Tropic Supply, 1st and 2nd year gift – Johnstone Supply, All apprentice gifts – RGF Environmental Group, Inc. and York Factory Direct, Schwenn Services, Energy Air, Inc., IdeaGirl Solutions LLC, Mechanical One, Valor Air Group, Ziegler Air Conditioning & Harper.
Information about ACCA/CF and the Apprenticeship Program can be found HERE. Please contact Executive Director Erica Mattis at 407.260.2206 if you have any questions.
View and download photos of the graduation HERE. Search for “2026 06 ACCA CF Graduation”.
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- Apprenticeship Committee Chairman Andy Brunkala introducing Guest Speaker Florida State Representative David Smith
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- 3rd year graduates Longwood: John Herb, Alex, Sepulveda, Jacob Johnson, Ryan Knoerzer, Andy Brunkala (instructor)
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- 3rd year graduates West: Benito Alvarez, Renot Francois, Madison Jordan, Andy Mohan, Xavier Olmo, Davilmar Pierre, Michael Poole, Miles Roseboro, Rogelio Ruiz, Wilson Samot, Sahid Zambrano Villanueva, Brian Lori (instructor)
