Ulster BOCES means different things to different people. For George “Junior” Bradford, it provided him with the opportunity to take his engineering and problem-solving skills and turn them into a profitable career in the Heating, Cooling, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) industry as the owner of his own company in Kingston.

Born and raised in Jamaica, Bradford attributes his technical aptitude to growing up in an economically disadvantaged country, where he learned to be resourceful and creative. To fabricate playthings, he used discarded everyday materials such as wires, bits of plastic and metal and small batteries, which gave his inventions life.

“I never had toys, so I made electrical cars, planes, helicopters, and little fans,” he recalls. “It’s hot in Jamaica. Little did I know that I would be an HVAC technician cooling people down.” As he got older and his skills improved, he went on to create speakers from cardboard boxes, which eventually led to him making and repairing sound systems.

In 2018, Bradford immigrated to the United States to be with his wife. After he arrived, he quickly realized he would have better job opportunities if he earned his high school equivalency diploma, so he enrolled in the Ulster BOCES Adult Career Education Center’s General Education Development (GED) classes.

“I was like, ‘I would love to not work at Dunkin’ Donuts,’ and when I went for the GED, I looked at the [Ulster BOCES] catalog and I saw the HVAC program and thought that it was a career where you could work all year long.”

Bradford is grateful for the opportunities the program has afforded him. Thanks to attending the GED classes, he was eligible for a New York State Employment Preparation Education grant.

The grant, which provides funding to educational programs for adults who are working on getting their high school equivalency diploma, made him eligible for tuition assistance in the HVAC and Oilheat programs and allowed him to take the EPA R-410A and the EPA Universal 608 exams and earn his certification in both.

He also sat for the National Oilheat Research Alliance exam and earned his Bronze Level certification, which is required for technicians who maintain, service, repair or dispose of appliances containing refrigerants.

Bradford finished his Oilheat course in March 2020 when the pandemic hit and had to wait until August to take his test. Despite the delay, he recalls that he felt confident thanks to the knowledge and skills he learned from the technical, hands-on program.

“I wasn’t nervous. I was used to troubleshooting. I have those skills from where I came from,” Bradford said.

“I love to take things apart and fix them,” he added, noting that this is a skill set he uses every day as the lead technician and founder of D & J HVAC in Kingston.

Bradford’s company became a reality in November 2021, the product of his desire to start a business that provides heating, cooling, electrical and plumbing services by reliable electricians and HVAC and plumbing technicians. Bradford was determined to bring his dream to fruition and found a silent partner to invest the necessary capital and help him market the business, which has now grown to 10 employees and four trucks.

“It was a personal goal to own a company that is set apart from the other companies, offering a service that is second to none,” he explained. “That’s what we are trying to do.”

Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Director of Membership Jess Davis said she got to know Bradford through his participation in Chamber events. She said it prompted her to have him install two Mitsubishi Ductless Mini Split Systems as part of refurbishing her home.

The installation could have been a stressful experience since it was one of several construction projects taking place in her home at the same time. During the consultation visit, Davis said she was impressed by Bradford’s professional, thorough and thoughtful manner, as well as his attention to detail in asking her what her visions and goals were. She said his Ulster BOCES training, certifications, work ethic and dedication to the job put her at ease. Davis said her limited knowledge of construction was not a factor because, “With Junior, I knew I was in good hands.”