Meet all of the 2023 Top 40 Under 40 HVACR Professionals

Joe Hark

Company: American Residential Services (ARS)
Title: Director of Strategic Initiatives
Age: 30

As director of strategic initiatives at American Residential Services (ARS/Rescue Rooter), Joe Hark serves as the CEO's Chief of Staff, driving timely and accurate completion of multiple strategic initiatives.

He is responsible for providing analytical support, thought leadership, and project management leadership to ARS's executive team. Hark adapts well to rapidly changing business needs, designing, launching, and continually enhancing processes to drive revenue growth, improve profitability, and reduce operating variability. He works exceptionally well with cross-functional teams, including sales, marketing, communications, human resources, and legal, to ensure efforts align across the ARS network of more than 6,500 employees.

“I look forward to helping ARS continue to navigate the changing HVAC marketplace,” Hark said. “Between the recent SEER2 transition, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the pending refrigerant transition, there is no shortage of major changes that are shaping the marketplace, and I plan to help keep ARS at the forefront of the industry as it continues to evolve.”

One of his great accomplishments was leading a team that organized ARS’ inaugural Spring Training initiative, which delivered 20,000+ training hours to their field teams in preparation for the busy summer cooling season. Programming included professional development for technical skills, soft skills, and safety training, all while having some fun with cookouts held at all locations across the country. They also leveraged Spring Training to prepare for the season by organizing warehouses and trucks, as well as inspecting and restocking personal protective equipment.