The NAC Executive Team
Katie L. Dewar
President
Prior to joining the team at NAC, Katie worked as a commercial property manager with one of the largest global commercial real estate services firms. Though she favored the maintenance, vendor contracts, construction, and budgeting side of property management, it was time for a change. Katie made the switch and was hired on to oversee NAC’s national accounts. Having limited technical knowledge of the HVAC industry from her days as a property manager, Katie saw the importance of learning the HVAC trade. She enrolled in commercial HVAC classes where she learned the ins and outs of the industry and quickly rose to the top of her classes –both in the shop and classroom. In late 2014, Katie was named the President of NAC –a job that she holds today. While her list of duties has grown, Katie enjoys the day-to-day contact with clients and contractors, and as such, still handles several national accounts.
Outside of NAC, Katie utilizes her soldering and brazing skills to craft beautiful copper and glass windchimes. She can be found in her home shop crafting with various mediums, reading, traveling for live music, or spending time with her family and golden retrievers.
Rich Bielak
HVAC Sales Engineer/Principal
Rich began his career in the HVAC industry straight out of high school when he became a union apprentice. He continued his career as a lead journeyman in the Chicagoland area before transitioning to the sales, engineering, and design side of the industry. After seeing much local success, he began selling national accounts. Rich found that it was increasingly difficult to find reputable national HVAC contractors to perform national services. It was at this time that Rich conceived of and founded The Unified Group –a collection of the finest contractors across the country. With the issue of top-quality contractors resolved, Rich had another hurdle to overcome –the industry-standard business model that revolved around equipment failing in order to generate the need for more service and replacements. As a result, Rich and his wife, Cheryl, founded National Air Corporation in 2003, where he and his team offer expert HVAC service using a model that is focused on maintaining the life of the equipment and client savings.
In his free time, Rich enjoys golfing, fishing, doing home improvement projects, avoiding Chicago winters, and spending time with his grandkids. Go Cubs!
Tom Bielak
Executive Vice President
As Executive Vice President Tom’s responsibilities include customer relations, onsite technical guidance, proposal/invoice review, estimating, and field operations.
Tom started in the HVAC industry as a shop hand for a local union mechanical contractor in Chicago. After being drawn to the complexity of the industry he decided to pursue this as a career. He began his 5-year apprenticeship program with the union. He graduated at the top of his class and passed his journeyman test at an accelerated rate. After years on the service side, he would transition into building automation, later to be certified as a licensed Carrier Controls Expert. When approached with the opportunity to expand into a national role he accepted and has maintained this position since 2017.
Tom is married and has two daughters. He enjoys spending as much time with his family as he can. When he is not with his family he enjoys working in the garden, fishing and watching the Cubs!