By Louise Bolger
sun staff writer

If you ask Michael Gartman what he does for a living, he will undoubtedly tell you that he is the proprietor of a family owned and operated air conditioning business. What he may not tell you at first is that he considers the five Gartman’s Air Care employees part of his family, that he assumes responsibility for each and every one of them as well as their families, and most importantly, he owes the success of his business to them.

Michael Gartman was born and raised in Bradenton. He lived more than 20 years on Anna Maria and has been in the air conditioning business for 17 years. Two-and-a-half years ago he decided it was time for him to strike out on his own. He established Gartman’s Air Care, where Michael runs the jobs and sets the appointments (in fact if you call the Gartman’s Air phone number, your call will be answered by Michael himself), his wife Sue runs the office and 10-year-old daughter Amiee is in charge of "cute" advertising.

Gartman’s Air Care has grown so much in the last two-and-a half-years, that it now covers all of Manatee and Sarasota counties, Longboat Key and Anna Maria Island. Residential installations and servicing is the primary focus, with some small commercial buildings added into the mix. In addition to new air conditioning system installations in existing homes and new construction, it has a 24-hour emergency service and will handle routine servicing as well as air quality analysis.

But what really sets Michael Gartman and his company apart is his support of the community and dedication to personalized service. In early April, Gartman’s Air Care donated and installed an air conditioning system and duct work for a Habitat For Humanity house in Bradenton. His wife’s Girl Scout troop, with funds donated by Gartman’s Air Care, filled shoe boxes with books, crayons, dolls, jacks and other small toys and shipped them to children living in shelters in Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina.

However, the most unique and fun thing he and his employees do is to decorate houses at Christmas time for individuals who can no longer get up on the ladder and do it themselves. They even bring their own lights, if necessary, and sometimes combine their generosity with a Christmas party getting everyone into the real spirit of Christmas.

Michael Gartman makes his living in the air conditioning business, but his passion is helping people, and giving back to the community that he feels gave him so much. Next Christmas if you need your Christmas lights hung, or if this summer your air conditioning needs servicing, call Gartman’s Air Care and become part of their growing family.

GARTMAN’S AIR CARE
(941) 748-9777
24-hour emergency service