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From a “Not-So-Sexy Product” to the World Behind Refrigeration
I entered the refrigeration and air-conditioning world around 2002–2003, while I was still in university studying engineering. Before that, I had briefly tried something completely different: a Forex business inspired by a financial engineering course I had taken. It didn’t work out, and I needed to find a new direction. That’s when I discovered an internship opportunity with Carrier through my university job board at Tecnológico de Monterrey. Carrier was a well-known company, and the sales engineering role felt like the right fit. I joined the commercial refrigeration division in Mexico City, and what began as a temporary step turned into a career spanning more than two decades.
Today, I work for KPS Global, based in Fort Worth, Texas, where I serve as Country Manager for Mexico and International Business. I’m based in Dallas and manage operations in Mexico while supporting customers across the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. Living in Texas keeps me closely connected to Mexico — Mexico City is just a short flight away — and allows me to maintain strong relationships across the region.
At the beginning of my career, refrigeration didn’t seem particularly exciting. Like many young engineers, I was drawn to industries that appeared more visible or innovative. However, the technical side of refrigeration gradually pulled me in. As I learned more, I began to understand the scale of the industry and the invisible infrastructure behind everyday life.
Discovering the Scale of an Invisible Industry
Seeing what happens behind the scenes in supermarkets, distribution centers, and food-storage facilities — the engineering, logistics, and cold-chain systems required to keep products safe — completely changed my perspective. I realized this industry plays a critical role in daily life, even if most people never notice it.
Early in my career, the biggest challenge was applying engineering theory in real-world situations. Understanding thermodynamics in a classroom is one thing; designing and calculating systems in the field is another. I remember miscalculating cold-room sizing for a project early on, which led to difficult corrections and an important lesson that stayed with me. Experiences like that build confidence and discipline over time.
A few years later, my career took a major turn when I was asked to expand business operations internationally across Central America. Managing multiple countries simultaneously meant navigating different regulations, cultures, business practices, and even terminology within the same language. That experience opened my eyes to the broader complexity of the HVAC and refrigeration industry and made the work far more engaging.
Another defining moment came when I experienced a corporate acquisition firsthand. In 2009, a refrigeration division I worked with was acquired by Hillphoenix. Watching how companies integrate, adapt, and evolve during that process expanded my understanding of the business beyond engineering and sales.
International Growth and Real-World Challenges
Working internationally has also brought cultural challenges. After moving to the United States in 2022, I experienced firsthand how important cultural alignment can be in a professional environment. One early experience didn’t work as expected, but it ultimately led me to my current role at KPS Global, where previous professional relationships helped open new opportunities.
Today, one of my main challenges is helping customers understand the long-term value of premium insulated-panel solutions in markets where these products are often treated as commodities. Convincing customers to invest more upfront for better durability and energy efficiency requires technical knowledge, economic reasoning, and trust.
Staying current in this industry requires continuous learning. Although I graduated in 2004 and later completed finance studies, much of my education has come from ongoing training, industry collaboration, and hands-on experience. Recently, I completed training with a Danish manufacturer specializing in natural refrigerant systems, learning about new technologies, regulatory changes, and the evolution of insulation materials.
Throughout my career, mentorship has played an important role. A former general manager early in my career helped guide my professional development, and today the CEO of KPS Global continues to influence my growth.
Lessons from the Field
Field experience has provided some unforgettable moments. One of the most impressive projects I worked on was a massive distribution center for a major restaurant operator in Latin America, involving ammonia systems, CO₂ refrigeration, cascade configurations, and blast freezers. It was a complex project that required years of planning before construction even began.
On the other end of the spectrum, I once inspected a refrigeration system that wasn’t working properly and discovered piping installed with multiple copper reducers to save material costs, creating a severe pressure drop. That experience reinforced the importance of engineering discipline and long-term thinking.
In recent years, I’ve become especially interested in restoration projects — improving existing cold rooms instead of replacing them entirely. By restoring insulation performance and recovering thermal efficiency, systems can operate under better conditions with lower energy consumption. Sustainability is not always about replacing equipment; sometimes it means extending the life of what already exists.
Ethics, Curiosity, and the Long View
Professional ethics have been one of the most important constants in my career. Strong relationships with customers, colleagues, competitors, and suppliers are built over time through trust and consistency. At the same time, enjoying the work itself has been just as important. When you truly enjoy what you do, growth feels more natural.
My cultural background has also influenced how I work. Mexican business culture often values creativity and flexibility, while U.S. business culture tends to emphasize structure and process. Combining those perspectives — creativity within a strong ethical framework — has helped me solve problems in ways that might not otherwise be considered.
Outside of work, I’ve practiced extreme sports such as skydiving. Becoming a father changed how often I do those activities, but the mindset remains. Taking calculated risks, exploring possibilities, and understanding limits are lessons that apply directly to leadership and teamwork.
For those considering entering the HVAC and refrigeration industry, my advice is simple: explore your strengths and develop them fully. This industry may not appear glamorous, but it offers stability, growth, travel opportunities, and meaningful impact. Building a career takes time and patience, but for those willing to commit, HVAC and refrigeration can provide an incredibly rewarding path.