The Road to HVAC
After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, I had a choice: follow my father’s path into the mines of western Colorado, or take a different route. Mining was honest, tough work, and I was proud of it. But it wasn’t a sustainable way of life for me. I remember telling my parents, “No matter where you live or what the economy does, people will always need heating and air conditioning.” That wasn’t just a statement, it was the beginning of a new life.
I packed my bags and moved to Tucson, Arizona, to live with my brother and attend HVACR trade school. Shortly after, I started working, but life threw a lot at me right away, good and bad: I lost my dad in a mining accident. I got married. I went back on active duty for Desert Storm… By the time I came back home, the job I had was gone. And so was any desire to stay in the desert. We moved back to Colorado, and I started over again. First in building maintenance, then as a helper at an HVAC company. I worked my way up: installer, lead, service tech, sales, management… eventually co-founding my own company.
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Great Mentors
Running a business was a whole new mountain to climb. I was a good tech, but a terrible businessman at first. I learned the hard way, especially during the 2008 crash. We had to shut down, and I went back into the mines to keep food on the table. Then, in 2014, I landed a job in HVAC distribution sales. That was the turning point. Technical sales gave me the perfect balance: I could stay connected to the trade, but also help people. That’s where I really found my place.
I’ve had great mentors along the way, supply house owners who became some of my closest friends. Now I get to pay that forward. I teach, coach, and stay behind the curtain. That’s where I’m most comfortable.
The Code I Try to Live By
Leadership isn’t about titles, it’s about action. I keep a list of the U.S. Marine Corps leadership traits in my office: Justice. Judgment. Dependability. Initiative. Decisiveness. Tact. Integrity. Enthusiasm. Bearing. Unselfishness. Courage. Knowledge. Loyalty. Endurance. I fall short sometimes, but I keep trying. Two I still wrestle with are Tact and Bearing. I’ve got a temper, and if I’m mad… well, I’m mad. I have to check myself.
But discomfort isn’t something I avoid. Whether it’s mining, military, or HVAC, I’ve learned that pressure reveals who you are. When I mentor young techs, I tell them: this work might be uncomfortable, but it’s not hard. You want hard? Try crawling into a mine or into combat. HVAC is applied science: physics, chemistry, fluid dynamics, and the more you learn, the easier it gets.
You Only Grow If You Keep Learning
I didn’t use a computer until 2014. The learning curve was steep, I stayed up late watching tutorials just to catch up. Now, I read constantly. Dry install manuals, training materials, anything I can get my hands on. I make time for it because it matters. This trade evolves fast. The second I think I’ve got it all figured out, life humbles me.
I think the future of HVAC is clear: inverter systems, VRF, smart controls, predictive maintenance. But the biggest challenge? Finding techs. That’s where remote diagnostics and better communication will be critical. We need to start thinking tactically, not just technically.
Choose to Be Happy
Right now, I’m working full-time and caring for my wife as she recovers from major surgeries. It’s not easy, but I can still choose to be happy. Life’s never been about perfect circumstances for me. It’s about how you respond. Some days are tough. Some days are amazing. Either way, I choose to keep going.
If I weren’t in HVAC? I’d probably be a geologist. I love rockhounding. But truth is, this trade has given me everything: challenges, lessons, and people I care about. When I teach or speak, I try to keep it simple: be honest, do the right thing, and learn everything you can. You’ve got two ears, two eyes, and one mouth. Do the math.
I’ve started over more times than I can count. And every time, I choose to step forward. If you’re feeling stuck or like you’ve failed, hear this: the person in your way is probably you. So get out of your own way, choose wisely, and never stop learning.
