My journey into the HVAC&R industry started long before I even realized it. My dad was a teacher, and I remember him bringing exams home to correct, and sometimes, he’d take me to his college’s HVAC department. I’d tag along as he introduced me to his colleagues and showed me around the labs—it was like a hidden world where technical things came to life. During high school career day, I visited a consulting engineering firm and had the chance to shadow a mentor. I still remember him unrolling those big plans and using his red pen to mark up all the problems, pointing out details like a thermostat placed in the wrong spot. That experience stuck with me.
I didn’t choose HVAC because of my dad—he never pushed me into it. What drew me in was the stability and endless options within the field. If I didn’t like one topic, I could pivot to another, whether it was fire protection, electrical, ventilation, refrigeration, or controls. After tech school, I knew I wanted more. I didn’t want to just take orders; I wanted to be the one making the decisions, the one wearing the white hat on the job site. So, I made the bold move to go to engineering university—I was the only one in my cohort of 250 students who did. It was scary, especially because I also moved from Quebec to Montreal, all on my own. But it turned out to be the best adventure of my life.
I joined ASHRAE as a student, getting involved in my chapter and building a community at school. Later, when I took an internship in California, I knew I’d find my new community by joining the ASHRAE Southern California chapter. ASHRAE not only became my HVAC family, but it also helped me advance my technical skills, build lifelong relationships, and develop leadership and public speaking abilities. Leading volunteers through ASHRAE taught me what real servant leadership is all about—it’s a whole different game when people follow you because they believe in you, not because they’re paid to. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without ASHRAE's influence and support in shaping my journey.