A Pathway to Distribution: Chris Jakobson’s career journey
It was 2007 when Chris Jakobson cut his teeth on the HVACR trade. 17 years later, what started as a gig “on the tools” has evolved into a diverse career that’s seen Jakobson become a leader in the HVACR distribution space as General Manager at Redmond Distributing & Redmond Hearth,
"I was recruited right out of George Brown College by the team at AtlasCare and started right into their service department," he tells HRAI. "I vividly recall, in my initial interview with AtlasCare for a technician role, that I was quite candid and open about telling them I wanted to learn the grassroots of the industry. I wanted to understand the industry and learn about the equipment, how it operates, and how to repair it when it didn't operate."
Eager to embed himself in the industry, Jakobson spent his first years at AtlasCare honing his skills and gaining insights from older colleagues. When an opportunity to assume a leadership role came down the pipe, he seized the chance. Soon, he found himself overseeing a small group of techs while learning more about the planning and workforce management side of the business. It wasn't long after that when he was tapped to take on a service supervisor role.
"I spent seven years at AtlasCare before I realized I had had enough direct dealings with homeowners and wanted to work more within the trade. That's when I looked for my next opportunities with a focus on manufacturing and distribution," he says.
Guided by his affinity for private, family-owned companies, Jakobson found his next opportunity at Redmond Distributing Inc. Here, he transitioned into a role as Technical Support Manager and, some time later, took on the additional role as Product Manager for Red Zone Products Inc., maker of a popular Redmond product line.
As Jakobson explains: "I took on the responsibility of managing that product portfolio as it supported various distributors across Canada. And then, the years rolled up and up, and I was asked if I would step into the general manager role for the Group of Companies. That's where I've been for nearly five years now."
Drawing from experience
It's been almost two decades since Jakobson picked up the tools. Looking back on his beginnings at AtlasCare, he tells HRAI that he holds those early learning opportunities in high regard: "There's not a day that goes by that I don't reference my experiences from the field and using my tools. Those experiences have proven valuable countless times as they’ve given me an understanding of what's out there and how it all works. So, whether we're supporting our customer service teams, sales teams, or customers, I can be a valuable resource."
It helps that working in HVAC distribution has proven a natural fit for Jakobson. "It's a space that brings me comfort," he says. I love the homeowner, I love the end consumer, and I love the fulfillment that comes with hearing that our customers are being successful with the products that we supply."
“By entering distribution, the sky's the limit,” Jakobson adds. “You get to be a problem solver and take your learnings and apply them across a greater customer base.”
Passing the Wrench
Just as he received words of wisdom from experienced HVACR professionals in his early career, Jakobson now finds himself in a position to provide similar guidance for up-and-coming talent. Asked for words of wisdom to pass along, he says it is vital that young professionals never stop learning, step outside their comfort zones, and keep their future ambitions in mind.
“It’s helpful to be aware of what you want to do in your career,” he adds. “You can be content as a technician for your career as it’s a very good and stable job, but if you would liketo do something else, take time to sit back and think about where you want to go. This is the type of industry where you can go in countless directions, but at the end of the day, it falls on you as an individual to figure out the direction you want to take and what you will need to get there.”
As for advice to HVAC distribution employers seeking to attract more talent, Jakobson acknowledges that sourcing, recruiting, and retaining the right people can be tough. Nevertheless, he says recognizing and addressing the desire for work-life balance can make a company stand out from the pack: "For us at Redmond, it's really about promoting the idea of building a life outside of the field. That's something we really highlight and reinforce through our social media endeavours and marketing endeavours–that this job can be fun, it can be meaningful, and you can have life outside of the office."
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