From the Tools to Distribution: 5 Questions with Stephan Montroy
For many in the HVAC trade, the route to an industry career began with learning the tools. The same can be said for Stephan Montroy, Vice-President Sales with G. Mitchell Heating, Air Conditioning and Ventilation, who may have only spent a brief time "behind the tools," but has carried that experience with him throughout the years.
How did you get your start in HVAC?
Right out of college – we call it Cegep in Quebec – I landed a job in Ontario at Engineered Air where I worked on the tools for about a year. After that, I returned to Quebec and immediately transitioned into distribution. So, I lived a short time as a technician on the road, but during that time I obtain my gas licence and everything else I needed to work at the time.
What did you learn over that year?
For any technician on the road, there's always a certain stress level you have to deal with because people are relying on you to find the solution. The thing is, you don’t know everything, so you go to the job site where there's an issue that needs solving, and you're like, “Oh man, how will I be able to find the solution on this one?” But, what I noticed is that the good technicians will always read up the day before they go on the job site so they're ready for it, especially if you're doing more technical service.
Do you still draw on that experience from being on the road as a technician?
Oh sure. Absolutely. That experience fundamentally shaped my perspective on the industry. It highlighted the importance of preparation and reinforced how much hands-on experience matters. You learn much more working directly with equipment than you do from reading a book.
It’s been nearly 30 years since I worked as a technician, but I still vividly remember being on rooftops, adjusting equipment. Those kinds of experiences don’t fade; they remain ingrained in your memory.
How did that experience inform your perspective about other jobs in the industry?
I have immense respect for technicians, from personal experience, I know how challenging it is to work on rooftops during extreme conditions when you're working on a roof in the dead of winter or really in the summer, it’s a demanding work. People don't always realize it, and that's why when I was at the counter and a technician came in, I’d say, “Hey man, I got so much respect for you guys. It's not easy work and I know we need guys like you to get the job done.”
Overall, would you recommend starting with the tools for young professionals just beginning their HVAC career?
I would say that if you can do it, definitely. Each province is different, and you may need to do a professional course first, but in my case in Quebec, I was able to get on the tools right out of college. But yet, if you have a chance to work in the field, it will be incredibly beneficial for whatever direction your career takes you…
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