HRAI Board Profile: Mike Miller

From his training in Germany to HVACR leadership roles across Canada, there is little Mike Miller hasn’t seen throughout his career. Now, as Chair of HRAI’s Manufacturers Division Board of Directors and Vice President of Sales for Taco Comfort Solutions, the HVACR industry veteran is proud to be sharing his insights and experiences for the benefit of his peers.

Long before becoming a fixture at HRAI and TACO, Mike cut his teeth on the HVAC trade in Germany. Born and raised near Stuttgart, he earned his Central Heating and Air Conditioning Trade Certification at the Handwerks und Fach Schule Tuebingen school, after which he served as a journeyman for a local HVAC contractor. One year into the trade, Mike emigrated to Canada to see where his newfound skills and business mindset could take him. "I wanted to take on an adventure on the other side of the world," he recalls. "I came to Canada without speaking the language and with about three thousand dollars in my pocket and nowhere to go. But, I got to work establishing myself."

It wasn't long before Mike landed his first industry gig with a mechanical contractor in Vancouver, BC, that specialized in European heating systems. Yet, while it was a job that paid the bills, Mike was compelled to keep travelling. "I thought I would travel around and see a little bit more of the country–maybe even do something else for a little," he says. "I was still young and OK with getting a little sidetracked."

Mike returned to the trade in 1998 after relocating to Red Deer, Alberta. He came with plans to find work in Alberta’s oilfields but instead found employment as the assistant manager of Triangle Supply’s heating department. For the next two years, he helped the business gain traction as a leading independent plumbing and heating wholesaler in the Central Alberta Market.

The following years saw Mike take on several new roles and challenges. They included eight years with tekmar Control Systems, where he eventually served as regional sales manager for Canada and Europe; and five years at Uponor, where he became the director of business development for Canada. Finally, in 2011, he landed at his current home with Taco Comfort Systems, where he took on the responsibilities for the compnies commercial business and then eventually rose into his current vice president of sales role in Canada. 

“I’ve worked more than a few angles of this business,” he reflects. “First on the installation side, then on the distribution side, then working in the manufacturing side, and now on the executive leadership management part of the business.”

Mike has also spent his years becoming actively involved in the industry. For 20 years and running, he has been a member and past chair of the Canadian Hydronics Council (CHC), a three-year member of the board of the  Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada (MCAC), and a 10-plus year member of CSA’s Technical Committee - CSA. B214, where he was integral in forming the hydronic installation code.

Mike has shown equal dedication to HRAI. He has been a valued member of the HRAI Manufacturers Division Board for six years, and today serves as the division’s chair.

When asked what drives his industry involvement, Mike says he feels it is only natural to give back to a sector that has supported him: “I've been fairly blessed with the opportunities that I've been given, so I always wanted to do more for the industry as a whole.”

As a key part of HRAI's board, Mike says he's proud to contribute to a group that promotes the industry, champions its growth, and ensures its voice is heard on all HVACR-related challenges and developments, be they related to codes, standards, technologies, trends, and industry transitions. "A big part of the board's role is to be aware of those changes and address them as they come up and form a consensus with an industry – To attack these as a common voice," he says, adding, "Our job is making sure the industry as a whole is protected and prosperous moving forward."

Years later, Mike’s appetite for new challenges continues. And outside of his office, he finds joy in the adventure of raising his four young boys alongside his wife, Julie, from their  Brampton home. “I’m a busy guy, and they take whatever time that’s left,” he laughs.

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