Daily Inspiration: Meet Cornelio Martinez

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cornelio Martinez.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Back in 2000 I was in school studying to be an engineer. I also worked full time at an HVAC Equipment Manufactures warehouse. I rode a forklift and did shipping , receiving, will calls etc…
This organization offered certification classes to the HVAC companies that purchased their equipment. These classes were at night and had awesome catered meals. Being a somewhat starving student , I asked if I could get in on these meals and the instructor told me yes, under the condition that I registered for the training and actually took the classes. So after about a year of these courses I had many certificates and I would hang them in my warehouse cubicle.
This led to many companies trying to recruit me based on my technical knowledge. I eventually took one up on a lucrative offer and kind of never looked back.
This linkedin post tells the rest of my career path:

Why I started my own HVAC company:
I have been in the HVAC industry for over 20 years, but not continuously.
Back in 2000 I begin my career in HVAC and spent the next decade progressing in the industry. Unfortunately, I injured myself quite seriously – compressed 2 discs in my back which eventually required surgery.
In 2010 I decided it would be a good time to pursue a mechanical engineering degree so I took a retail job at big box home improvement store while in school full time. This led to a Market Sales Manager position at a major electronics manufacturing company (and putting the degree on hold, because money).
During these corporate years I learned many important lessons. Observed many leadership styles, and learned a ton about marketing and sales.
One of the most impactful lessons I learned is that managers who put people over profits can succeed and are often seen as true leaders by the people they manage, but managers that prioritize profits over people also succeed, and are viewed as equally successful (by higher ups) because they often drive results at any cost.
These are deeply opposed ideologies that create a conflicted culture. Separate factions in the same organization.
Every single corporation I worked for was this way.
It felt disingenuous.

I left the retail electronics world and got back into HVAC around 2015. Still working for big corporations and observing the same factioned ideologies.

By 2019 I had enough. I wanted to do better. I wanted to have genuine relationships with my clients and figured I would work alone and therefore be able to tightly control my quality and message. What I found is that my approach was preferred by so many that Maize had to grow to meet the workload. I felt (and still feel) obligated to reform opinions on HVAC contractors. It’s highly skilled work. It’s honest work. A respectable trade that is often overlooked – hence the workforce shortage.
Quality and Transparency isn’t that complicated of a philosophy but this approach is genuinely disrupting the industry. Testament to this is – I have not advertised in my first 7 years and only adopted social media (and built a website) just recently. Through word of mouth, Maize is profitable, doubling our revenue every year , we are growing and bringing others up with us.
I absolutely mean it when I say Maize is working for a better, more sustainable future. For our communities , for our workforce, and for our climate. All things we share interest in as humans. I am busier than I have ever been, but I am also more fulfilled than ever. Progress is slow but measurable.
We are effecting change.
HVAC contractors can be leaders in climate action.
It does take a commitment of our most precious resource which is time.
I was recently asked; As a small business owner, how could I afford to show up to so many climate focus groups and workforce events?
My answer was – How could I afford not to?

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
First major obstacle was a back injury that set me back. I had to rethink my career about 2010. I went back to school to pick up my mechanical engineering degree, but I had a child so I couldn’t afford to be in school . I went back to work in the corporate world.

I spent about 5 years in an environment where I watched people do anything to get ahead. A cut throat world that wasn’t for me so I left to go back into HVAC.

After about 5 years working for large companies I learned that if I truly wanted to work for an ethical company I would have to start my own.

That’s how Maize Mechanical came about.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
As a Mechanical Contractor I always do my best to provide ethical and sustainable solutions to my clients. Quality and Transparency are our guiding principles. Maize is focused on making electrification opportunities accessible to everyone. Especially the historically under resourced neighborhoods like the one I grew up in. Not just installing heat pumps and other sustainable solutions, I really want to reach back into these communities and share workforce opportunities. There are so many career paths available in the de carbonization and electrification fields but under resourced communities face so many barriers to entry. I honestly don’t have all the answers but I feel I am asking the right questions in the right circles and we are gaining momentum. This year we hope to help grow the electrification workforce – hopefully with folks from the very under resourced communities we hope to reach back into to provide equipment upgrades for homeowners.
I am often the only contractor at workforce events hosted by policy makers and government entities like DRCOG. I mean to change this. Contractors can lead the way to a sustainable future.

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Sometimes just knowing where to start is the biggest barrier to having a fulfilling career. There are many career resources available in construction trades and if anyone needs some guidance , please feel free to reach out. especially check my webpage www.maizemechanical.com which has a section for workforce entrants as well as existing contractors who may need insight on how to grow their company . I continually search for quality apprenticeship programs and list these resources for the community.

There are also a lot on income qualified resources that I can connect homeowners to if they need help getting new equipment.

Everyone deserves to warm in the winter.

Everyone deserves access to a great career.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.maizemechanical.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556354961579&sk=about
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cornelio-martinez-38660b40
• Youtube: @MaizeMechanical