Martin Vizcaino: An Unexpected Opportunity
By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter
CLOVERDALE — For Martin Vizcaino, becoming an HVAC professional was the eventual outcome of an unexpected opportunity. “I got into HVAC kind of by accident,” he relates. “My best friend had just bought a house, so I was helping him get it move-in ready. His dad was the manager of the HVAC shop at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and he asked if I was interested in getting into the HVAC trade. I had never considered HVAC before and had no experience, but he said it wasn’t a problem and they would teach me everything I needed to know. So, I applied and got accepted into an apprenticeship.”
After spending the first leg of his career working in the commercial sector, a shift in the job market led Martin to alter his focus. “At a certain point, commercial HVAC work really slowed down, which resulted in mass layoffs,” he explains. “So, I started working with a residential HVAC contractor in Modesto. I really enjoyed doing residential work, so I decided to stick with it.” Not long after, Martin joined forces with an industry colleague to start their own HVAC company. “One day, my friend, Brian Plum, and I got to talking about how we would do things if we had our own business. It turned out we each had a similar vision as far as wanting to do quality work and take care of customers. We ended up going into business together, and that’s how Indoor Climate Control was born.”
Today, as partner of Indoor Climate Control, Martin says his favorite part of his job is working with customers. “I love meeting new people and helping them solve their problems and achieve their goals. We strive to establish relationships with our clients and maintain those relationships through quality assurance and responsive service. We want every customer to retain us as their HVAC contractor for years to come.”
A resident of Cloverdale (where he lives with his wife, Toni, and their two daughters), Martin spends his time outside of work on a variety of active pastimes. “Golf is one of my favorite activities, so I try to get out on the course a couple of times each week,” he says. “My kids are also involved in sports, so I enjoy going to their games and supporting them. As a family, we like to take advantage of all that Sonoma County has to offer—camping, going to the beach, and eating at local restaurants and breweries. It’s just a great place to live and work.”
When asked what he’d do if he were to retire tomorrow, Martin says he’d give back. “I’d like to coach young people who are getting into the trades. There’s this misconception that in order to make a decent living, you have to go to college. I got into a trade instead of going to college and it has been very lucrative for me—not just in terms of money, but also in the friends and connections I’ve made. So, it would be neat to give back and help others who are interested in going down the same path.”
Ask Me Anything!
Q: What’s your favorite local restaurant?
A: Wolf House Brewing Company in Cloverdale.
Q: What’s your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?
A: Play cards or board games with my family.
Q: If you could time travel, would you go to the past or the future?
A: I would go to the past. I consider myself an old soul. I have a lot of friends who are in their 60s and 70s, and I really appreciate their mindset and way of being. They’re more down-to-earth and they tend to be less interested in the flashy, materialistic aspects of culture.
Q: What’s your favorite snack?
A: Chips and salsa.
Q: What was your favorite Halloween costume growing up?
A: My dad is an artist, and one year he really wanted to make me up as Dracula. It wasn’t my first choice, but I said OK, and it ended up being a pretty cool costume.