An Air of Excellence
Air Solution Mechanical Services delivers heating and cooling solutions with emphasis on service
While listening to Mario Perez, President of Air Solution Mechanical Services, LLC, (Air Solution), speak about his company’s values, specific themes surface: Treat everybody fairly. Deliver quality service. Develop a culture of teamwork. Do things right the first time.
Since opening his company in 2017, these pillars have served Perez well. “I believe our company’s culture, which is rooted in teamwork and respect for our customers and each other, has greatly contributed to our growth and success in a few short years,” Perez says.
Hard Work Pays Off
Perez is a textbook example of the American Dream. Perez immigrated to the United States from Honduras in 2002 to get a college education. While working part-time as an electrician to pay for his tuition, Perez started his own electrical services company, focusing on small homes and renovation projects.
In 2008, when the U.S. economy started declining, Perez focused on expanding his knowledge of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning industry. “It was during this time when I first learned that customers have a greater need than just wanting the lowest price,” Perez says. “The majority of people are more interested in creating one-on-one relationships where they know they can trust you. When I decided to open Air Solution in 2017, I wanted to create a niche where I could build long-lasting relationships with our customers while providing quality service at a fair price.”
Air Solution, based in Springfield, Virginia, employs a staff of 36 who provide a range of heating and air conditioning solutions to commercial and residential clients throughout Virginia, Washington, D.C., South Carolina and Georgia. “One of our customers hired us for a project he was doing in South Carolina,” Perez explains. “We quickly realized this was a great opportunity to expand our geographical base. From that one job, things snowballed. And now, because we have so much work in that region, we are exploring the possibility of opening a second office, either in Columbia, South Carolina, or Savannah, Georgia, to better serve our clients.”
But Perez isn’t prone to making rash decisions. “As a business owner, I’m proud of the fact that I’ve never taken out any loans,” he says. “I’ve built the company with my own money. While our goal is to grow the company, we want to do it at a pace that not only makes sense, but also one that we can afford.”
Paying It Forward
When Perez started his first company while in college, he joined the Mid-Atlantic Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (MAHCC) based in Washington, D.C. MAHCC advocates for economic, workforce and community development, and leads efforts to unify and strengthen businesses in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., Virginia and West Virginia.
“As a first-time business owner, I knew I had a lot to learn,” Perez says. “The MAHCC was a great resource for me because they provided valuable guidance as I was growing my business.”
Over the years, Perez remained active in the organization. Recognizing the positive impact that MAHCC had on his company, Perez jumped at the chance when the MAHCC approached him about participating in a new program.
“We join forces with other local chambers of commerce and look at the trends of the fastest-growing Hispanic businesses in the Washington metropolitan area,” Perez says. “Our task is to develop best practices based on our findings that will hopefully help other owners promote their businesses.”
The MAHCC also sponsors a program in which local business leaders mentor Hispanic high school students. Many of these students aspire to continue their education after high school but, because they might be the first members of their families to attend college, they need outside guidance. Perez lends his support to this effort, too.
“The students periodically come to my office, and we’ll discuss some of the challenges they’re facing,” Perez says. “Our role as mentors is to show them support and give them a business figure to follow. In 2016, we honored one of the high school students whom I had previously mentored. This young man started a landscaping business right out of high school. Two years later, he is the proud owner of one of the fastest-growing Hispanic-owned companies in the Washington, D.C. area.”
Mentoring students is a highlight of his life, Perez says. “It’s not about how successful your company is. What matters is if you’re making a difference in someone’s life.”
Childhood Lessons
Growing up in Honduras, Perez had strong mentors within his own family. He credits his parents and grandfather for challenging his four sisters and him to constantly better themselves.
“My grandfather used to tell us, ‘Never be afraid to get your hands dirty, but always keep them clean.’ He taught us that we should be proud of what we do, no matter what it is. If you want to be a shoemaker, be the best shoemaker ever.”
Perez explains that his grandfather’s words of wisdom resonated with him at an early age and that he tries to apply that same philosophy with his own employees. “I try not to micromanage any of my staff. Instead, I give them the freedom to make their own decisions and to interact directly with some of our clients. It’s important that our workers feel respected and know that they are an integral part of the team. And, as a result, we have great employees who are extremely loyal.”