Service Technician at Johnson Controls
Sailor’s refrigeration skills open doors to new career with Johnson Controls.
By Warren Duffie
Old habits die hard. During his first week with Johnson Controls, Ricardo Gonzalez presented himself like he was still in the Navy. He shaved each day, his uniform shirts were tucked in and his slacks had razor-sharp creases; his polished shoes gleamed brightly.
“After a little while, people pulled me aside and said I could relax,” Gonzalez said. “I wasn’t in the Navy anymore. Nowadays, I let my beard grow out a little, but I still make sure my uniform looks good. The military instills that pride in you.”
Though his attitude is more laid back these days, Gonzalez, 27, is still a hard-charging performer for Johnson Controls, a worldwide leader in the repair and maintenance of power systems for buildings and automobiles. The former petty officer second class is a service technician in New York City. He works on air-conditioning units in buildings occupied by NBC and FOX news networks, IBM, and Marriott Hotels. He also recently started work on units throughout the iconic Empire State Building.
On The Job
Gonzalez’s main duties include troubleshooting, routine maintenance, replacing oil filters, and taking oil and refrigerant samples to diagnose problems.
“On Navy ships, I worked on 363-ton units,” he said. “Those were small compared to some of the units I maintain now. Back then, my job was keeping logs and doing equipment readings. Today, I do everything from welding to fixing the electrical wiring.”
The former Sailor is a three-year apprentice with Johnson Controls. In addition to his regular workload, he attends classes held by his union once a week, learning more about the intricacies of heating and air-conditioning repair.
“One thing I really like about Johnson Controls is that they’re always encouraging you to get more training and education,” Gonzalez said. “They recently paid for me to go to Pennsylvania to get training on wind turbines.”
Gonzalez leaves his New Jersey home at 0530 to beat Manhattan traffic and find parking. Once at the job site, he meets with the client, learns about the job details and grabs his tools from his van. Gonzalez normally works until 1500.
“Sometimes I’ll work overtime or have to respond to an emergency call,” he said. “That’s no problem. The military taught me to work long hours and stay intense.”
The Company
Founded in 1885, Johnson Controls has 140,000 employees in more than 1,300 locations throughout 125 countries. The company earned 2008 revenues of more than $38 billion. It provides products and services for more than 200 million vehicles, 12 million homes and 1 million commercial buildings. The Milwaukee-based company has three main business platforms:
Automotive Experience: Interior systems for light vehicles such as passenger cars and light trucks, including seating, overhead, door, instrument panels, storage and electronics.
Power Solutions: Johnson Controls is the world’s largest manufacturer of lead acid automotive batteries and a leading developer of advanced battery chemistries.
Building Efficiency: Mechanical equipment and systems that control heating, ventilation, air conditioning, lighting, security and fire management in non-residential buildings.
Johnson Controls offers its employees an attractive benefits package featuring health care coverage, tuition reimbursement and a 401(k) retirement plan. Johnson Controls also operates a full-time educational institute where thousands of employees each year enhance their job skills and grow personally.
In Uniform
A native of Jersey City, N.J., Gonzalez was working in a music store and was bored with life. He wanted adventure and direction. Unable to afford college, he and his cousin decided to enlist in the Navy to see the world. Gonzalez attended basic training and machinist mate school at Naval Station Great Lakes in 2000.
He was then assigned to USS George Washington, traveling to Greece, Italy, Dubai, Portugal and Iraq. After six years, Gonzalez reported to USS Carl Vinson, which was in Newport News, Va., for dry dock repairs and maintenance.
The Transition
In June 2008, Gonzalez left the Navy. “I figured I had learned enough to try a new career in the civilian world. I actually thought about getting out in 2004 but was scared. Now I knew I was ready.”
He attended transition classes and searched for a job. However, it was through a personal contact that he found work with Johnson Controls.
“When I was on USS Carl Vinson, some contractors from Johnson Controls used to come on board to do work,” Gonzalez said. “I got to know them well and asked if Johnson Controls was hiring and if I could use them as references. They said yes, so I went to the company Web site and posted my résumé. I got a call from my recruiter, Robert Griswold, did my interview and drug test, and was hired.”
Regarding pay and benefits, Gonzalez admits he took a slight pay cut. However, pay raises come quicker now. In fact, he received a salary increase after only a few months on the job. Gonzalez’s union takes care of the bulk of his health care costs, requiring him to pay just $27 a month.
Gonzalez’s Advice
Don’t be scared. “That’s what held me back in 2004. Realize that the military is a fantastic career, but there are still jobs in the civilian sector.”
Network. “Stay in touch with people from the military. Make connections with civilian contractors. You never know who might help you find a job.”