Finding Stability: The Inspiring Journey of Ramiro Manrriquez

"Every day is different. Here as a technician, everything is different," says Ramiro Manrriquez, a graduate of Universal Technical Institute (UTI) and now a technician at Daikin.¹

After becoming unemployed from his old career, Ramiro had some tough decisions to make. He had a daughter at home and knew this time he wanted a career that would allow him to provide for her. Then it dawned on him: What’s the one thing every home, every building has? An air conditioning (AC) unit.

“Think about it, when you grab a soda at the store from the fridge, was it hot or was it cold?” Ramiro explains.

With heating, cooling and air conditioning (HVAC, sometimes referred to as HVACR to include refrigeration) systems being so prominent—especially in Ramiro’s hometown of Houston, TX—that meant the possibility of stability, something he greatly valued for his next career. So, he rolled up his sleeves, toured the UTI Houston campus and enrolled that day in its HVACR Technician program.

Training in UTI’s HVACR Program

"I loved it. The instructors were directly right there with you," says Ramiro.

As someone who has always worked with his hands, Ramiro’s favorite part of the program was the hands-on approach, particularly with troubleshooting.

"More than anything was the hands-on... it was really fun. They’re really good people," says Ramiro.

He recalls the positive environment fostered by the faculty and staff. "Everyone was smiling, so it made me feel like 'OK, you know what? If they’re going to be in a good mood, I can be in a good mood.'”

Becoming an HVAC Technician at Daikin

Finding work while attending school and raising a daughter was far from easy, but Ramiro found support in Daikin.

"I applied here at Daikin and they took me in....while I was still attending school,” Ramiro explains. “Right after I graduated, they hired me on as a tech. They actually worked with me, they worked with my schedule, they worked with everything."

The Value of HVAC Training

"The education that they taught us was really informative," Ramiro comments.

One thing he appreciated from the instructors was how they took their time to explain every unit and component. When we asked him if he’d recommend UTI to those thinking of training in HVAC, his answer was simple: “I already have.”

Advice for Aspiring Technicians

"My advice would be, ‘Go for it,’" Ramiro urges. "One of the main things that everybody needs is cooling and heating.”

Ramiro aims to continue learning and eventually start his own business in HVAC. His journey to an HVAC technician has been challenging but rewarding to him, proving that with determination and the right training, anyone can strive to achieve their career goals.