Briefly describe your job and your area of expertise. My Job here at the Aquarium is to operate, maintain, and repair any and all equipment to keep all the live animals and their exhibits in which they live, indigenous to their natural habitats. My area of expertise is in refrigeration, which can keep me very busy here with all the different
temperatures with the many exhibits.

What got you interested in becoming an Engineer?
Working at the Aquarium was inviting, Honestly because I needed a job. After I was hired I came to realize that I wouldn’t want to work anywhere else. Being able to work with such diversity the animals and people is very exciting. I learn new things about both every day.

What do you like most and least about your job?  What I like most about working here is there is something new and different every day. Finding a problem and fixing it gives me immediate gratification, knowing that if I didn’t do my job correctly, it could have put a living animal in danger of losing its life. 

What training did you receive?
I received most of my training at a local union , I also got my start in refrigeration with Pepsi-Cola as a field service technician. Working on all their equipment, ice makers, vending machines, refrigerators, etc. A lot of electrical mechanical work as well as refrigeration. At the union I trained for HVAC. In 1995 I started working for Host Marriott at SFO doing work for all the bars and restaurants in the airport. In 2000, I was hired by the city and county of San Francisco to work in the airport as an HVAC tech for them. I started at the Aquarium in 2001

What influenced your job choice and when?  I chose this career path as a result of my childhood, I always liked to take things apart and see how it worked, and then put it back together. I guess I just like to work with my hands and see the result of something I did.

Do you have pets at home? What and how many? I have 2 dogs at home, Holly and Luma. Holly is a Terrier mix and Luma is a Miniature Pinscher. 

Advice for someone wanting to go into your field. As for advice for someone wanting to get into this field, I would strongly suggest they learn math, some Chemistry and be a good listener. Often you can find the root of a problem by listening to the person reporting it, or by the sound the equipment is making.

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