Keeping His Priorities Straight
Daniel Jacob Goral Finds Life Balance as an HVAC Tech, Allowing Him to Spend More Time With His Daughter
We met Daniel Jacob Goral through Facebook. He responded to one of our posts on YELLOW JACKET’s Facebook page. So we invited Daniel, who lives and works near Toronto, Canada, to share his story about how he became an HVAC tech and what about his career he enjoys the most.
In the process of interviewing Daniel, we learned about really motivates him every day. It’s about spending time with his daughter. His work as an HVAC tech not only provides him the intellectual challenges that he enjoys (no two jobs are the same!), but the scheduling flexibility that allows this single dad to take his daughter downhill skiing and much more. Enjoy!
The BUZZ: How long have you been an HVAC tech?
Daniel Jacob Goral: I have been an HVAC tech for four years now.
The BUZZ: Where’s home for you?
Daniel Jacob Goral: I live in Mississauga, a suburb of Toronto. I’m originally from Poland. I came to Canada with my parents when I was 13-years old.
The BUZZ: Who do you work for? How long have you worked for them? Could you describe the company you work for?
Daniel Jacob Goral: I work for a family owned company, Air Treatment ComfortCare, in the Toronto area, which was established in 1965. Currently the business is run by a father-and-son team. And the third generation is involved with the operation, too.
The son deals with residential custom homes and his father runs the commercial side of the business. The uncle of the son runs the day-to-day operation of the residential side.
They have about 25 commercial trucks for service and 10 for residential.
The rough-ins we do, and that includes sheet metal, mechanical, some in-floor/snowmelt, are for homes that are valued at $5 million or more.
It’s a cool place to work for. It really feels like a family not an office of a big business. It’s definitely different than other places, from what I’ve been told. Employees are allowed to bring their dogs to the office for the whole day 🙂
The BUZZ: What are your primary job responsibilities?
Daniel Jacob Goral: Installation of appliances, commissioning, ducting, and gas lines.
The BUZZ: What do you like about your job?
Daniel Jacob Goral: I like the challenges that come with each new project. Every day, we do something different. I like that! It’s definitely not monotonous. I really like the people I work with, and for. This company really feels like a family.
The BUZZ: How did you decide to become an HVAC tech? Did anyone (parent, uncle, instructor, etc.) influence your decision?
Daniel Jacob Goral: In 2012 I became a single parent. My daughter was two-years-old. I had my own small business (2-3 employees) as a marble/granite countertop installer for about 14 years. I did okay. Most of my work was as a subcontractor for Lowe’s. I was driving all over Ontario, putting 120,000 to 130,000 kilometers (75,000 to 80,000 miles) on my truck per year. But being away from home for 12-14 hours every day didn’t make sense any more. Sometimes, I wouldn’t see my daughter for days. Well, one day I just got fed up with it, gave away my contract to one of my friends, and sold my tools/trucks. I took a year off to figure things out. Then I went to school for my HVAC license.
The BUZZ: Besides you, is there anyone in your family who also is an HVAC tech?
Daniel Jacob Goral: I have a cousin who is a boiler engineer at the School Board in Toronto.
The BUZZ: Did you go to school to learn to become an HVAC tech? If so, what was the name of the school and was it helpful to you?
Daniel Jacob Goral: Yes, I went to Halton Skilled Trades Academy in Oakville, Ontario. They offer courses on gas licenses, G2, which is everything up to 400,000 BTUs and G1 400,000+ BTUs. The owners, John and Brad, were amazing. They really knew their stuff, unlike some that only know how to teach you from the book. The school has a state-of- the-art shop where you would perform repairs on furnaces, boilers, pool heaters, etc. It was a great place to learn.
The BUZZ: Do you feel good about being an HVAC tech? Do you feel like you’re doing what you should be doing with your life?
Daniel Jacob Goral: I really like being an HVAC tech. I should have done this long time ago right after I finished college when I was in my 20s. I’m 42 years old now.
The BUZZ: Do you recall the first time you used a YELLOW JACKET HVAC tool?
Daniel Jacob Goral: Yes! (haha) On my first day! We were working on an air conditioner. It was a tubing bender 🙂
The BUZZ: What’s your favorite YELLOW JACKET tool?
Daniel Jacob Goral: Tubing bender, gauges, and service valve tool.
The BUZZ: Why do you like YELLOW JACKET tools?
Daniel Jacob Goral: I like your tools because they get the job done, are reasonably priced and have great warranty. I buy my YELLOW JACKET tools at B&B Trade Distribution Centre in Mississauga.
The BUZZ: Would you ever get a tattoo of a YELLOW JACKET manifold on your arm? Just kidding!
Daniel Jacob Goral: Ha Ha! No, I don’t think so. But if you guys would have more merch, like sweaters, jackets (NOT YELLOW!!! haha) I would wear them. T-shirts? Yes, I need some shirts with some attitude and humor to them!
The BUZZ: So when you’re not working, what do you enjoy doing the most? What do you enjoy doing with your child? Any hobbies? Are you a big fan of any sports teams? Do you volunteer your time in the community?
Daniel Jacob Goral: When I’m not working I spend time with my daughter. We go skiing in the winter almost every weekend. Summers we spend at the cottage in Wasaga Beach (longest freshwater beach in the world!!) For hobbies, I enjoy ham radio and working with electronics. I started soldering when I was eight years old. Small radio projects, some electronic kits, Electric RC cars, off-road ones, that go 100km/h 😉
Not too much time for sports. When I get home I usually cook, do laundry, lunch for next day and that’s it. Rest of my time belongs to my daughter.
The BUZZ: Maple Leafs, Senators or the Canadiens?
Daniel Jacob Goral: Maple Leafs!
THE BUZZ: Rush or The Tragically Hip?
Daniel Jacob Goral: The Tragically Hip! I can’t stand the voice of the vocalist from Rush. ☺
The BUZZ: Thanks for sharing your story with our readers Daniel.
Daniel Jacob Goral: You’re welcome.