From Renewable Energy to Refrigeration: Matthew (Josh) Nino’s Path to HVAC-R

Josh Nino graduated from the HVAC-R program at San Joaquin Valley College, Visalia in November of 2024.

Victor Carillo, HVAC-R program instructor at SJVC, nominated Josh Nino for the graduate spotlight because of his excellent academic performance, which translated into employment success. But Josh stood out in the program for many other reasons, too.

“Josh was always approachable, respectful, and had a great attitude—these are rare traits to see in younger students,” says Victor. “He excelled at understanding the task and applying it hands-on, with minimal direction. And he has a mechanical aptitude that helps him work through some of the equipment faults.”

Victor also says that Josh was the kind of student that preferred to stay busy at school; his example had a positive influence on his classmates, who would turn to him for answers and demonstrations.

It was a pleasure to hear more from Josh Nino, who shared details about his experience in the HVAC-R program—and his new career.

What did you do before enrolling in the HVAC-R program at SJVC?

I was working in the renewable energy industry and had just been laid off due to a site closure.

While browsing for new job opportunities, I kept seeing HVAC jobs that were hiring—but I wasn’t certified and didn’t have any experience to apply. But I like hands-on work, and I like the satisfaction of being able to fix something that stopped working.

I really liked that SJVC had a quick 10-month program for HVAC-R, and that I would be able to leave with shop experience as well as my EPA certification.

What did you enjoy most about the program?

The thing I enjoyed most was the hands-on learning that went along with the book work. That way, instead of just reading about problems, I was able to see problems recreated and learn how to fix them by hand, in-person.

What did you find most challenging?

I think the only challenging part was that at times the class size was a little big, but I was always able to make sure I got my hands on the systems and had the option to get extra help after hours if I needed it.

Where are you employed now? What is a typical day on the job like?

I am now employed at Dreyer’s Ice Cream as a refrigeration tech. A typical day includes regular preventive maintenance on ice cream freezers and in the engine room with the compressors. We also respond to any refrigeration or ammonia-related calls out on the production floor, like starting and stopping certain freezers, or problems with freezers not reaching the desired temperature.

What do you like most about your job?

I love being able to play such a big role in the factory operations. I get firsthand experience in maintenance and troubleshooting when issues come up.

What are some of the challenges at your job?

One challenge is learning the ammonia side of refrigeration and the huge scale it is compared to residential air conditioning, but I have a great team I work with that are always available to help train and share their knowledge with me. I am always taking notes and learning as much as I can about each issue that comes up during our shift.

Do you have any advice for new or current students in the HVAC-R program?

My advice for a current student: try not to get overwhelmed with all the new information you are learning; there is always a light at the end of the tunnel, you just have to cut out any distractions and stay focused on getting through it.

Always ask questions if you don’t feel like you completely understand something, because all the knowledge is a foundation to build on; if you don’t understand a portion of it, it will only get harder as you continue to build upon that lesson.

My advice for someone who is looking into changing careers to enter this field or the HVAC-R program: don’t be afraid of change. It might be a completely new field for you, but they will teach you what you need to know. At the end of the course, you will be ready and experienced to further your career in the HVAC-R field.