From Humble Beginnings to Business Success with Ismael Valdez

Ismael Valdez came to the US from Mitras, Mexico at age six and started his career selling parts in a warehouse at Howard Industries before founding NexGen Air Conditioning.

He's now building Nuve, a smart thermostat and platform designed to help home service companies monitor HVAC units remotely and catch problems before they fail.

His relentless competitiveness — always hunting for the next challenge — is what he credits for the heights he's reached and the companies he's growing.

He warns operators not to fall in love with the private-jet dream and sign their life away; real operations and substance matter far more than the show.

Raising kids and building a team both take intentional effort so people don't grow entitled — you have to teach them to be lions, then keep giving them room to grow.

Acting decisively on a wrong hire matters — letting a bad fit linger disheartens the whole tribe, and you always wish you'd moved months sooner.

Before adding a second trade or a new location, you need a structured management system already producing profit; expanding without that foundation is dangerous.